Mental Preparation before going to the Line

[McCandless]

When I'm at the loading table, once I'm loaded, I start running through the stage sequence, and especially the sweeps.  I figure where every shot "should" go.  I try to think about which pistol to pull first, because habit makes me want to pull my cross-draw first... and sometimes that's not the best way to shoot the stage.  

I don't like folks to talk to me while I'm "on deck", (often, we don't have expeditor tables).  I don't like to holster my pistols, until I've taken a final scan to make sure I have enough shotgun shells and rifle reloads, "just in case".

 

I've been advised that I should be thinking about foot placement, every step I'm going to take along the way, which hand to use to pick up which gun and what the other hand will be doing... good advice, but I'm not that smart.  I can't seem to hold all that in my brain at the same time!

I've set up a dry-fire range in my backyard, where the neighbours can't see, so I can practice that kind of stuff... but during a match, at the beep, my brain seems to slip back into neutral and goes "duuuuuuuuh"

 

I know I need to train my brain, by repetition and practice, just like I did when I was performing a difficult job in the real-world. 

Mebbe since I retired my brain juices have leaked out my ears.  I need the seals replaced!

You'd think after almost 18yrs of CAS I'd have this down pat.  Nope.

 

What's your mental prep at the loading table, just before you go to the line?

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

As a relatively new shooter, I too, wait to holster my revolvers until I am ready to leave the LT.

For the reasons McCandless gave, my first match, I made the mistake of holstering my revolvers, and realized I still needed to return to my gun cart, which I did, and was called on it. (appropriately so).

I make sure I have my safety glasses on, and visualize myself going through the stage.

Obviously the sweep sequence is the most difficult for me to remember so running it through my mind without moving my hands.

The one process I DO NOT DO, is to watch the current shooter and what he does. This will royally mess you up.

Lastly, the most important aspect of my preparation is to say a prayer that GOD will guide me through the stage safely and regardless of how I shoot, I will not do anything stupid that could cause anyone harm. (And yes, I do ask that he guide my aim accurately)

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

We found the cause of those duuuuuuuuhh moments.

It's all the cause of that little timer box and it's nefarious BEEP!

We have proven, in a multi million dollar study, that the timer box starts sucking your memory (and some brains), the moment the TO brings the timer close to your ear. 

Entire removal process only takes an instant and the finish of the process is announced by the BEEP!

But we did find a cure, as the photo shows: Take the stage booklet to the line.

 

[Goatneck Clem]

McCandless

I have a program that addresses the issues you are experiencing.  Give me a call and we can visit.

 

Goatneck

817 247-9982

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

First and foremost ..... make sure you don't have to Pee.  If you have to Pee, you can't concentrate on anything else.  Trust Me.

[Ramblin Gambler]

Once I'm loaded I concentrate on thinking of a funny version of the starting line.  I've usually come up with something before I even get in line to load, but I use that time to finalize it and get the delivery down pat. 

[Shooting Bull]

19 minutes ago, Goatneck Clem said:

McCandless

I have a program that addresses the issues you are experiencing.  Give me a call and we can visit.

 

Goatneck

817 247-9982

 

McCandless, do yourself a favor and call this man!!! 

 

Two things I noticed in your post. #1: Don't wait until you're at the loading table to start your prep.  Run through the stage while at your gun cart. #2: Training your brain is exactly correct.  The mental game (Which is what you're talking about) is every bit as important as the physical game.  It takes just as much practice.  Don't skimp on mental practice. 

[Grizzly Dave]

One thing I've found myself doing as the person in front of me is shooting is closing my eyes and visualizing where the shots are going.  Of course if the shooter in front is faster or slower, their cadence may not match what you want to do, but since it's hard to tune out the reports of each shot they fire, at least you are setting the sequence in your mind again.

 

I made a 2 part video series a year or so ago on 'Attacking a Stage.'  I don't know that it will provide any more or better info that you've gotten above, but maybe it will at least be entertaining.

 

 

 

 

[Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804]

prep?????

[Chief Rick]

31 minutes ago, Grizzly Dave said:

One thing I've found myself doing as the person in front of me is shooting is closing my eyes and visualizing where the shots are going.

I do this as well - except when I'm the first shooter (which is quite actually most of the time).

[Shooting Bull]

1 hour ago, Grizzly Dave said:

One thing I've found myself doing as the person in front of me is shooting is closing my eyes and visualizing where the shots are going.  Of course if the shooter in front is faster or slower, their cadence may not match what you want to do, but since it's hard to tune out the reports of each shot they fire, at least you are setting the sequence in your mind again.

 

 

This is actually something I actively try to avoid and it takes effort to build the ability to block out everything, including other shooters.  I don't want to hear them for the exact reason you mention, their cadence.  I have my own cadence and I don't want any outside influences to affect that.  I also don't want any negative thoughts creeping into my brain if they happen to mess up. 

 

Totally personal preference though.  If it helps you visualize the stage by mentally tracking their shots then that's what you should do. 

[McCandless]

5 minutes ago, Shooting Bull said:

 

This is actually something I actively try to avoid and it takes effort to build the ability to block out everything, including other shooters.  I don't want to hear them for the exact reason you mention, their cadence.  I have my own cadence and I don't want any outside influences to affect that.  I also don't want any negative thoughts creeping into my brain if they happen to mess up. 

 

Totally personal preference though.  If it helps you visualize the stage by mentally tracking their shots then that's what you should do. 

That's what I learned early on, don't fall into the same cadence as another shooter.  If they are a fast shooter, I'll mess up, breaking the shot before I'm ready.  If they're a slow shooter, (or slower than me), then I'm not shooting my game.

[Grizzly Dave]

5 minutes ago, Shooting Bull said:

 

This is actually something I actively try to avoid and it takes effort to build the ability to block out everything, including other shooters.  I don't want to hear them for the exact reason you mention, their cadence.  I have my own cadence and I don't want any outside influences to affect that.  I also don't want any negative thoughts creeping into my brain if they happen to mess up. 

 

Totally personal preference though.  If it helps you visualize the stage by mentally tracking their shots then that's what you should do. 

 

 

One reason I prefer to go among the first to shoot the stage.  Less chances for me to get off track by what others are doing.  I change my mind after the beep enough as it is.  and by studying the hat cam footage I see where I failed to follow thru on my planned transitions and such too...

 

As you say, we each have to figure out what works for us, one size does not fit all, but there are valuable lessons to be learned by watching those who are successful.

[Dantankerous]

Lotsa good advice here. Especially the part about needing to visit the outhouse... Durn if'n that don't git aggravating as all gitout. Especially while wearing shotgun chaps.

 

I try to find a musical cadence to shoot the targets to. I find this to work better than counting shots or targets. 

 

I figgered this out at a match one day when I heard the 2-1-2 pistol sweep. Shot fast it sounds like BoomBoom-Boom-BoomBoom. It also sounds like the main percussion beat to the theme music from Terminator.

 

Terminator Music

 

As a musician, it made sense to me. I now try and find a rhythmic cadence to every shot string sequence. I can adjust the internal metronome to suit my speed comfort level.

 

Might not work fer everyone.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

2 hours ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

Once I'm loaded I concentrate on thinking of a funny version of the starting line.  I've usually come up with something before I even get in line to load, but I use that time to finalize it and get the delivery down pat. 

 

RG and I were on the same posse Saturday and he 'stole' my adjusted start lines a couple of times!

 

hard to shoot the match correctly when some cowboy done hijacked your brain thoughts 

[Dantankerous]

3 hours ago, Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 said:

 

 

My new favorite CAS picture!

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

1 hour ago, Grizzly Dave said:

One thing I've found myself doing as the person in front of me is shooting is closing my eyes and visualizing where the shots are going.  Of course if the shooter in front is faster or slower, their cadence may not match what you want to do, but since it's hard to tune out the reports of each shot they fire, at least you are setting the sequence in your mind again.

 

I made a 2 part video series a year or so ago on 'Attacking a Stage.'  I don't know that it will provide any more or better info that you've gotten above, but maybe it will at least be entertaining.

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting:  he used a numeral for part 1 and spelled out the number in part two

 

It must mean something but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

In high school we had Speech Class (and at community college). And you had to give a 5 to 7 minute speech on whatever. Teachers on both levels told students who got really nervous standing before a group of people, to picture the audience in their underwear as a relaxing technique.

 

Not sure if this would be a good SASS strategy.

[Grizzly Dave]

14 minutes ago, Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L said:

 

Interesting:  he used a numeral for part 1 and spelled out the number in part two

 

It must mean something but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is

 

It's an old trick to include a slight inconsistency so that if not even consciously noticed, the mind lingers on the subject a little longer.

 

OK, I just made that up. 

 

I have no idea why I made it Part 1 and Part Two.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

You should be only thinking about two general concepts before shooting... Mine are Smooth and Front Sight.

 

Never wait until you are at the loading table to choreograph your stage.

 

Never pull different pistols... Always pull the same one first cuz the potential time savings isn't worth the risk. 

 

My 2 cents...

 

Phantom

[Dantankerous]

7 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

You should be only thinking about two general concepts before shooting... Mine are Smooth and Front Sight.

 

Never wait until you are at the loading table to choreograph your stage.

