Posted by Patrick Bennett on January 08, 2001 at 19:43:18:
Hi,
Some of the younger "B" grade shooters in my pistol club tend to lean backwards when they shoot. I have read that this is good for counter-balancing your forearm but I have found it a bit painful in the hips to keep this position for an entire match. I'm only 34 years old and in good physical condition but I've not tried this technique for longer than a few strings due to the discomfort. I also have tried holding my hand behind my back rather than in my front pocket but I've no idea as to the benefits of either in improving my shooting. Any advice/personal experience would be appreciated.
Patrick
Posted by mako on January 08, 2001 at 20:15:23:
In Reply to: Shooting stance - to lean or not to lean? posted by Patrick Bennett on January 08, 2001 at 19:43:18:
Some of the top shooters lean back, Bill Demarest does, but from what we learned in the pistol clinic with Eric Buljung (US TEAM pistol coach) was that you shouldn't have to. US Team member John Bickar was also teaching and demoing for us. He has a classic, "perfect" stance - no leaning back. I suppose you can build the back muscles to "comfortable" lean back for the entire match, by why do it.
If you are going to have to build some muscle, it might as well be your shoulder muscles using a 5 lb or lighter weight. I've started to use these rubber band things that go under your foot and then you hold up against that resistance. You can get them inexpensively at stores that sell medical supplies.
Some people do use more muscle to hold up the pistol but another technique is to raise your arm up to where it naturally settles with the arm resting comfortable in the shoulder socket and then breathing in to make the arm raise to your holding heights .... try it ...
Hold and control your hold with your throat holding the nice fresh breath you just took.
Posted by jrw on January 09, 2001 at 16:19:46:
: Some people do use more muscle to hold up the pistol but another technique is to raise your arm up to where it naturally settles with the arm resting comfortable in the shoulder socket and then breathing in to make the arm raise to your holding heights .... try it ...
: Hold and control your hold with your throat holding the nice fresh breath you just took.
That seems to be a very good suggestion for us beginners. Thanks!
My question(s) is this method only takes me maybe 4 to 6 six seconds
to pull off. I find myself drawing a slow full breath
to the 6 O'clock position then a second later the arc of movement starts
degrading the hold. It's almost like if you end up in alignment to the ten
ring at the end of the breath -- then just squeeze the shot before the the arc
degrades. Is this the theory behind this method? If so, it seems to be something
very comfortable for me.
Posted by mako on January 10, 2001 at 02:00:47:
I haven't developed a consistent method myself. Sometimes I'm able to hold and hold and improve my sight alignment. Sometimes it seems that I would be better off taking a quicker shot. I think it's a good idea to train for a longer hold ...
The Chinese elite shooter Yifu Wang (multiple Olympic medal winner) is apparently known for holding for a relatively long time. I don't know how long that is in seconds. Some US Team members deliberately hold for a relatively long time after the shot is released to train to be able to hold longer. Check out the interviews on the Pilkgun web site ...
Posted by Rod Madsen on January 09, 2001 at 08:16:10:
Leaning backwards. Interesting. Bill Blankenship advocates leaning forward for shooting in the wind and for rapid fire (bulls eye). What feels natural for you is probably best for you. Just go with the flow.
Rodm
Posted by Duncan on January 09, 2001 at 14:29:37:
I recently improved my scores by 15/400 between strings. How...... Well this may sound just a bit stupid but I had not realized I was not standing up as straight and tall as I could. I now consciously "stand tall" - this seems to lock out my frame and reduces swaying. No leaning back.
Helped me a lot - try it.
Duncan
Posted by mako on January 10, 2001 at 01:51:01:
"stand tall"
others would say that you should let yourself settle so that you have as much bone to bone support instead of using muscle to hold yourself up ...
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