This week on Short Course, I give some thoughts about pistol matches using rules other than USPSA, and why that’s a good thing. I talk about why it’s good for the hobby of practical shooting and good as a competitor to have a variety of matches that aren’t all exactly the same.
#7: Flying to Nationals & Purpose of Big Matches
This week on Short Course, I talk about my experience flying to the USPSA Nationals in 2017, particularly my mistake of trying to fly with my ammo. I also discuss what I look to get out of a big match like a Level 2, and what isn’t all that important to me.
#6: Visualizing Stages in More Detail
This week on Short Course, I talk about learning to visualize in more detail after a few bad exerpeinces at recent matches. I also discuss using the right range commands, and an example of a higher round count stage being less complex than a shorter stage.
#5: Lessons Learned in Practice
This week on Short Course, I talk about a new USPSA podcast that just started called the Shoot Fast Podcast. I cover some ideas that the hosts gave me about improving my own practice and a few things I discovered on my own during my recent practice session. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#4: Planning Your Major Match Schedule
This week on Short Course, I talk about how I look at the different types of matches, based on the level of competition they offer and the resources required to shoot them. I outline a plan to decide which matches to shoot in a give year based on where you are as a shooter and where you can make the most useful progress. As an illustration, I apply this idea to my own 2018 match schedule. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#3: Gear Changes in 2017
On this episode of Short Course, I talk about a few gear changes I made in 2017, what I liked and disliked about the old gear, and what pushed me over the edge to change to something else. The items covered include my magazine pouches, Tanfoglio grip panels, bullet weight and profile, hat camera, and the biggest change of the year: switching guns. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
#1: Intro & Setting Goals
On the first episode of Short Course, I briefly introduce myself as a shooter, and kick things off with a discussion of goals. I talk about setting a goal to make GM in 2017, failing to meet the goal, what I learned from it, and how I think about goals today. If you want to get future episodes automatically, subscribe to the podcast feed.
Changing Direction
One of the things that I’ve been thinking about since making GM is the past, or particularly, my past. I shot my first match 8 years ago, an indoor IDPA match with a borrowed 1911. I originally classified as SSP Novice. I joined USPSA four years ago, and initially classified as Production C. What’s interesting is that none of those really matter. How bad I was to start doesn’t really matter. That I started in IDPA doesn’t really matter. My past only matters insofar as it gives me knowledge and experience to help me make decisions today. But I don’t … Read More
The Initiative
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the concept of the initiative. The initiative is the idea that, in a two-sided conflict, it is better to be the one acting first and forcing your opponent to react. You set the tone, you drive the tempo, you set the priorities. This lets you choose things advantageous to you while your opponent has to react to limit the damage to them of your choices. In chess, each player makes one move at a time. You move, he moves, you move, he moves. If you are spending every one of your turns reacting … Read More
Missing Your Goal
In December 2015, I set the goal to become a GM in 2016. At the time I was a high-A close to making Master. In Mid-December 2016, sitting at 93% and grasping at straws to try to make the goal happen, I shot a classifier match. Of the six classifiers, one was GM, one was low but counted, and four were too low to count. Embarrassing, right? No. Even though I didn’t achieve the goal of GM in 2016, I don’t regret one bit setting it or pursuing it doggedly, because it gave me a sense of purpose. Every daily … Read More