Before 2016 I had never placed in a titled match. In 2016, I scored points in every titled match I entered and was in the top 7 in the majority of the matches even though I was 50 milliseconds slower in 2016 than 2015 due to Cal's silliness. What was the difference? Before I get to that let me give credit where credit is due.
All of the credit goes to the Lord. Each day he gives me tasks and it is my job to do the best I can. He blesses me with wins and losses, with pain and joy, with adversity and successes. All the glory is his. Alleluia Ruah in Hebrew is "Praise God's Spirit."
I credit my draw to Miss Kitty. Three years ago I had hand surgery and could not shoot. As I recovered, I watched and copied Miss Kitty's draw.
I credit my accuracy to Rodeo Romeo. We started out about the same time and his mentor lead him to believe that you have to learn to be fast before you learn to be accurate. That never made sense to me. Seems like a lot of wasted wax so my training regiment is to learn quickness and accuracy at the same time. He needles me that I am just a good 2nd place shooter and I recant that if he ever can get to me we will see who the best gunfighter is.
I credit my mental toughness to No Daisy and Shady Mike. About 18 months ago No Daisy wrote a post about making adjustments. Prior to that I believed you should never adjust during a match. No Daisy's post lead me to change my mind and now adjustments are the main part of my pre-shot mental and physical routine. That Shady character up on the mountain is always taking my marbles (gold coins) and toughening me up for the matches that count.
So what is the difference between 2015 and 2016? The difference really comes down to mental toughness. My last match at world really illustrates what I am talking about. It was against Holli Day in the master gunfighter bracket. I have tried to mentor her without success and I believe she considers me a thorn or burr. Anyway, prior to the match I say to her "Play for blood?", she says "sure", phrases from her favorite movie. Her first shot nicks the plate low left, her second shot is 3 inches closer to the light, I say to her "next one in the light", which she does, all in 4 flat speed. Three shots and I sit down eliminated from the match. I have not been able to beat her in months. Whenever we meet she gets that cold gunfighter toughness and puts me down in three. Whatever she is thinking, whatever is her attitude, she needs to replicate that for every match. If she would do that she is unbeatable, men or ladies.
I shot poorly at World and I know the reason why. It will be fixed prior to next season. The only time I shot average was towards the end of the resurrection match which had a lot of speed in it and 75 shooters. I knew I was going to win after 60 shooters were eliminated even though three Arizona Gunslingers were left including two multi-champions. I was in that "I ain't missing, bring the next shooter" zone. Loverboy may say I am just a good 2nd place shooter, but as I say, "get to me and we will see."
The difference between 2015 and 2016 was mental toughness. You can practice it. You can develop it. There are club wide drills for it. Arizona Five is a great mental toughness drill. How you train matters. Don't practice missing. Develop that cold hard gunfighter attitude.
See you in 2017. Think Ruah coming back with the short gun and Everett again will try to master the long gun. As Noah says, real men shoot the long gun.
Showing posts with label Arizona Gunslingers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona Gunslingers. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2016
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Average shooters, Motivation and 6x!
Going to titled matches around the country I see about the same 150-200 shooters at these matches out of our 5,000 or so members. It seems that the titled events are not that well attended by the average shooters, even when the shoot is local. What can we do to make these events more appealing to the average local shooters? Is there a problem?
At the Four Corners held this year in Phoenix there were a group of snow birds that always shoot with us all winter long that came and shot in the warm-up jackpot shoot and then again in the second chance shoot on Sunday but not in the main event. I don't know if it was the cost or the level of competition that kept them away from the main match. I just don't know, but suggest that it would benefit us to try to make these events more appealing to them.
My pet project is a 6x three day shoot. Every shooter would get 6 x s, 4 in the main match and 2 in either a resurrection or category shoot. No one is eliminated until they get 6 x s. I have suggested that if someone can't come on Friday they could still come and shoot in the Resurrections shoot at a reduced entry fee, maybe 33% of the full fee. The shoot then becomes a 2 x shoot for them and they could still win it all. This would do two things for maybe some of the shooters, reduce the cost and allow them to compete with the bottom half of the field. What do you think? If you tell me that it will not work or violates the rules, I don't tolerate that very well because I got an answer for most of the "can't" reasons.
We use the Arizona Bracket shoot a lot and our members love it. I recommend it to other clubs. I see that some clubs are having a no x shoot followed by a Magnificent 5 2x shoot off as a Halloween shoot. Try the Arizona Bracket shoot. You can shoot three Magnificent 1X shoot offs in the same time that it takes to shoot a Magnificent 5 2x and every shooter qualifies for the shoot off. I think this is why we get 30-35 summer time shooters and 60-70 winter time shooters at our monthly shoots. Everyone qualifies and has a chance to shoot their way to the top. It is about having fun and winning your bracket can really be fun, especially for those that normally don't get to a magnificent shoot-off. All Arizona gunslingers experience a magnificent shoot off even it is just 1x.
We did try the Magnificent 2x shoot-off for all shooters. It works but is too time consuming for the number of shooters we have. It takes about 8 minutes per number of shooters in a bracket, so if you have 30 shooters, it takes about 80 minutes to shoot three brackets of ten. But for smaller clubs, it would be great. If you had say 18 shooters, it would take 48 minutes to shoot three Magnificent 6 2x shoot offs at the same time. I think you will find that your shooters would love this because it allows the average shooter the opportunity to experience the Magnificent shoot off.
If any one wants more information or forms for any of these, just say so I am happy to help.
I am also a big fan of the Arizona Five. A lot of our shooters don't like it, but they are the ones that need it. It is really nothing more than a mental toughness drill for the whole club. It is also somewhat bias towards the accurate shooter and hence maybe bias towards the average point and aim shooter. It is really good for the speed, even though they don't like it, got to hit and hit now, not later. Our National Champion won on mental toughness!
We are blessed by large numbers and therefore have the the ability to try new things in a major shoot environment monthly. If you want to discuss any of our trials just call, e-mail or talk to us. Just remember some of us are can people and some of us are can't people. I say that because we tried something new and I got nothing but positive feedback and I overhear my fellow board member telling folks that nobody like it. Mostly I am a pain in the rear, but they tolerate my hair brained ideas.
At the Four Corners held this year in Phoenix there were a group of snow birds that always shoot with us all winter long that came and shot in the warm-up jackpot shoot and then again in the second chance shoot on Sunday but not in the main event. I don't know if it was the cost or the level of competition that kept them away from the main match. I just don't know, but suggest that it would benefit us to try to make these events more appealing to them.
My pet project is a 6x three day shoot. Every shooter would get 6 x s, 4 in the main match and 2 in either a resurrection or category shoot. No one is eliminated until they get 6 x s. I have suggested that if someone can't come on Friday they could still come and shoot in the Resurrections shoot at a reduced entry fee, maybe 33% of the full fee. The shoot then becomes a 2 x shoot for them and they could still win it all. This would do two things for maybe some of the shooters, reduce the cost and allow them to compete with the bottom half of the field. What do you think? If you tell me that it will not work or violates the rules, I don't tolerate that very well because I got an answer for most of the "can't" reasons.
We use the Arizona Bracket shoot a lot and our members love it. I recommend it to other clubs. I see that some clubs are having a no x shoot followed by a Magnificent 5 2x shoot off as a Halloween shoot. Try the Arizona Bracket shoot. You can shoot three Magnificent 1X shoot offs in the same time that it takes to shoot a Magnificent 5 2x and every shooter qualifies for the shoot off. I think this is why we get 30-35 summer time shooters and 60-70 winter time shooters at our monthly shoots. Everyone qualifies and has a chance to shoot their way to the top. It is about having fun and winning your bracket can really be fun, especially for those that normally don't get to a magnificent shoot-off. All Arizona gunslingers experience a magnificent shoot off even it is just 1x.
We did try the Magnificent 2x shoot-off for all shooters. It works but is too time consuming for the number of shooters we have. It takes about 8 minutes per number of shooters in a bracket, so if you have 30 shooters, it takes about 80 minutes to shoot three brackets of ten. But for smaller clubs, it would be great. If you had say 18 shooters, it would take 48 minutes to shoot three Magnificent 6 2x shoot offs at the same time. I think you will find that your shooters would love this because it allows the average shooter the opportunity to experience the Magnificent shoot off.
If any one wants more information or forms for any of these, just say so I am happy to help.
I am also a big fan of the Arizona Five. A lot of our shooters don't like it, but they are the ones that need it. It is really nothing more than a mental toughness drill for the whole club. It is also somewhat bias towards the accurate shooter and hence maybe bias towards the average point and aim shooter. It is really good for the speed, even though they don't like it, got to hit and hit now, not later. Our National Champion won on mental toughness!
We are blessed by large numbers and therefore have the the ability to try new things in a major shoot environment monthly. If you want to discuss any of our trials just call, e-mail or talk to us. Just remember some of us are can people and some of us are can't people. I say that because we tried something new and I got nothing but positive feedback and I overhear my fellow board member telling folks that nobody like it. Mostly I am a pain in the rear, but they tolerate my hair brained ideas.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Elitist Survey
Rodeo Romeo posted a survey for input for the muster. The topics suggested lean toward the elite shooters. I write this post as a response for the average shooter. Our sport exists because of the average shooter.
People join CFDA because it is fun, the people are nice (although lately not all have been nice), and new shooters can have some immediate success. We all start out as draw, cock, aim and fire shooters. Some change as they get faster, some stay as draw and aim shooters. The .5 to 1.0 shooters are the backbone of our sport. Without them there will be no CFDA.
Entertainment, spectator enhancements, purses have little meaning for the average shooter. What the average shooter needs is for the competitions to continue to be fun, to be free from needless rules, to be free from petty criticism of techniques and quickness, and to allow the average shooter to have some success. Too often we think about what would be good for the elite shooter or the wannabe elite shooter and forget about what makes our sport strong, the average shooter.
This needless bickering about technique and slow shooters hurt the sport. There is a reason why 4 of the top 8 at Nationals were from Arizona. It has nothing to do with quickness. It has nothing to do with accuracy. It has everything to do with our average shooters. We have a lot of draw and aim shooters, a lot of slip cocking and recover youth, a few tenderfoots that do not miss, all of whom compete and compete with a high degree of success in our Arizona Bracket shoots. We welcome and appreciate all styles, techniques, times of all shooters. When we meet a "slow shooter" or a slip cock in a titled match we put three on the plate and sit down.
This nonsense about sportsmanship needs to been put to rest. There is an easy solution. The requirement should be that every competitor must fire his weapon in each contest except for malfunction and use his best effort to hit the target. There should be no room in an athletic activity for the question "Will you intentionally miss, if I miss?" The Irishman's data clearly shows that our accuracy has gone down in recent years. Part of that problem is that we have come to accept missing as acceptable in our chase of speed. Like the good old days, it should be "if you miss, you lose!"
This is Fast Draw! All matches should be determined by quickness. If it is acceptable to miss, acceptable to hit 30%, then all matches and our championship are determined by chance, not by quickness. Let's get back to the matches where if you miss you lose.
People join CFDA because it is fun, the people are nice (although lately not all have been nice), and new shooters can have some immediate success. We all start out as draw, cock, aim and fire shooters. Some change as they get faster, some stay as draw and aim shooters. The .5 to 1.0 shooters are the backbone of our sport. Without them there will be no CFDA.
Entertainment, spectator enhancements, purses have little meaning for the average shooter. What the average shooter needs is for the competitions to continue to be fun, to be free from needless rules, to be free from petty criticism of techniques and quickness, and to allow the average shooter to have some success. Too often we think about what would be good for the elite shooter or the wannabe elite shooter and forget about what makes our sport strong, the average shooter.
This needless bickering about technique and slow shooters hurt the sport. There is a reason why 4 of the top 8 at Nationals were from Arizona. It has nothing to do with quickness. It has nothing to do with accuracy. It has everything to do with our average shooters. We have a lot of draw and aim shooters, a lot of slip cocking and recover youth, a few tenderfoots that do not miss, all of whom compete and compete with a high degree of success in our Arizona Bracket shoots. We welcome and appreciate all styles, techniques, times of all shooters. When we meet a "slow shooter" or a slip cock in a titled match we put three on the plate and sit down.
This nonsense about sportsmanship needs to been put to rest. There is an easy solution. The requirement should be that every competitor must fire his weapon in each contest except for malfunction and use his best effort to hit the target. There should be no room in an athletic activity for the question "Will you intentionally miss, if I miss?" The Irishman's data clearly shows that our accuracy has gone down in recent years. Part of that problem is that we have come to accept missing as acceptable in our chase of speed. Like the good old days, it should be "if you miss, you lose!"
This is Fast Draw! All matches should be determined by quickness. If it is acceptable to miss, acceptable to hit 30%, then all matches and our championship are determined by chance, not by quickness. Let's get back to the matches where if you miss you lose.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
The Good Old Days
I was having "lively times" in the comments with Rodeo, Hell on Wheels, and Powder Keg concerning whether this sport was a speed contest or a gunfight and I recalled a conversation I heard in the hole at Nationals between two Old Timers, both Champions, World and National, saying that in the good old days, times were slower but accuracy was better. "If you missed, you lost!"
In our relentless pursuit of speed, we have devalued the miss. Some seems to think if you hit in the mid threes it okay to hit only 30% and that seems to work for them because if every one else is hitting 30% to 40 %, they can be competitive. After all it is "fastdraw." We see 15 shot matches. We see the two fastest ladies in the State of Texas on that day miss 22 in a row in a State Championship.
These "sports", those with grailfever, when they get into a gunfight don't do very well, so they lobby for new rules to give themselves a better chance. Some will even in ask you before a match, "now you won't hold my miss against me, cause I try to go fast."
Last year at Nationals I was in almost a perfect match. It was against Luckey O'Riley and he was pumped having just beaten the only black badge from his state in the prior match. I was pumped because I drew him. He is quicker than me but we are a pretty evenly matched overall. After four shots, it was 2-2, both shooters hitting 100%. Fifth shot one of us missed. Almost perfect, but alas only a mere 90% on ten shots. It would had been better if decided on speed, but you rarely get perfection. Does not matter who won, we both shot to the best of our abilities. A match from the good old days, a gunfight, not a speed contest!
I have been watching the Olympics and I admire most, not the winners, but the competitors who when they fall off the bar, they get up again and finish their routine. Does not matter that they fell, they are going to do the best that they can do under the circumstances. I did not like the competitor who did not do his routine because of a false sense of sportsmanship thereby disqualifying his team and affecting the standing of other teams on something other than performance.
I know I am kicking a sleeping dog, but Cal has told me he is going fix the problem. I don't care if you give me a sportsmanship warning in every match, I am going to do my best in every match under all circumstances, even if I fall I am getting up and finishing the match, because "this ain't Dodge City, and you ain't Bill Hickok........I didn't say I didn't know how to use one." I will do my best on each and every shot whether that is a .399 or a 1.729, both of which were the final shot of 2-2 matches in the top 15 or so at Nationals and both just mere milliseconds slow. Even losing, great fun, loved both matches.
Getting back to the topic at hand, maybe a slight rule change may helpful with grailfever. How about three winning hits you win, three misses you lose. That might bring back the good old days when "if you missed you lost." I know it will never happen in titled matches, but it is something to think about for club practices. You know it may not just be coincidence that our new National Champion warmed for Nationals with a club event of Arizona Five the week before. Arizona Five is just a mental toughness drill. You got to hit, and you got to hit right now. Most of our quick shooters don't like it and don't do well with it, that does not mean it is not good for them.
New club event. We will call it, "The Tough 3 by 3", 6-8 seeding rounds no x, three winning shots you win, three misses you lose. Then brackets with a Magnificent 1 x shoot-off. Sounds like a good warm-up for World. Let see if the next World Champion comes from the Camp, Shady Mountain, or at least the Valley of the Sun.
Postscript: Thank you for all the prayers, heading to Camp I had a pulmonary embolism, made it into and now out of hospital okay. My life coaches have prevailed upon me not to shoot for another 7 days.
In our relentless pursuit of speed, we have devalued the miss. Some seems to think if you hit in the mid threes it okay to hit only 30% and that seems to work for them because if every one else is hitting 30% to 40 %, they can be competitive. After all it is "fastdraw." We see 15 shot matches. We see the two fastest ladies in the State of Texas on that day miss 22 in a row in a State Championship.
These "sports", those with grailfever, when they get into a gunfight don't do very well, so they lobby for new rules to give themselves a better chance. Some will even in ask you before a match, "now you won't hold my miss against me, cause I try to go fast."
Last year at Nationals I was in almost a perfect match. It was against Luckey O'Riley and he was pumped having just beaten the only black badge from his state in the prior match. I was pumped because I drew him. He is quicker than me but we are a pretty evenly matched overall. After four shots, it was 2-2, both shooters hitting 100%. Fifth shot one of us missed. Almost perfect, but alas only a mere 90% on ten shots. It would had been better if decided on speed, but you rarely get perfection. Does not matter who won, we both shot to the best of our abilities. A match from the good old days, a gunfight, not a speed contest!
I have been watching the Olympics and I admire most, not the winners, but the competitors who when they fall off the bar, they get up again and finish their routine. Does not matter that they fell, they are going to do the best that they can do under the circumstances. I did not like the competitor who did not do his routine because of a false sense of sportsmanship thereby disqualifying his team and affecting the standing of other teams on something other than performance.
I know I am kicking a sleeping dog, but Cal has told me he is going fix the problem. I don't care if you give me a sportsmanship warning in every match, I am going to do my best in every match under all circumstances, even if I fall I am getting up and finishing the match, because "this ain't Dodge City, and you ain't Bill Hickok........I didn't say I didn't know how to use one." I will do my best on each and every shot whether that is a .399 or a 1.729, both of which were the final shot of 2-2 matches in the top 15 or so at Nationals and both just mere milliseconds slow. Even losing, great fun, loved both matches.
Getting back to the topic at hand, maybe a slight rule change may helpful with grailfever. How about three winning hits you win, three misses you lose. That might bring back the good old days when "if you missed you lost." I know it will never happen in titled matches, but it is something to think about for club practices. You know it may not just be coincidence that our new National Champion warmed for Nationals with a club event of Arizona Five the week before. Arizona Five is just a mental toughness drill. You got to hit, and you got to hit right now. Most of our quick shooters don't like it and don't do well with it, that does not mean it is not good for them.
New club event. We will call it, "The Tough 3 by 3", 6-8 seeding rounds no x, three winning shots you win, three misses you lose. Then brackets with a Magnificent 1 x shoot-off. Sounds like a good warm-up for World. Let see if the next World Champion comes from the Camp, Shady Mountain, or at least the Valley of the Sun.
Postscript: Thank you for all the prayers, heading to Camp I had a pulmonary embolism, made it into and now out of hospital okay. My life coaches have prevailed upon me not to shoot for another 7 days.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Texas Gunny and the League of Extraordinary Gunfighters and Dangerous Women!
Last fall a fella from out of state came to one of our club shoots. We strapped a club holster on him, loaned him a New Vaquero and put him in the match. It was his first attempt at cowboy fast draw. He was a former Marine from Texas and took the alias I believe of Texas Gunny. In his third match of the day he drew World Champion, Miss Kitty. Being a new point and shoot shooter with some Marine pride, he won the match on accuracy. He was thrilled. Ain't this sport great!
So far this year I have been able to make it to five titled events. In all five of the events I would opine that there has been a majority of average shooters in the top seven shooters of each event. These shooters are not the quickest but they are mentally tough and accurate shooters. On any given day any of us can win and some of us do win even if we may not be the quickest. Ain't this sport great!
This trend continued this past weekend. Wild Onion Willie shot his way into the magnificent seven at Nevada. He out shot three quicker shooters one of which was his black badge brother to get into the Magnificent Seven. Rooster Cogburn crows with justifiable pride that he made the Magnificent Seven. Enrico del Barrio joyfully expressed wonderment at his success finishing sixth. Ain't this sport great!
They are some in our sport that want to make this sport into a speed contest. It is not! It is a gunfight. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you want to spread grailfever, that is fine by me, I will move you onto my "quick but wilts in a gunfight" list. Ain't this sport great!
"Quick don't matter much, if you can't hit that which you are trying to be quick about." Virgil Cole.
"Your quickest draw is your most accurate draw. If it is not, change your draw!" Alleluia Ruah.
So far this year I have been able to make it to five titled events. In all five of the events I would opine that there has been a majority of average shooters in the top seven shooters of each event. These shooters are not the quickest but they are mentally tough and accurate shooters. On any given day any of us can win and some of us do win even if we may not be the quickest. Ain't this sport great!
This trend continued this past weekend. Wild Onion Willie shot his way into the magnificent seven at Nevada. He out shot three quicker shooters one of which was his black badge brother to get into the Magnificent Seven. Rooster Cogburn crows with justifiable pride that he made the Magnificent Seven. Enrico del Barrio joyfully expressed wonderment at his success finishing sixth. Ain't this sport great!
They are some in our sport that want to make this sport into a speed contest. It is not! It is a gunfight. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you want to spread grailfever, that is fine by me, I will move you onto my "quick but wilts in a gunfight" list. Ain't this sport great!
"Quick don't matter much, if you can't hit that which you are trying to be quick about." Virgil Cole.
"Your quickest draw is your most accurate draw. If it is not, change your draw!" Alleluia Ruah.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Four Corners, Rule 17, and Resurrected Shooter!
The 2016 Four Corners shoot is in the book. Although Ruah did not show up Everett did and took copious mental notes.
The shoot ran well with few problems. Although Arizona Gunslingers were the primary host the Rio Salado Vaqueros pitched in with one range. Many thanks to them and especially Muletrain and Southwest KC. The San Juan Shootists provided equipment, guidance and did the scoring with help from Miss Betty. Wench can run one of these in her sleep, many thanks! Our club was a little short on tear down labor, but those bandits from down south (Old Pueblo Gunfighters) helped get the club in a box back in the box in just a little over an hour. It is amazing how help just seems to appear from out of the crowd, I am thinking of all the range officers, for example that cowboy from Idaho who is not only dangerous on the line but behind the mic
One of the great strengths of CFDA is how the folks all pitch in and get the job done but that is also one of the weaknesses. It was humorous how the board had spend a lot of time discussing and making decisions on minor details and then when the workers went to work all that planning went out the window. You can't make water run uphill, all you can do is shrug your shoulders and go with the flow.
Ground Breaking Event: Don't know how many noticed but we had the first ever Territorial Tenderfoot Championship with Lil' James taking Coyote Kid to three matches in a Magnificent Two. