Posted by Bob Gamble on August 11, 2000 at 15:59:24:
I am finding out the hard way that the best method to improve my Air Pistol technique is to concentrate on one thing at a time. My number one concern right now is trigger control. I feel that up to now, I have spent way too much time just “poppin caps”. I think that for the longest time I have had a 90% 10% type of trigger control going about 30% of the time, 90% smooth with a 10% small jerk at the end. The results are mixed at best. I find that when I concentrate on trigger control alone and do a 100% smooth release all of the time, I execute way better than I have been doing. My wild shots are for the most part, coming from bad trigger control. My goal is to move this 100% smooth all the time feeling and control into the subconscious. Positive reinforcement and successful repetition will help. I think with hold and sight alignment I am farther along. I don’t have to think about it as much. I could have a rather lousy hold or sight alignment but if the trigger control is good, the shot will flop into the 10 ring or real close to it. Still, it pays not to be lazy about those elements either.
I know what some of the trigger control drills are like, holding against a white background and releasing the trigger. Another one is to dry fire a shot then fire a live shot repeating the cycle over and over again. Which one helps you the most? How much time do you spend actually doing it?
The moral of the story is to not just go out there this weekend and “pop caps”. Train with a purpose.
Posted by David M on August 11, 2000 at 17:37:25:
To allow more concentration on trigger control try taking away the target. If you are shooting paper targets, put the target in backwards and shoot on the back for groups only. This does two things it removes the distracting target and forces you to watch the foresight, and it allows you to concentrate on your trigger control.
Posted by Andre on August 11, 2000 at 23:48:48:
Trigger control is one of the most difficult fundaments to master, in my opinion. I'm struggling to improve mine as well. The white target drill is very good to combine proper trigger pull with concentration on the foresight. But to train trigger pull all by itself, I find it's best to remove the target altogehter and shoot at the backstop. That way, you can really concentrate on the trigger , feeling exactly how it breaks.
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