 

Never pull different pistols... Always pull the same one first cuz the potential time savings isn't worth the risk. 

 

My 2 cents...

 

Phantom

 

Keep it simple and consistent.

 

Great advice!

 

 

[Deadeye George]

7 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

You should be only thinking about two general concepts before shooting... Mine are Smooth and Front Sight.

 

Never wait until you are at the loading table to choreograph your stage.

 

Never pull different pistols... Always pull the same one first cuz the potential time savings isn't worth the risk. 

 

My 2 cents...

 

Phantom

I'm glad you typed that because I was just going to ask what the circumstances would be to warrant switching ones drawing sequence.  I use a cross draw and after a SDQ for sweeping last year, I am very aware of my drawing and holstering and have worked hard getting a routine down pat and shooting the cross draw pistol last would definitely mess me up.

[evil dogooder]

The mire I think about the Stage the worse I do.  I read it to understand what is needed then take some deep breaths. At the beep I let it rip.

[Smoky Pistols]

3 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

First and foremost ..... make sure you don't have to Pee.  If you have to Pee, you can't concentrate on anything else.  Trust Me.

I will agree with that statement.  Even when fencing, I have a little mantra--"Always go pee between pools (seeding) and DE! (Direct eliminations)"

[Michigan Slim]

3 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

First and foremost ..... make sure you don't have to Pee.  If you have to Pee, you can't concentrate on anything else.  Trust Me.

Oh  no If I have to go and I cant until after a stage, I FLY on it (by my standards...). But everybody else slows waaaayyyy down!

[Ramblin Gambler]

I like to spot in the beginning to help me figure out the best way to do things.  And cheyenne ranger learned last saturday that you either need to come up with 2 funny starting lines, or make sure you're the only smart aleck on the posse. 

 

 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

First - a stage is NOT a group of disparate actions. 

Too many shooters try to "chop" it up into pieces A then B then C then D

It doesn't often work that way.

 

A stage is ONE continuous process - a dance if you will -  where your feet position, hand movement and body movement are JUST as important as any other component of the dance (i.e. shooting).  And just like a dance - oftentimes - one must be performing multiple actions at one time.

 

For any reasonable chance at success - One action must flow neatly without hesitation into the next - whether that is a positional movement or a firearm transition.

The very best in our game - will be doing two or three different things - with all of them occurring at once.

 

And if you have not analyzed the stage enough to be FULLY aware of where your hands, feet, body , guns need to be at EVERY moment of the stage. 

You're not ready to shoot yet.

 

Script the stage out in your shooter book - what should be occurring when and where?

With what hand am I picking up - putting down?  This may vary based on direction of movement and/ or next gun.

Can I pull shotgun shells on the move?

Can I draw my pistol(s) on the move.

If I have to manipulate a prop - which hand or side is better?  There WILL always be a better or worse choice. 

And it may be based on something as simple as "If I carry in my X hand I can pull shotgun shells - if I carry in my Y hand - I have to wait until I'm rid of the prop"

These kinds of prep thoughts gain time and MORE importantly - make the stage more sensible/ easier to flow through.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dantankerous]

18 minutes ago, Deadeye George said:

I'm glad you typed that because I was just going to ask what the circumstances would be to warrant switching ones drawing sequence.  I use a cross draw and after a SDQ for sweeping last year, I am very aware of my drawing and holstering and have worked hard getting a routine down pat and shooting the cross draw pistol last would definitely mess me up.

 

Here is my example of messing stuff up and NOT paying attention to the entire stage. As a new shooter my nerves got me good.

 

When I shot two handed I used a cross draw. Always pulled the cross draw revolver first. Always.

 

Stage was a split pistol sequence. Pistol. Shotgun. MOVE TO SECOND LOCATION. Pistol. Rifle.

 

As a fairly new shooter I was perhaps too focused on the stage and not enough on my surroundings.

 

I pulled first pistol and shot it dry. Reholster. Shot shotgun and restaged it. I moved to second shooting position and muscle memory had me pulling the cross draw again. Click. WTH? Click. Click. WTH? Are my reloads ALL bad?  Click. Click. Click. I declared the gun bad and set it down. Shot the rifle and finished the stage.

 

I never pulled my strong side revolver. I was drawing a total mental BLANK. Apparently the counters AND the TO were yelling for me to pull the second revolver but I never heard them. At all. I was too flummoxed by the clicks and thinking my reloads were all bad I never got my brain straight and forgot I had two revolvers.

 

I never did that again. Learning experience BIG TIME. What did I learn? Three things: Relax. Relax. Relax.

 

Visualize the stage before getting to the line. Shoot the stage when at the line.

[Lawman Mays]

45 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

ou should be only thinking about two general concepts before shooting... Mine are Smooth and Front Sight.

 

Never wait until you are at the loading table to choreograph your stage.

 

Never pull different pistols... Always pull the same one first cuz the potential time savings isn't worth the risk. 

 

+1 t this. And, before I get to the loading table I run through the stage description in my mind. When I get to the line, I need to be confident about the sequences. Then, go for it.

[Flash]

44 minutes ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

I like to spot in the beginning to help me figure out the best way to do things. 

 

I am usually the TO for the first half of the posse so by the time I get to shoot the stage is imprinted in my mind to a point I don't even have to think about what to do. Counting will do the same in my humble opinion. Give it a try and see if it helps.

[Warden Callaway]

12 minutes ago, Lawman Mays said:

. And, before I get to the loading table I run through the stage description in my mind. When I get to the line, I need to be confident about the sequences. Then, go for it.

 

I've shot with a guy that always "air guns" the stage at the loading table - I think with his eyes closed.  I often shoot behind one of our fastest shooters.  I notice he's reluctant to engage in any conversation at the loading table.  After loaded and waiting to be called,  I can tell his mind is somewhere else.  

 

I don't think I do any real mental planning but I try to wipe the sweat from my eyes and face if it's real hot and make final adjustments to my leather.  When the question comes up, "Are you ready?", I take a couple of deep breaths and make sure my feet are planned where I want them.

[Ramblin Gambler]

54 minutes ago, Dantankerous said:

pulled first pistol and shot it dry. Reholster. Shot shotgun and restaged it. I moved to second shooting position and muscle memory had me pulling the cross draw again. Click. WTH? Click. Click. WTH? Are my reloads ALL bad?  Click. Click. Click. I declared the gun bad and set it down. Shot the rifle and finished the stage.

 

I just want to point out that if you thought it through and had pulled your strong side revolver first, you wouldn't have made the mistake later in the stage.  Muscle memory woulda worked in your favor.  When I was shooting two handed, I constantly swapped which gun I pulled first according to what made the most sense.  For instance, the crossdraw gun was longer barreled and more accurate.  So if some targets were further back, I'd try to use that one on them.  Barring that situation, I'd look at which way I was moving before and after the pistols to give myself an extra safety margin against breaking the 170. 

 

Now that I'm a gunfighter, none of that nonsense is an issue anymore.  But I still switch up which gun gets fired first. 

[Dantankerous]

10 minutes ago, Ramblin Gambler said:

 

I just want to point out that if you thought it through and had pulled your strong side revolver first, you wouldn't have made the mistake later in the stage.  Muscle memory woulda worked in your favor.  When I was shooting two handed, I constantly swapped which gun I pulled first according to what made the most sense.  For instance, the crossdraw gun was longer barreled and more accurate.  So if some targets were further back, I'd try to use that one on them.  Barring than situation that, I'd look at which way I was moving before and after the pistols to give myself an extra safety margin against breaking the 170. 

 

Now that I'm a gunfighter, none of that nonsense is an issue anymore.  But I still switch up which gun gets fired first. 

 

You're probably right. BUT, I was a new shooter, nervous, hyper focused to a fault, trying too hard to be competitive and thusly STILL would have found a way to screw up a good thing.

[McCandless]

1 hour ago, Deadeye George said:

I'm glad you typed that because I was just going to ask what the circumstances would be to warrant switching ones drawing sequence.  I use a cross draw and after a SDQ for sweeping last year, I am very aware of my drawing and holstering and have worked hard getting a routine down pat and shooting the cross draw pistol last would definitely mess me up.

Starting at middle table with rifle, move to left table for first pistol... if you're right handed and you're used to drawing your cross-draw first,  while running left, you stand a good chance of breaking the 170 without some careful choreography.  Now reverse it, you've shot first pistol at the left table and you have to move to the right table for the next pistol.  If you're used to drawing crossdraw first, you are now moving right pulling the right pistol.  Again, increased chance of breaking the 170.  I've never got the hang of drawing which pistol is "most advantageous" for the stage.  Like Phantom, I've always stuck with one way of doing it.  Some well respected shooters have advised me otherwise, but my brain just ain't wired that way.

[McCandless]

46 minutes ago, Flash said:

I am usually the TO for the first half of the posse so by the time I get to shoot the stage is imprinted in my mind to a point I don't even have to think about what to do. Counting will do the same in my humble opinion. Give it a try and see if it helps.

I always spot.  I T.O. as often I can pry the timer from the fingers of our usual T.O.s.  Just because I've spotted for half the posse doesn't mean I can't go brain dead at the beep!