Posted by Jace Samsel on November 13, 2001 at 15:10:17:
I am interested
in hearing from 10 meter Air Pistol shooters who post scores on High Noon. I
would also like to hear from AP shooters who currently shoot scores 560 and
above in competition who do not post on High Noon. I know what the expert’s
advice but I would like to know how most people really train. You can reach me
directly at J_samsel@hotmail.com
What I would like to know is,
1. How many
days do you really train a week?
2. How long have you been shooting 10 meter
AP?
3. How long have you been shooting your current AP?
4. Do you keep a
training log?
5. Do you dry fire, if so how often and how much?
6. Do you
do any physical conditioning such as running or weight lifting? If yes what and
how much?
7. Do you spend any time working on the mental aspects of shooting
such as visualizing, if so how much and what?
8. Any other element of your
training that you feel is essential to you training.
Thanks, Jace Samsel
Posted by mako on November 13, 2001 at 16:01:20:
Jace:
You might want
to read the interviews with top shooters ... see LINK below. Some of the top
High Noon shooters are also top international shooters: John Bickar, David
Moore, Stale Waagbo. You might have read below that John Bickar shoots 2 to 3
THOUSAND rounds of Rapid Fire a WEEK. John also shoots Air Pistol, Center Fire
and Standard pistol. Shooting for the US Team is pretty much John's full time
job. It's been reported that multiple Olympian Skaanaker Ragnar still shoots 200
rounds of Free Pistol a day ... and it showed when he made a come back ...
competing in this years European Championship and coming in 8th ... at the age
of 67. He stays fit playing tennis.
One local champion here in Southern
California shoots around 200 rounds of air pistol, six days a week in an Olympic
year (he also practices Free Pistol, and is the current world record holder in
that discipline). He runs, bicycles, works full time as an electrical engineer
(plus full time custody of a 12 year old), he's been shooting for about 8 years,
does not dry fire, has been shooting a FWB P34 (owned by Beeman air gun
importer) for about four years, shoots a small bore rifle for fun and a break
from pistol shooting. His training method is to shoot 60 shot "matches." He does
not use an electronic trainer.
A friend of mine, who shoots in the 560's in
practice (posts those scores on High Noon), practices almost every day, usually
at reduced distances, does not work out but has a physical job, shoots a used
FWB 103, has been shooting for over 20 years (and is only 29 :-) but has only
been shooting 10 meter air pistol, his new love, for less then a year, does not
keep a log, does not dry fire.
Looks like it just a matter of lots of
practice ... ugh ... :-)
Posted by john bickar on November 13, 2001 at 18:31:57:
: 1. How many
days do you really train a week? 5-7 days a week
: 2. How long have you been
shooting 10 meter AP? Since 1993
: 3. How long have you been shooting your
current AP? Since August of this year (4 months)
: 4. Do you keep a training
log? No
: 5. Do you dry fire , if so how often and how much? Not much; a few
shots to warm up and after that it's pretty much all live. Of course, I have
easy access to a range and spend up to 25 hours a week on a full-size
international range. When I was in college and training and range time were at a
premium, I would dryfire (at a super-concentrated level) for 20 minutes a
day.
: 6. Do you do any physical conditioning such as running or weight
lifting ? If yes what and how much? I play in a weekly soccer league and spend
some of my vacations backpacking at 10-13,000 feet (3-4,000 meters). It's good
for the cardiovascular system.
: 7. Do you spend any time working on the
mental aspects of shooting such as visualizing , if so how much and what? Yes,
lots. Imagery is very important to use, especially on the range during your
training. I usually try to visualize myself in an upcoming competition when I'm
on the line training. I also use positive imagery during competition to fix
problems.
: 8. Any other element of your training that you feel is essential
to you training. $1,000 worth of hard work will increase your scores infinitely
more than $1,000 worth of equipment. Unless, of course, you're a rifle shooter
;)
Posted by Mark P. on November 13, 2001 at 18:46:53:
I'm still a newbie to
air pistol, but here's my info:
: 1. How many days do you really train a
week?
About 3 days, usually 100 shots broken up into a 60 shot "match" and a
40 shot "match".
: 2. How long have you been shooting 10 meter AP?
Since
the beginning of May 2001.
: 3. How long have you been shooting your current
AP?
Since the beginning of May 2001.
: 4. Do you keep a training log?
Not really. I've been keeping my targets and occasionally scribble notes on
them though.
: 5. Do you dry fire, if so how often and how much?
Barely
at all. Maybe a few shots just warm up.
: 6. Do you do any physical
conditioning such as running or weight lifting ? If yes what and how much ? A
little weight lifting, though not because of air pistol. Will start running
(again, not especially for air pistol, just need to get in shape).
