Performing under Pressure

[rr2030]

I thought this entire thread was going to be about something else.

 

[pirate ammo]

as long as I can even hit the target I'm good,,no pressure at all,,life's to short to care.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I thought this entire thread was going to be about something else.

It would have been much shorter in terms of the # of replies. All you need for that is a little blue pill.

 

[50bmg1979]

This book helped my daughter tremendously. There was probably 4 or 5 matches where she shot a 199 usallly dropping shot 19 or 20. Finally got her 200 after reading. And a couple more since then. Thanks @MichelleGallagher

 

[Jennb]

What other people think of you is their problem not yours.

Always use a timer and set your ammo so that at a glance you know how many are left to shoot.

Be prepared before you even leave home, make a list of everything you need and check it twice

Matches are won one shot at a time. You can’t change the ones taken and can’t make the ones untaken happen til it’s their time. Think only about the one you are shooting.

Compete against yourself! You have no effect on how anyone else shoots. You can only control you.

 

[shockman]

Shoot with a good hangover!! All you want to do is lay down,with a good headache you will have no distracting thoughts, won't remember the last shot and will only have enough mental capacity to concentrate on next shot. :>))

 

[xswanted]

I am concerned with the ability to perform under pressure during a shooting competition. Tell me your 5 biggest problems or as many as you can come up with relating to your performance during a competition and you can even say how you got over them. I am curious to know what the most common struggles that competitors face nowadays. I will list out my own here but please do not just copy mine, I want to hear yours.

1. If I did not take care of something else at home or at work (left work unfinished) unrelated to the competition or event I would have split-focus.
2. I would go too fast and miss something during a particular stage.
3. I was concerned (little thought in the back of my head) about what other's were thinking of me during my performance, which was holding me back from performing at my best.
4. If the stage was complicated and presented a lot of obstacles and targets to engage I found myself overwhelmed.
5. If I was not preparing for success in the time in between stages my performance would dwindle when I got up on line.

Read the book “With Winning In Mind” by Lanny Bassham

It’s a great book for anyone looking tobup their mental game in shooting sports or for anything in general.

It helped me immensely on the mental aspect of shooting sports.

 

[Fast14riot]

Shoot with a good hangover!! All you want to do is lay down,with a good headache you will have no distracting thoughts, won't remember the last shot and will only have enough mental capacity to concentrate on next shot. :>))

Funny as it is, there is a bit of truth to this. I've done it, a couple times. Slept most of the drive to the range, pounded some black coffee once I got there, a couple ibuprofen, and honestly I really couldn't focus on anything other than just trying to make each shot worth something. Mind you, I was NOT still drunk or in anyway unsafe state of mind or ability, I have skipped matches due to that, but by tiring my body and mind out pretty hard the night before I was forced to audibly run through my shot sequence check list for every shot. Took a podium finish each time I did that, lol!

Basically, I just put myself in a position to where I didnt give a damn about anything other than what I had to do, at that moment. Wasn't so much getting in the zone as it was getting out of all the clutter around me.

Full disclosure, I do not condone mixing drinks and firearms ever. I'm providing this info simply as an anecdote and my personal experience.

 

[ballisticxlr]

Not in any particular order.

1. Speed kills. Do not rush.
2. No practice, no plan. No plan, no place. No place, no win.
3. Compete only against yourself.
4. A shot left un-fired may not be a point but it's also not a miss.
5. Expectations should be realistic.
6. Smooth is faster than fast is smooth.
7. Forget the wind and miss.
8. It's ok to DNF. If you're just off. Stop.
9. Gas up your body all day at the match. Sausage/Egg/Cheese McMuffins are brilliant hot or cold.
10. Being part of a team reduces the number of things any one person can screw up beyond repair.

 

[M99]

I am concerned with the ability to perform under pressure during a shooting competition. Tell me your 5 biggest problems or as many as you can come up with relating to your performance during a competition and you can even say how you got over them. I am curious to know what the most common struggles that competitors face nowadays. I will list out my own here but please do not just copy mine, I want to hear yours.

1. If I did not take care of something else at home or at work (left work unfinished) unrelated to the competition or event I would have split-focus.
2. I would go too fast and miss something during a particular stage.
3. I was concerned (little thought in the back of my head) about what other's were thinking of me during my performance, which was holding me back from performing at my best.
4. If the stage was complicated and presented a lot of obstacles and targets to engage I found myself overwhelmed.
5. If I was not preparing for success in the time in between stages my performance would dwindle when I got up on line.

Shoot against yourself and nothing else. One shot at a time as if it were the only shot. Be surprised when your string is complete. Pay attention to nothing else other than the range safety commands.

 

[Downhill]

My biggest problem is when I have to shoot next to a buddy. Somehow we will end up talking and cutting up like kids. Mostly making light of our mistakes and not focusing on the match. At a Texas State Championship a few years ago a friend of mine and myself were accused of coaching while on the firing line. My buddy declared " Hell we are not coaching, we are laughing at our mistakes!" I shoot a heck of alot better when not next to anyone in my group of shooting friends. But I have a hell of alot more fun when shooting with them.

 

[swadiver]

first, i agree with all those on here that say it's supposed to be a fun activity, so don't psych yourself into a performance mindset that doesn't allow for having a good time.

that being said, if you are competitive and goal oriented, pressure can be your friend. my take away comes from my previous days as an airline guy and a Scuba technical diver. i generally always performed my best under pressure. for me, this created the ability to apply maximum focus on the task(s) to be accomplished. focus helps you to create the results desired.

so by all means have fun first. but if you are so inclined, allow the pressure you put on yourself to perform help achieve your goals.

 

[Stepsjframe]

For many people, most of the time, if you wait untill your calm you'll never get a shot off, so that's not the answer either.
Most of the time I'm pretty nervous from the time I see one I know I want to shoot but I rarely get off a bad shot. I think it's because I've practiced so much my body and muscles just go through the motions dispite the extra stuff going on.

 

[big john 5394]

I go to the line and i tell myself time to go to work and do what you do best and if it your day every thing works out and you win,

 

[mike a]

I say be well rested. Eat a lite breakfast. Minimum caffeine and get a quicky in the morning.

 

[Sheldon N]

I'll second the recommendation for "With Winning in Mind".

My own approach... practice like it matters the world to you. On match day remember that no one else is watching your score but yourself and it doesn't really matter. Have fun, shoot your best, smile when all the shots hit the target, shrug it off if they don't.

 

[Rsadams]

Just this.... When I played pool to go-to the Vegas Nationals , so I have played a game or two...I would lay down to players in a practice room.. In shooting , your on your own.... Unless somebody shoots your target that's all them.... I shoot alot of combat pistol , if your mag is not seated and falls out I will laugh and keep going..... Ignore others , prepare and go to work....

 

[Evan]

Biggest stressor for me in a comp is the time constraint. I hate having the time called by the RO, it just throws me out of my zone. I'm pacing myself, I know how much time I have, and that is perfectly ok. The RO calling "1 minute", "30 seconds", "10 seconds" just ruins my focus and amps up the stress for me. Haven't figured out how to fix that beyond getting all my shots off before 1 minute to go.

 

[dgeesaman]

Mental aspect of competition is a huge hurdle, and should be trained and exercised just like the physical part.

That's the bottom line.

If you go to a match and treat each one like it's the only one you'll ever shoot, you won't be in the moment. Treat each match as a practice for an even bigger match that will happen later.

 

[R.Morehouse]

Another vote for " Bullseye Mind " by Dr, Raymond Prior. It is a quick read and you will read it quite a few times........

Regards
Rick