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The Basics This page provides information about the basics of shooting. Read the entire article or click on the links below to access the following basic techniques: In the technical sport of target pistol shooting, where there are so many factors that can impact on your performance to varying degrees, it is very easy to become distracted by relatively minor aspects of technique in the search for a few extra points. This causes many competitors to overlook the need to constantly work on the improving their fundamental shooting skills, which is the area where the greatest performance gains are possible. The problem is that once competitors have established their basic technique, they often believe that further progress will be dependent on discovering and applying the "finer points" of target pistol shooting, when in fact, the most successful performers at all levels are those who continue to work on the basics every time they pick up a pistol. So how do you refine your basic techniques? The simple answer is to always be aware of what you are doing with the aim of improving your technique. Constant attention to each of the basic technical elements Stance, Grip, Breathing, Sight Picture, Trigger squeezing, Follow Through, etc. will not only improve the way in which you carry out these processes, but will prevent bad habits from sneaking unnoticed into your technique. This may all sound too elementary, but how many of us actually think about every aspect of our basic technique, whether we are shooting the match of the day at our home club or competing in the National Championships? Is your stance exactly the same from shot to shot; are you really focused on the front sight to the point where you aren't even aware of the target; are the shots coming as a surprise? etc. If this is not the case, does it really matter if you use the Romanian method to have a strategic plan for the match, a positive psychosocial orientation, the latest model pistol and most accurate ammunition? Not much! It is a noteworthy characteristic of elite competitors (in any discipline), that their conversation rarely addresses the finer technical points, the value of this or that piece of equipment. Instead, they usually discuss their performance on-the-day in terms of hold, sight picture, or trigger squeeze ability. In other words, the major concern is not with match strategies or the quality of the light, etc., but with how well they are applying the basics. At an ISSF team training camp some years ago, various top competitors were sharing their thoughts on competition strategies when one competitor commented, "We've all been in a competition situation where nothing is working, so we go back to the basics, and it all comes together again. What I want to know is, why do we get away from the ...... basics in the first place?" Too true! And in another example from a different discipline; the first Australian International 1920 Match Team trained at a private range before the Bianchi Cup. Following various problems with one competitor’s technique in training, he wasn't too happy with his pre-match preparation, but before he left for the Chapman Academy, the range owner advised him not to worry about any of that during the competition, "Just watch the dot and stroke the lever." The competitor remembered this very basic advice, and as they say, the rest is history. In the same way that one may be tempted by technical "red herrings", one can also become equipment oriented and trying to "buy" scores by constantly changing one’s pistol(s) and grip(s) in search of higher performances. Ironically, the new pistol approach often works (at least temporarily), because the only time some competitors really return to the basics is when using an unfamiliar pistol. On these occasions, as the grip, balance and trigger all feel strange and the sight picture is different, he/she can't rely on long established habits (good or bad) and have to think about the basic aspects of technique. The outcome of the first few matches with a different pistol can be surprisingly good, which is why most pistol dealers are happy to let potential customers try before they buy. This strategy sells a lot of pistols. I'm not suggesting that equipment isn't important, but having acquired equipment, which is suited to your needs, there is little point in changing. For the majority of competitors, paying attention to the basics will be far more productive than any pistol purchase and certainly much cheaper! The aim of correct stance is to provide the shooter with the best possible degree of balance and steadiness with the least possible strain on the muscular/skeletal system.
Minor variations of the stance may be necessary for different individuals, Different weights and body shapes will require minor changes, however, the shooter should analyse his/her and be aware of the reason for any variation. In training the shooter should become totally familiar with his/her correct stance and practice the same stance each time he/she steps to the line even when dry-firing. The correct gripping technique requires:
Steady alignment depends on the degree of pressure and the direction of pressure on the grip. The application of gripping pressure straight back through the middle of the pistol grip, parallel to the barrel, will facilitate a licked wrist. A weak sloppy wrist will produce inconsistent pistol recoil resulting in large group sizes. A firm wrist will produce consistent pistol recoil resulting in smaller group sizes. Shooting with larger calibre pistols require stronger gripping. Information about Trigger Squeezing is yet to be provided. During the process of early alignment, where it applies to precision shooting, the shooter raises the gun above the aiming region as he/she inhales. Upon obtaining the ‘correct front-sight / rear-sight notch picture, the shooter lowers the gun so as to align it with the aiming area as he/she exhales. Therefore, the procedure of alignment may be seen as two ‘stages’: the shooter inhales as the pistol is raised, and exhales as it is lowered. The shooter then makes the final adjustment in terms of alignment and sight picture with the aiming area while maintaining breathing to small abdominal in and out breaths. The shooter’s breathing routine is a key to achieving stability of the body and the pistol during the process of aiming as well as the shooter’s ability to perform with equal efficiency throughout the exercise. Correct breathing routine provides the shooter with sufficient oxygen and does not hamper the normal function of the heart. As the shooter breathes, the rhythmic movements of the chest, stomach and shoulders bring about the movement of the arm holding the gun. As the shooter inhales, the ‘sight picture’ shifts upwards. As he/she exhales, the sight picture shifts back down to its original position. Suggested Methods - During Rapid Fire shooting the arm is raised from the ‘ready’ position to and not above the aiming position/area. It is advantageous to hold breathing when the shooter is half way through inhaling. The various breathing routines are not physically demanding, but demand familiarity and consistency. In precision shooting the shooter will find the stomach or diaphragm breathing method extremely useful when attempting the procedure of early alignment and as he/she aligns the pistol to the aiming area. This correct method of breathing brings about a lesser degree of movement in the arm holding the pistol than does breathing with the chest. As the shooter aligns the pistol more accurately with the aiming area, as he/she applies pressure on the trigger, it is necessary to stop breathing for a time about 10 – 12 seconds. This is done, as the shooter is about to exhale. 10 – 12 seconds is sufficient to finalise pistol alignment and activate the trigger. Inhaling is less suitable as it produces undesirable involuntary tension in a number of muscle groups. Each individual will develop routines in his/her breathing pattern and breathing time can vary. Approximate representation of the breathing process, the movement of the ‘correct front-sight/rear-sight notch picture and its relative stability as breathing is temporarily halted and pressure is applied on the trigger. Aiming is the process of aligning the pistol with the aiming point / area, which is the one through which the shooter aspires to form the ‘correct sight picture’ and maintain its alignment. The process requires that the aiming area, the center of the notch of the rear-sight and the center of the top of the front-sight, forms a straight line i.e. the line joining the eye and the aiming point. The shooter’s success in terms of aligning the pistol with the aiming point is dependent on his/her ability to hold the gun at the angle that allows for the formation of the ‘correct sight picture’ and its alignment with the aiming point. Stability of the front-sight - rear-sight notch alignment in the aiming point is achieved through training i.e. improvement of the shooter’s stamina and ability to activate the trigger without altering the muscles responsible for holding the pistol. Shooters utilise semi-circular rear-sight notches with a slight ‘ditch’ or an oval bottom, as well as rectangular-shaped notches. The widths of front-sights usually range from 3.5mm to 5mm. The ratios of the widths of the front-sight and the rear-sight notches vary with the amount and intensity of light available both in general and in regard to the target, as well as the quality of the shooter’s eyesight and the shooting environment (usually range from 1:1.5 to 1:3). Representation of ‘correct sight picture’ in line with the aiming area as the shooter focuses on the front-sight and the rear-sight notch. Depending on physical ability, the shooter has an area within which he/she can control alignment (aiming area). This area will vary from individual to individual therefore, it is essential to choose the aiming area that suits you best. Small deviations of the ‘front-sight – rear-sight notch’ picture from the aiming point do not result in significant error if the trigger squeeze is activated correctly. If the movement of the pistol is kept to a minimum and the ‘front-sight – rear-sight notch’ picture is maintained, the shot should be accurate. Information about Follow Throut is yet to be provided.
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