: 7. Do
you spend any time working on the mental aspects of shooting such as visualizing
, if so how much and what ? I think it's an important part of the game, but I
don't sit don't make a practice of sitting down to think about thinking. :) I
just have a plan, know what I want to do, and do it the best I can.
: 8. Any
other element of your training that you feel is essential to you training. Just
practice. And not just any practice, but GOOD, consistent, observant, practice.
Posted by Steve Swartz on November 13, 2001 at 20:32:52:
Jace:
Answers embedded below. I start with demographics so you know who I am and
where I am.
: I am interested in hearing from 10 meter Air Pistol shooters
who post scores on High Noon . I would also like to hear from AP shooters who
currently shoot scores 560 and above in competition who do not post on High Noon
. I know what the experts advise but I would like to know how most people really
train. You can reach me directly at J_samsel@hotmail.com
*Demographics: I'm a
"high 560-low 570" shooter. I have been shooting pistols competitively since
1998 (primarily NRA Bullseye, where I hold the classification of High Master). I
have been plinking off and on with the air pistol since 1998; competitively
since 1999, and exclusively since last September. With that in mind, here goes:
: What I would like to know is ,
: 1. How many days do you really train a
week ?
*Seven days a week. 3 x 30 minute training sessions per day
(structured) with a match or other comprehensive workout (2 hrs) on the weekend
Sunday. Oh yeah, add the physical stuff on top of the regular training.
: 2.
How long have you been shooting 10 meter AP ?
*See above.
: 3. How long
have you been shooting your current AP ?
*2 years.
: 4. Do you keep a
training log ?
*Of course! How else would I know where I've been, where I
am, and where I'm going?
: 5. Do you dry fire, if so how often and how much
?
*Dry fire is part of my regular training routine. Daily.
: 6. Do you
do any physical conditioning such as running or weight lifting? If yes what and
how much?
*Yes. Aerobic 3x per week, walking 20+ minutes 5x per week,
weights 3x per week (low weight, high rep, upper body). : 7. Do you spend any
time working on the mental aspects of shooting such as visualizing , if so how
much and what ?
*Part of my training routine. Daily.
: 8. Any other
element of your training that you feel is essential to you
training.
Structure! I never pick up any of my training materials (gun,
self-hypnosis tapes, training books, focal images, etc.) without having a clear
purpose as to what I seek to accomplish in the next few minutes and why. 540 is
easy; all you have to do is shoot regularly. 550 are tougher, now you have to
think about what you're doing. 560 actually requires a training plan. 570
requires all of the above plus dedication. I'll tell you what 580+ requires when
I get there.
: Thanks , Jace Samsel
Posted by mako on November 14, 2001 at 01:24:12:
Nice High Noon match
scores! GECO's are O.K. but at your level you could probably pick up some points
by not using HOBBY pellets! :-)
As you've probably noticed ... a lot of the
Hobby pellet's skirts are deformed. Using one of those 100 pellet "shaker boxes"
will help you easily and quickly identify misshapen pellet skirts.
After
testing a lot of pellets with a number of different air guns ... I would
recommend trying the Vogel Green Match pellets in size 4.495. They seem to
consistently do very well in a range of pistols. I would also stay with the
Greens (heavies). Don Nygord suggests that almost all match air pistols do
better with heavy instead of light/high speed pellets...
Posted by Bob LeDoux on November 15, 2001 at 20:24:06:
I read and hear
comments about the need to have the finest and most expensive pellets in order
to shoot good scores. Read the article at the following link, written by the son
of our postal competition organizer.
http://antenor.pol.lublin.pl/users/gglady/pellet/pellet.htm
If you shoot
competition air rifle, I think the pellets become very important. But with that
great big bullseye provided us pistol shooters it may be a lot less important.
I want consistent pellets, but I also want lead mix and lube that minimizes
or eliminates barrel leading--especially since none of the pistol manufacturers
will give straight answers as to appropriate cleaning techniques.
I shoot
Meisterkluegn and I'm hard pressed to justify more expensive fodder.
Can
anyone offer a good reason to spend $60 per 5000 instead of $48 per 5000?
Posted by mako on November 19, 2001 at 23:10:47:
Bob ... send me your
email address and I will pass along some scans of targets shot with the
cheapest, most horrid pellets ... and a target shot with the pellets backwards
... and you'll be wondering why you spend more then a couple of dollars for
pellets. I was surprised! I need to order more pellets ... and I'm wondering if
I'm stupid to buy even the relatively inexpensive Vogel Match pellets that have
tested so well ... in my tests.
Sponsored by Pilkington Competition Equipment