Posted by Lascut Andrei on January 06, 2001 at 17:50:42:
Hi,
I am a young and inexperienced shooter and I was curious about how other shooters handle the pressure, maybe even some tips and tricks.
Posted by Scott H. on January 06, 2001 at 20:33:23:
Everybody gets match nerves, I think. Read DiDonna's interview, for instance. He talks of the extraordinary pressure he was under to repeat as a Gold Medalist. Most of us have more modest goals, but we'd all like to shoot nothing but 10's.
The only "trick" I've found for match nerves is to practice, and, most importantly, shoot in as many matches as you can.
Good luck.
SH
Posted by German A. Salazar on January 06, 2001 at 21:30:26:
Hello Lascut:
If you are experiencing significantly more pressure in matches than in training at this early stage of your development, a little mental adjustment may be needed. Consider that the competition is really no more than an extension of your training. It is a time to learn to perform within time constraints, surrounded by other shooters, and with official scoring. It is not (yet) a time to feel the need to win the match. Additionally, focus on your performance (sight alignment, trigger control, mental process) rather than scores. Look at each shot as a data point indicating to you the quality of your performance rather than a numerical score. You can use that data point to improve your performance on each subsequent shot. Additionally, when analyzing a shot, think of what you must do in order to make the next one better; avoid thinking about what made this one sub-optimal. This sounds like a subtle distinction, but it is not. A positive mind set, directed towards actions to be taken (not avoided) is necessary for a good performance.
German
Posted by stephen maly on January 07, 2001 at 11:09:14:
In addition to the previous follow-ups (all of which contain very good suggestions), I would suggest that you look up some books on "mental training" as used in sports. Your local public library might be a good source. Also, practice the same way that you compete. Wear the same clothes, set up the same kind of lighting, keep the same time constraints, and above all, shoot the same way. If you shoot air pistol, get the paper target carriers and use them. If you shoot on turning targets, practice at a range that has them. Shoot practice matches as realistically as possible. This of course, is in addition to normal training. You should dry fire and practice your sight alignment and trigger let off. Keep your time to shot let-off to within 3 to 7 seconds. Do not practice if you become tired, frustrated, or impatient, as you can learn bad habits that must be unlearned before real progress can be made. I say this because I used to find competition nerves difficult when shooting pistol, but not when shooting rifle, and I realized that the biggest difference was that I shot rifle exactly as I competed, but I had no turning target ranges available for pistol shooting. Variations of procedure can upset the mind and cause considerable anxiety. As was suggested in an earlier posting, focus on the next shot, or string of shots, and divorce yourself from the score you are accumulating. Also, be prepared for the most likely equipment malfunctions, so that you can correct them without a fuss. Commit the rules of the match, and all the procedures to memory, so that you are not wondering what to do if problems arise.
I hope this is of some help. Finally, be reasonable in your expectations of yourself.
Steve Maly
Posted by Rick Eickhoff on January 07, 2001 at 19:01:39:
Good Question !
There are many answers, you just need to find what works for you. Talk to some of the top shooters in your area, rifle or pistol it doesn’t matter, read books about sports and the mental side of the game. Try different mental techniques, and see how some of these techniques work you.
What I do, is try and focus all my attention to 1 or 2 key elements of technique and keep your mind off the score of the targets. Avoid looking at the score, and rate your technique each shot. Remember, each shot is a match in itself.
In Air Pistol, I feel the most important elements are 1) seeing the front sight clear and target blurry, 2) Proper trigger control, without disturbing the sight alignment when squeezing the trigger. 3)Discipline - know when to abort a shot, over holding or it just doesn't feel correct. Put the gun down and start over.
The main thing is find out which mental technique works for you.
Rick
Posted by mako on January 08, 2001 at 00:08:37:
In Reply to: How can you excape from the mach pressure? posted by Lascut Andrei on January 06, 2001 at 17:50:42:
Besides all of the other good suggestions from others ...
Make sure you are completely prepared equipment wise, drinking water wise, match fees, arrive early, etc. so that nothing can rattle you before the match.
However I was once at a match were a 10 meter air rifle shooter arrived a good ten minutes after the match started. I don't know if you realize how long it takes rifle shooters to get ready? A long time! He still won the match and set a personal best. A 571/600 and he had been shooting for less then a year.
At a recent free pistol match, we had a competitor start the match, go over to another building to finish his Practical pistol match, then return and have to hurry to finish. He still finished 2nd with an apparently pretty decent score for himself.
So maybe being under a bit of pressure makes one sharper?! I believe they use to think that ultra low pulse rates were very desirable in shooting. There have been other studies that show a slightly elevated pulse together with perhaps a little shot of adrenalin makes for sharper senses ... :-)
It seems I've shot better at my first matches when I was pretty excited then when I had it all together. :-)
Posted by Nicole Hamilton on January 08, 2001 at 22:25:09:
Looks like you've already collected a lot of good advice. Allow me to add just one more suggestion. If you'd like to do well in competition, the best, most straight-forward way to achieve that is by doing a lot of it.
If you shoot on a team every week (and even better if your team also does practice matches on another day every week), you will gradually find yourself becoming more comfortable with the pressure.
Nicki
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