On the mental game...

I saw this post on the bullseye-l list and thought it was pretty interesting:

Several years ago, our mutual friend Brian once told me, "If you can't shoot a 10 on your first shot, how in the heck are you going to clean the target?" ... At the time I thought it was an arrogant statement. I didn't fully realized what he was trying to tell me until after some time had passed. Basically he was instructing me to mentally get my head out of my backside. And expect of myself to pull off the first round as though I was at my peak performance level; something that I never expected from myself, you know--going to the first target COLD.

His intimated advice was for me to go figure my own way, to perform at a peak level, right out of the gate.

So I devised a training method for when I first arrive at the practice range. I would start the first target by getting ready to perform the best possible shot I was capable of. I took all the time in the world, worked my shot plan with slavish devotion--and hopefully after about three or four minutes, would eventually release my most favorable round. Then I'd immediately break the cycle and force myself to put the gun down, make it safe, and sit down to read the front page of the daily newspaper. After ten minutes or so elapsed, I'd start all over again without time limits, to perform the best shot that I was cable able of releasing. Then I'd put the gun down and start the process all over again by returning to the newspaper. In the beginning, it might have taken me about an hour to shoot one slow fire target, sometimes longer.

I'll be the first to admit, it's a difficult drill to mentally master. I've seen others attempt this drill and they're generally under the impression they're not actually accomplishing anything. It takes lots and lots of time, not to mention commitment. But you do learn a few of things about yourself. I came face-to-face with my own shortcomings and took inventory of my level of anxiety, confidence (or lack there of), devotion to one's shot plan, the quality of knowing when to abort, and most of all, my typical and ultimate level of patience.

And when things go real well, it's easier to mentally ingrain a good release and its related process.

The same drill can be applied and somewhat modified to your dilemma of switching guns during the center-fire match.

-Tony Brong