My 20 second series was not bad, could have been better, but I am learning that in order to do well in 20 second series, I need to take my time. I can hear the shots of the other shooters as I squeeze the trigger 5 times. I am almost always the last shooter to get a shot off, and there is always at least 3-4 seconds of silence after my shot before the targets edge. This means that I have more time, I need to slow down and make sure each shot is focused and smooth.
For some reason, I have a lot of trouble transferring these concepts to 10 second series. I always have shots out in the white, There is no tight group. I feel as if the 10 seconds race by and I barely can get the 5 shots off in the direction of the target. My hurdle: To figure out how to shoot 5 smooth, steady shots in 10 seconds without trigger jerking etc.
It could have been the effect of my 10 second series that made precision so much more difficult in Sport. I was in trigger jerk mode maybe. Maybe I was too tired to hold steady. I have not been doing enough shoulder exercises. It could have been that I just wasn't focused, my mind was wandering too far. I can accomplish great things when I am focused, tired or not.
In my duel however, I have only a few shots outside of the main grouping. I made a great discovery that helped me. This is not a new discovery, but I am learning that sometimes a slight change in situation can make rediscovering something just like discovering it for the first time. The light bulb may already be on, you just need to uncover it! My light bulb: Take your time!! This is the same concept I use in 20 second series in Standard. However, it is implemented a little differently in duel. Each time the targets face, there are 3 seconds to raise the gun from "ready" position and get the shot off. Simple logic says you want to raise the gun as quickly as possible to have as much time as possible to align your sights and get the shot off before the targets edge. I have found, that raising my gun too quickly takes away from my ability to keep the front sight steady. If I use my breathing as my rhythm (which I do to keep time during the 7 seconds in between shots anyway), and raise my gun in time with an inhale, the front sight comes up right in place, I already have pressure in the trigger, have taken up the first stage while in the "ready" position, and I can smoothly squeeze the shot off, then lower the gun as I exhale and prepare for the next cycle. Seems so simple, but it makes a big difference!
