Wednesday I had a chance to help a new shooter. I think it was her first time shooting CFDA in a public setting. She missed her first 15 shots all high, but in the same area. I began to help her. We changed her stance, holster location, draw, got her to cock in the holster. Lots of changes. She is a disciplined student. If she continues, she will be good relatively quickly. She missed the next 10 shots again high in the same area. So we moved up to 10 feet. Once she found the target, she began to hit at a 80% rate. She got down into the sevens.
Thursday, I was at the Camp and got to observe two Top Ten caliber Top Guns practicing at 21 feet for about 20 shots. They both were hitting less than 30%. Now I ask you what good did those 20 shots do. There was no pattern to the misses. What did they learn. Wasted wax.
If you can not hit the target, move on up. Move closer. Once you begin to hit the target and you see the exact location of the hit, your mind and body will move your hits closer and closer to the light. It is even best if you do it without trying. Let your subconscious make the changes. It will. You need to learn to make those slight, small changes, changes by the subconscious. Changes by the conscious are generally too large.
When I start a youth out or a new shooter I like to start them at 10 feet on 24 inch target. It boasters their confidence. It makes it fun. It also gives their subconscious the opportunity to adjust their draw so that they hit the target. Success breeds success.
But shooting up close is not only for the novice. In practice, anytime you are having a problem finding the target, "move on up!" even if for just a few rounds. Give your subconscious the opportunity to work for you. It will adjust your draw in those small increments that are needed. If you hit the center of the target at 10 feet you will hit the target at 21 feet.
I know some of you practice at the Camp. A good practice routine at the Camp would be as follow: Ten rounds on the clock at 5 feet. On the clock because my manta is never ever slow down. I want to be sure I am not lollygagging. Where on the target is important. For me that is the lower right quarter at 5 five feet, hopefully all in a five inch circle. Then 20 rounds on the wall without the light between two lines five inches apart at five feet. Target height is crucial here, you must know your target height. With these 20 you are finalizing your draw and chunking data. You are putting into your subconscious how to make those small incremental adjustments to walk the hits to the light. The last 20 can be on the light at 15 or 21 or wherever you want. Just remember, practicing missing does not help. Having problems finding the target, then:
MOVE ON UP!
