When I get my hands on score sheets from matches I do gunfighter ratings on the shooters. I have the ratings of 59 shooters who shot at Pioneer in January 2017 and the ratings of 39 shooters who shot on January 2, 2021.
Interesting Trends: The average hit percentage in 2017 was 41%. The average hit percentage in 2021 was 41%. The average speed index in 2017 was .38. In 2021, the average speed index was .47. What this tells me is that our accuracy has not improved but our speed has. The average shooter has moved from being a low 6 shooter to a low/mid 5 shooter.
Ratings: Generally, a rating of 1.0 or above will put you in the top 15% of shooters. In the 2017 shoot, there were 5 shooters (8%) at 1.0 or better. In the 2021 shoot, there were 6 shooters (15%) at 1.0 or better. Expanding the view to .97 or better, results in 18% of the shooters being included in both 2017 and 2021. Final two shooters in 2017 were at 1.27 and 1.208. Final two shooters in 2021 were at 1.34 and 1.26. (I might add the top shooter at 2021 event followed up with a 1.41 rating in his next 37 shooter event.)
How do you rate? It is really easy to do. You combine an accuracy index with a comparable speed index. The accuracy index is simply your hit percentage. For the speed index, in order to have a comparable number, you subtract the speed from the number of 1. For example, a shooter shooting .325 would have a speed index of .675, a .5 shooter would have a speed index of .5, a .700 shooter would have a speed index of .30.
What speed do you use? The easiest number to use is the speed listed in the bracket report which is your second fastest time.
It really does not matter how you get your rating. A 7 shooter hitting 70% will have a rating of 1.0. A 3 flat shooter hitting 30% will have a rating of 1.0. Those are evenly matched gunfighters.
Where to? The numbers seem to reflect our obsession with speed. Speed has improved but accuracy has not. At Shady Mtn we never practice accuracy, only speed, but we try to avoid practicing missing. If you see every hit you mind and body will naturally move your hits to the light. Practicing at championship distance and missing 70 % of your shots means you have wasted that wax unless you can actually see the exact location of your hit. Average hit percentage for an Alleluia shooter ought to be 80% without ever practicing accuracy.
