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Flustrated

Rockchuck said:
Where do you guys shoot at?
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The range being discussed is Dry Branch near Dixon Springs, Tn. I think its officially Middle Tn Sportmans Association. It's a tough place to shoot. I know several that just won't shoot it. I think that's a mistake. A tough range makes you better if you can learn anything from it. That's what I meant when I said to not try to beat that range on a tough day. I mean, don't try to get it all in one bite but try to find any little nuance that might help today or even a totally different day altogether. Bottom line, try to learn something every time you shoot and especially there.
 
SmokinJoe said:
If I'm reading this correctly you have an attitude problem. Yes, you have worked hard to get ready for your match, but when things don't go perfectly you just throw up your hands and mentally head for home, if not actually. Seen that too many times. Remember, it ain't over until it's over. Everybody there is dealing with the same adversity that you are. You have to keep trying, and sometimes learning, until you finish that last shot. Work on your attitude, determination and concentration and you will find improvement. But always enjoy the sport and competition with your friends and don't get yourself all worked up when things don't seem to want to work well. Learn from all of it, and learn to be patient, learn the wind patterns and make good decisions about when to shoot.
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Thanks Joe, it is not often I do that. I'm not one that runs to the score sheet after each match but when preparing for lay leadership I was told I am overly tough on myself. Probably very true.
The week prior I placed 2nd in the grand agg. As @JimPag said i was 1st loser.
 
SmokinJoe said:
If I'm reading this correctly you have an attitude problem. Yes, you have worked hard to get ready for your match, but when things don't go perfectly you just throw up your hands and mentally head for home, if not actually. Seen that too many times. Remember, it ain't over until it's over. Everybody there is dealing with the same adversity that you are. You have to keep trying, and sometimes learning, until you finish that last shot. Work on your attitude, determination and concentration and you will find improvement. But always enjoy the sport and competition with your friends and don't get yourself all worked up when things don't seem to want to work well. Learn from all of it, and learn to be patient, learn the wind patterns and make good decisions about when to shoot.
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Frankie is a good guy and he's not that guy who gets mad and packs his stuff and leaves. I bet you and I have the same person in mind from several years ago that would do that. ;) Frankie is not like that. It was a frustrating day, for sure.
 
JEFFPPC said:
Spend less energy on tuning and more on learning your flags. Biggest thing in my mind is learning what condition available you can handle. Learning when not to shot is as important as any thing else. Sounds like your too interested in winning. Your competition is the target, not the other shooters. You can not control them, you can only control your target. I never look at other targets, I don't get those points so I could care less. I do not 100 percent agree with Jim, I like to tune in a lull but I like to practice in the wind. One thing tuning in the wind will tell you is how good yout barrel is.
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Jeff, have you ever shot at Dry Branch? Reason I ask is you may see exactly what the flags are telling you and the bullet tells you something different. It is just "one of those ranges" that your flags will lie to you!
 
Shooter13 said:
Jeff, have you ever shot at Dry Branch? Reason I ask is you may see exactly what the flags are telling you and the bullet tells you something different. It is just "one of those ranges" that your flags will lie to you!
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Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you didn’t bother to set your flags for the 200 yard competition you were shooting blind. You can’t give up like that.
 
Shooter13 said:
You are probably less than 2 hours away. Come out and be humbled!
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I shoot at Deep Creek, if y’all want to be humbled that’s a good place to do it. Our top ten get shuffled every day and personally I don’t even think about it rather just shoot my targets and try to beat the conditions, we have guys in the shack that tally scores and group aggs. Where I finish is irrelevant to compared to how well I shoot because that’s feedback to my tuning, wind reading and table manners. Most importantly I’m always happy to see my buddies shoot well and the day Glenn shot a world record I think I was almost as excited as he was.
 
I shot competitive pistol for about 30 years qualifying as Distinguished Expert. I won my share of matches but also lost some. While we all want to win or at least shoot very well, what I found out later in my competitive shooting career was that it was the comradery with my teammates that was the most rewarding of the experience.

The first thing piece of advice is to take a deep breath. Step back and try to remember why, as a non-professional shooter, you got into this sport - it was to have fun and enjoy yourself.

Competitive shooting is largely a mental toughness game assuming you have adequate equipment and have mastered the fundamentals. You will have bad days - we all do. Try to accept that and learn from it. When you are having a bad day at the range, push through it by mentally regrouping. Take a short break, collect yourself, review the fundamentals, take a few dry firings, then resume. This can build confidence for match shooting.

Overcoming a bad shot or string of shots can be very rewarding. Remember, only the shot you are about to take is the one you can control - block out everything else.

I found that keeping a shooting diary / range book to be very helpful. Recording all the parameters of a range session or match including what went right and what went wrong and why can be very helpful. Calling your shots is a technique, once mastered, will yield long term gains.

Above all, remember it just a game.
 
A lot of us shooters suffer from anxiety related to precision shooting. Our desire to shoot perfectly, or our very best can be overwhelming at times, especially when all the complexities of life are thrown in. Pressure on ourselves to do well, the preparation, and the anticipation of a result that may or may not be under our control can be mentally exhausting. It’s easy to say, “just have fun”, but most of us aren’t wired that way.
Life is short though with plenty of stress. Shooting, at least for me, is still less stressful than life. Finishing second is a great accomplishment among what is probably a group of other good shooters.
 
A lot of the time my matches with poor results are the results of how my week has gone at work. Jobs that didn't get completed or jobs that before I left had not been diagnosed, usually stay on my mind until I return. I've tried to get better at letting it go till I return but have not gotten much better. Weeks that's go to plans typically have better match results.
Todd
 
Todd Earhart said:
A lot of the time my matches with poor results are the results of how my week has gone at work. Jobs that didn't get completed or jobs that before I left had not been diagnosed, usually stay on my mind until I return. I've tried to get better at letting it go till I return but have not gotten much better. Weeks that's go to plans typically have better match results.
Todd
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I agree and feel the same way. The last few years, I've had a lot on my plate that kept me from being at my best, in many aspects. Finally getting that stuff behind me but have got a lot of catching up to do before I'm back on my game. I can literally watch my scores trend down over that period. I'm probably at my low oint about now but will be working hard to turn it around. It'll take a bit. In my case, my scores tend to follow my effort beforehand. I'm always amazed at the few that can just pick up and win after time away from it. Some can. I have to work at it to stay at my own best.
 
Todd Earhart said:
I don't shoot UBR but I've shot ARA at MTSA and its a tough joint.
Todd
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I've not shot 50 yards there yet but I've seen some good scores there in rf. I'm not sure where the gremlins are there. Some say it's much worse at 200 than at 100 but I'm not sure. Personally, I think there is something around the 50-75 yard range that is what causes so much havoc.
 
I'll try to take a couple of pics sometime. The range is in the Cumberland
Plateau region. It goes from relatively flat to hills that go straight up in just a matter of a very few miles, if that. There's such a hill on at least a couple of sides there. Pretty amazing how steep they are. Cows there have longer legs on one side than the other to walk those hills! :D
 
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