Can I have a shoulder to cry on?

[GeoNLR]

I am REALLY strugleing with the mental game and how to deal with sucess... I'm a new AA shooter and have recently switched to one rifle (Ans 1712) and started dry firing practice drills. HIgh score is 24. Before last Sunday's match I had shot 3 more 24's in my last 4 matches...

Last night I start on the turkeys- take 7 of them down and turn an 8th. Any AA shoter would love that. Went to Rams, got 7. ...14 going into my "short game"

Been hitting 6-7 chickens min and 8 or so pigs- so one the low side looking at shooting an 27 or so...

Missed the first chicken, cleaned the next 3, GOT TO THINKING..(I know that is the problem) ..humm this is working....Ha-ha

Hit 3 animals of the remaining 16! Ouch, that hurt. Really hurt to hit 2 of 10 on Pigs, I've been steadly working on my 10 pin on pigs, and getting close...BUT 2/10? Come on man, that's a joke, isn't it?

So I finish up with a 20...Sad indeed..

I've been trying to lick my wounds, but they seem to be getting worse, LOL. How does a guy that can shoot 6-7 turkeys most every time not break 24? LOL. In golf there are the "Golf gods", are there devilish creatures in our game as well? :twisted:

[Feez]

I feel your pain, on a much, much lower scale.
Embarrassed to give actual numbers (just started this year) but I also started on turkeys this time.
Got more than ever, then triple the rams I ever got, then blew it real bad on the close ones.

Total was a personal record, but if I got an average # of pigs it would have been great.[/b][/i]

[genphideaux]

GeoNLR,

Dude should have called would have told you to watch your follow thru, If you do not see the hit, the black dot appear and the animal fall, you gave up to soon, you know me and you know I have been there. I had the same problem before winnie, on chickens and pigs, long line great 8 and 9's all day, went back to the old if you do'nt see it happen it may never happen attitude, followed thru all the way to see the animals final resting place, do'in good now(knock on wood)because I think It can rear it's ugly head any time at any level.

Dawg

[chunter]

LOL, Welcome to the game called rifle Silhouette.

I think every silhouette shooter has experienced this type of problem. However, the ones that get over it the best, are the ones that can keep a positive mental attitude.  I do not shoot well when I am trying too hard, one I become exhausted, second I get upset really easy.

I have found that if I have a good spotter that I can joke around with and have fun with while shooting,  then I shoot good. (Keeps me positive).

I experienced this problem at nationals this year, I shot a good solid average score my first day. I felt good and knew that I was going to have a repeat.  However, do to lack of sleep and forces out of my control I found myself missing animals. I then started trying harder and harder, and becoming more upset.  Needless to say the next two days went down the toilet. Looking back I would have to say that I would need to work on the attitude thing.

Remember this game is mental. If you have practiced enough and know your habits well enough, then there is no reason you should let your mind talk you out of well placed shots. Unfortunately there is not a perfect answer for everyone,  just don't give up.  During an interview around '97 Troy Lawton was asked something like 'how do you get good'  his answer was "just show up."

Good Luck

[crazyjjk]

I am another one who knows how you feel. Had a lot of trouble with a hunter rifle  (CZ) keeping a consistent POI. Started constantly trying to look where the bullit hit in the berm after a miss instead of staying on the animal. Begin not following through and picked up some other bad jerks and shakes. This year has been the worst I have ever shot a rifle and my troubles are not over yet. I can tell you from first hand experience that when your form goes into the toilet its hard to get it back. I have resigned to have fun work on my form and try not to worry about my scores no matter how bad they get. Good Luck> John

PS: I don't know how my scores could get any worse unless I hang up the rifle and start shooting rocks at the targets. :cry:  :oops:

[ajj]

George: I've sent you a PM but I'll add this. Develop the attitude that the challenge of shooting well when you're ahead of your average is the reason we play the game. This excitement is what we come for. This is the payoff. If the thought sneaks in: "Here is where I got too excited last time..." don't try to push it away. Stop for a second and give it your full attention and then LAUGH at that thought. And think: "Now, I'm REALLY having fun." And put the gun to your shoulder EXPECTING to hit the target. Just this next one.

[Steel killer]

This will make you feel better, AA hunter class, I shot two 26,on one of those matches I killed only 4 chickens, If I had shot my average I would have won AA instead of tieing for 2nd, after the shoot off I was 4th. I got move up to AAA. It will be a while before I see any more first place prizes.

Steel Killer

[shootingpaul]

pressure got you, instead of just shooting you have been counting your score, after shooting so well at the farther targets you have expected to do well on the close ones as well and that got you.  don't feel bad - if this game would be easy then we would have much more shooters then any other shooting discipline.  I just done some thinking and  come out with that our shooting is the most difficult one of them all, everyone thinks it is easy until they try to shoot match........ many of them complain about their equipment not being expensive enough etc etc bottom line is that you have to be able to shoot offhand very good to succussed in this sport and it takes a lot of time and practice.  You have chosen a sport that is reserved only for the ELITE shooters and you are a part of that ELITE as long as you are shooting rifle silhouette; everything else is just plinking.
so dont cry, because you are one of the top shooters that the country had to offer.

[Sixgun]

I think that everyone who has shot any type of silhouette game has had the same or simular problem that you are going through.  In a year or two you will be playing the same type of mind games but it will be with higher scores.  You will be wondering why you can't break 35 and you will be shooting consistent 34s and miss the last 3 animals just to turn in a 34 again.  The trick is to not give up.  Your scores will go up with more practice and experience.  And remember, the only person you are competing with is yourself.  

Experience and practice will allow you to learn more about your habits and how to control your own mind game.  You may never get perfection but you will get better.  Just keep shooting.

