How many repetitions do you get at your range? Not just rounds, but real training reps of all the skills to make a shot: decelerating the body to a position, trigger prep, clean break, maintain sufficient sight alignment-picture to make an acceptable hit.
Have you ever tried to isolate fundamentals (e.g. sight picture, trigger control)?
This short video shows a typical Tuesday morning training where Britt Lentz and I hit a high volume training session, have accountability to our movements (getting hits), isolate issues in our fundamentals, and make the most of our costly live fire rounds.
This drill is a derivative of the Progressor where we start at 25 yards and advance 5 yrds per shooting position working left toright on 5 targets. In this training session we execute in the following order:
First we hit the drill live fire completely cold (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yraIFpFguzI). It is important to access abilities completely cold. We don't have warm ups if we have to use the pistol off the range.
This is a series of four train up videos of a shooter, Nate, who is squared away but wanted to get some training. Nate's background is web developer and has shot recreationally but has not had formal training. The first video establishes the foundation of grip and stance.
Grip and stance are critical fundamentals. We don't need to get caught up in different techniques of grip and stance, but we need to be aware of the objective of our grip and stance. The stance needs to provide balance for handling the explosion of recoil. The grip has to 1) allow the trigger finger to exercise trigger mechanics and 2) provide a foundation so the sight comes back to its original position on the 2nd shot. coach needs to be executed correctly where the force is gradually progressed.
To shoot fast we have to go beyond pinning the trigger to the rear. So the shooter wants to break the shot, have good follow through and then reset the trigger as quickly as possible.
We have several shooting fundamentals: grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control, breathing, follow through and recovery. In this video we start with an introduction to trigger control adn namely "prepping (or staging) the trigger". Trigger prep is defined as taking up the slack of a trigger. This process is similar to taking a picture with a modern digital camera. When we take a digital snap shot we first press the button half way to focus the shot then we increase the pressure and "break" a shot to snap the picture. Same principle for shooting a gun. Normal triggers have about 3 lbs of force to take up the slack in the trigger, then the trigger stops, and then another few pounds of force is required to break the shot. Using the red trigger take up laser you can see whether you are prepping the trigger prior to breakign the shot. When you see the red and green lasers come on simultaneously you are not prepping the trigger.
To shoot off the reset the shooter must prep the shot, break the shot and then return the trigger finger to the "reset". We want to minimize wasted motion therefore, when we release the trigger we want the trigger finger to come forward enough to hear the click which means the internal seer mechanism has reset and then reapply slight pressure to the trigger.
You can see when the shooter is not shooting off the reset because the red laser comes completely off.
It should be noted that the red laser will only come on when the trigger is prepped but will turn off when we come off the trigger.
We have several shooting fundamentals: grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control, breathing, follow through and recovery. In this video we start with an introduction to trigger control. Trigger control is defined as minimal disturbance to the pistol when pressing the trigger. Trigger control requires prepping the trigger (pressing it for a bit until it stops, about 1/2 way), then increasing the force until the trigger "breaks". This process is similar to taking a picture with a modern digital camera. When we take a digital snap shot we first press the button half way to focus the shot then we increase the pressure and "break" a shot to snap the picture. Same principle for shooting a gun. Normal triggers have about 3 lbs of force to take up the slack in the trigger, then the trigger stops, and then another few pounds of force is required to break the shot. The objective with a SIRT is to have a "dot" not a "dash". A tight dot shows the gun is stable when we break the shot. A "dash" shows the muzzle is moving when we break the shot.
These guys are breaking new ground in integrated skillset cardio work. Cardio work can take many forms and can incorporate many movements beyond than good ol' running or walking on the incline. Check out this Tabata circuit (see http://www.intervaltraining.net/tabata.html for more info on this interval based circuit), it is great but take note of the Poul Ups at 2:00.
Have to start with the basics. Fundamentals are critical and before starting high volume training we must have the best technique possible. Grip and stance are absolutely fundamental. To test grip and stance we strongly suggest engaging in rapid shot drills to validate grip and stance. The Heckens videos go through the the fundamentals with a slant to providing information for instructors. The series of 6 videos are directed to shooters whether they are starting out or experienced. A few of the queuing points are useful to get you body in a versatile shooting stance and grip.
