Practice Routines

[xswanted]

For those of you that have a tried and trued method that has helped you become a better competitive shooter, what part or parts of that routine have you focused on the mental side of it?


Do you have any techniques that help simulate the mental stress one would experience during a match or even more so towards the end of a match where fatigue begins to set in that you can incorporate into a daily or weekly routine?

Shooting discipline isn’t important to me, I’m strictly looking for different ideas for different folks.


Thanks

 

[KMcG]

Use a timer during practice. If you know your gun is in tune, shoot in the rough conditions in those 7 mins. Over flags of course.
Match day you will shoot in best conditions of the 7 min but the worst conditions wont make you panic.

 

[xswanted]

Use a timer during practice. If you know your gun is in tune, shoot in the rough conditions in those 7 mins. Over flags of course.
Match day you will shoot in best conditions of the 7 min but the worst conditions wont make you panic.

Very good, so to paraphrase this to more generalize it over other disciplines we could say practice through the worst conditions you available to you during your time.

I like it.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I have a mental check list I do during every shot, if I miss one item it shows on the target. Easier said than done. I joke and cut up between relays that keeps me relaxed and stress free. That’s what works for me

 

[ShtrRdy]

The guy that talked me into short range benchrest three years ago and I get together once a week and have a match against each other. He turned 96 this year and is still sharp. I think he's better than me at reading wind and usually wins if he doesn't have equipment/load problems. (he likes to fiddle with both)

 

[ELR LVR]

For those of you that have a tried and trued method that has helped you become a better competitive shooter, what part or parts of that routine have you focused on the mental side of it?


Do you have any techniques that help simulate the mental stress one would experience during a match or even more so towards the end of a match where fatigue begins to set in that you can incorporate into a daily or weekly routine?

Shooting discipline isn’t important to me, I’m strictly looking for different ideas for different folks.


Thanks

Put yourself through 24 hours sleep deprivation
Then go shoot groups

 

[Clancy]

Put yourself through 24 hours sleep deprivation
Then go shoot groups

Heck that’s when I shoot the best. Dog tired. Maybe I should try downing some cold brew instead?

 

[ELR LVR]

Heck that’s when I shoot the best. Dog tired. Maybe I should try downing some cold brew instead?

haha, thats so funny, I found it's when I shot best too
Didn't care, didn't get excited, heart rate didn't go up etc
Just focused and shot
Some of my best groups,
The catch is not falling asleep driving home

 

[Allen Corneau]

In my shooting discipline (Silhouette) you're shooting against a clock, and many of my mistakes can be attributed to rushing the shot because my mind is on the timer.

In solitary practice I take my time for each shot, trying to reduce the mistakes and reinforce the "perfect" shot process. The more that I can get that rhythm to become second nature the better I do when the clock is running.

I've been shooting this game for 10 years now, and while I'm getting better at it I still have a long way to go.

 

[CharlieNC]

When i was shooting a bit of fclass ftr, I'd set up everything in a spare bedroom and go through my mental checklist for a round of dry fire shots. You can observe a bit about your actions in a quiet environment and make improvements. Dry fire is useful and free.

 

[jelenko]

For me, the most important part of for the mental aspect is to be confident. Confidence is built through success => lots of dry fire and live fire. Learn in detail and practice what it takes to execute a 'perfect' shot.
During a match just do the same as practice - DO NOT try harder.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I spend a lot of time at my local club, practicing and testing in the same manner as I shoot matches. Same flag set, same loading technique, same everything.

I see shooters drive up, take a look at the windy conditions and go home. That’s when you should be shooting.

If you are shooting Score, don’t just shoot groups. Set targets up and practice hitting that X. The best grouping rifle in the world still needs to be guided into the center of the target.

The best advice I can give you for keeping mentally sharp towards an end of a match is don’t get old.

 

[Allen Humphrey]

I shoot mostly XTC format stuff. For the “mental” part of my practice I incorporate a few things:
1. Shoot with a clock, just like a match. Not for every drill, but often enough that my mental timer works for cadence and duration
2. Practice in poor conditions, not for how to just read wind, but to know, I’ve done this before and I know how to approach expectations
3. Practice with a buddy side by side so that their movements and muzzle blast becomes normal and not distracting
4. Create stress. I’ll do the “gotta have a 10 on this shot to win” thing