Sixgun

[9inarow]

Yep, these things happen.  Recently coming off a slump myself, you have my heart felt condolences.  Mental, mental, mental.....  Finally had to quit thinking about scores, and only concentrate on "the target at hand".

Also, check your settings.  During last nights air rifle match, was on my way to a Master's score (started with 12/15 turkeys, yep a 9-in-row in there), and finished with 7/15 pigs! :oops:   During the match, was convinced it has to be the shooter, not the equipment.  WRONG!   :?  Pig setting was done when it was hot during practice, and during the match it cooled down.  Pig settings were 1/2 minute off high.  :roll:   Oh well, there is always next time.

Practicing with an air rifle (in my backyard) on paper scaled targets, has been a great help with follow-thru.  Keep at it.

[Hornetx60]

GeoNLR, I would have to agree with some of what sixgun has told you. We all put limits on ourselves even if these limits are subconscious.  What happens is every time a shooter gets close to his personal best or his normal average he or she is into their comfort zone. So that shooter will miss targets so as not to get out of their comfort zone. Why because as soon as you start shooting better than what you are used to you immediately start getting anxious. Nobody likes that feeling so as a defence mechanism why not stay within your comfort zone.  The only way I know to break over that edge is to do it calmly. Just say to yourself "It is like me to hit these and shoot well".   When I walk to the line at the start of a match I have every intention of hitting every single target. I am serious about that. I do not let the thought enter my mind of missing. I am surprised when I miss my first target during the match. .....BE calm Allow yourself to shoot the way you know you can with focus and have fun. If you find yourself working at it....take a breath and relax and just shoot. This isn't supposed to be WORK this is supposed to be enjoyable. I know my best matches were also my easiest shot ones...most relaxed.   you'll get it !

[hh4064]

Ok here goes
I truly know the feeling. I call it the wall. My wall was 28. I went for yrs and could never get above 28. Know matter how hard I tried 28 was it. Then I started reading about mental training. everything I read said the same thing. If you can do it in your mind your body will follow. I read all the mental training books I could find. Articles by John Rost. Books by G.David Tubb. I just bought a book entitled The New Position Rifle. Mental training is HUGE. I quickly realized that my trouble was between my ears. I started visualizing in my mind shooting perfect scores. When I go to bed at night I (IN MY MIND WOULD SHOOT A PERFECT SCORE) I would run the entire process through my head. Going to the line hearing the ready and fire command. Shouldering the gun. hearing the ready. Watching the bullet fly down range,,, well you get the picture. Then for the first time in my shooting career I shot a 32. WOW I was off to the races. My high power score took off. And the rest as they say is history. I truly believe that shooting is 25% equipment and 75% mental. I know that there are people out there that will disagree but WOW did it ever help me
good luck
mbj
lapeer Michigan

[durant7]

GeoNRL...how is that new range??

Your good shooting on the long line tells you it can be done!  All of the above input is great stuff.  From my few years of playing the game I would say you were "trying too hard" but what does that mean?  Taking a page from Lanny Bassham's book (a must read) you were relying on the conscious vs. your subconscious skills.  As Lanny says, when a car cuts in front of you, your subconscious makes it a reflex to avoid the car...you don't actually "think" about it.  And you started to THINK too hard.

How to make it subconscious?  PRACTICE!  Dryfire, airgun, drills, dryfire, airgun, drills, etc etc.

Last weekend I was looking at my 10 in a row pin for Turkeys.  Just could not get the brain to stop thinking and I missed the tenth turkey!  UGHHHH! We all suffer from the brain working too hard.  Just have to make it a reflex and do all the basics right over and over.

Go to http://www.targetshooting.ca and go to "Docs" and then see "training" and read #1.  If you like it get his book.  It is great reading. http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=325184&domain_id=1856&meta_id=1

You'll be shooting 30's in no time!!

Jud

[jneihouse]

George,

I know you have a great practice ethic and good technique, so lets look at some other things.  Could be you have angered the Anschutz Gods (who let the bullet fairies do their bidding) by not shooting that beautiful 54:18 MSR with the georgeous dark stock:)  The thing to do is to sacrifice the 54:18 by giving it to me.  I'll interced with the Anschutz Gods and your scores will come up.  Seriously, though, have you looked for patterns in your match scores?  Outside of the mental part of the game, which is huge, there is a physical aspect that can't be overlooked.  Over the course of a 40 round match the mental and physical part of the game can push you into bad habits that cost you animals.  From your narrative it looks like you started strong and finished weak. If that is a trend in matches that you don't score well in improving your score might be something as simple as changing your diet or training regimen.  Have one of the guys down there that has good form spot for you and watch your form over the course of a 40 round match, or better yet watch you practice until you do get tired and evaluate how your form changes.  It's been my personal experience that when I'm tired I tend to drop my front shoulder slightly, resuting in low misses.  Or, I overcompensate and shoot high or too quickly.  For several years I worked with young baseball pitchers and my job was to break them out of a slump or correct their form to make their pitches work.  In each case except those in which there was an injury involved it was a simple matter of correcting their form, or prescribing a conditioning program to improve the pitcher's strength and stamina.  Another thing that helped my scores later in the season was to stay out of the gym for at least two days prior to a match.  I've figured out that at my age It takes me two days to recover to peak form after a workout.  

Do you guys have any more matches left this year?  We've got one left.  If you are still shooting on Wednesday, I'd like to take a day off work and come down and shoot with you all again before it  gets too cold and wet and tax season takes me away.

[GeoNLR]

We have monthly matches only all year now. They are Sunday afternoons on the 3rd Sunday of the month. We run the weekly Wednesday night matches from mid-April to September.

We are not shooting on the new range yet, we opened it for the state match only. We have some range construction to complete and a number of work days to complete the setting of the target rails.