FOCUSSED

[DED]

I can shoot high 20's or low 30's during 40 round weekly matches or practice rounds. But on 80 round matches i just never seem to be as foccussed usually shooting high teens or low 20's. Any suggestion on how to help this problem?

[slowstdy]

Forget the Numbers, Shoot 40, 60, 80 one shot matches. Do some concentration exercises, try counting backwards from 100 with a 2 second gap between each number.... Let us know how far you get.
Rest after each 5, take a seat to the line, How fast do you shoot, if fast slowdown, build up stamina.

[DED]

I'll try the concentration exercise. I need to try something because it gets frustating when you know whats wrong and you can't correct it. THANKS

[lone ringer]

First and explanation of what happens between practice matches and large matches.

At practice is like you walking on a steel beam that is four inches wide by thirty feet long but is placed on the ground and you do not have a problem going from one side to the other one without thinking. On the other hand if we raise the beam and put it in between buildings 10 stories high and ask you to walk across you will not be able to do it like you did it when it was on the ground because you will be thinking about the possibility of falling.

In shooting a lot of people fear the possibility of shooting poorly at large matches and embarrassing themselves. Or they have not shot a lot of large matches in their shooting carriers and the experience overwhelms them.

It is not the same to shoot a match in 30 minutes to one hour in environments you are used to than shooting one in four hours where you only pick up the rifle to shoot 10 shots every hour and you are not familiar with the place or the people, like at State or National matches.

The cure is go to as many large matches as you can afford, get into Mental Management so that you can get a handle on focus and concentration, get a match air rifle and train shooting at home if possible and if you can put up a target and shoot ten shots with a lot time in between so you can get used to shooting from being inactive for several minutes.

At places that allow you to go to the firing line and dry fire do it for a couple relays before yours. We do it more in HP than SB for some reason but most places will allow dry firing in areas to the sides of the firing ling.

Follow Slowstdy advice and shot one shot matches and concentrate on the execution of the shot, think center and follow through.
I hope this will help you. Tony

[Innocent]

Tony,
Great advice and well described.

Mary

[Jason]

I wish I'd read that advice before the Conard Cup, Tony. Going from shooting 120 shots (both classes in local 60-shot matches) in a couple hours to only 10 shots every half hour or so threw me for a loop. I had trouble "getting into the groove" and am working on a way to change my training routine for a bigger match.

[yankee]

I may be repeating some of what has been said in a different way but here goes. During long matches you need to create a rythum just like the small matches and create a relaxation technique that you use before each relay.
Between relays a few of us sit around and talk about everything except the game. We don't look at the score board and don't want to hear about so and so. We drive outselves and not let others drive us. Then when we hear the "cease fire" we get our gear together and go to the line and shoot.
Another thing is what are you eating? Small snacks all day seem better than a big meal at lunch then getting the need for a siesta. Keep your off time as consistant as your shooting time. Look at your whole day and just not the two and one half minutes you shoot.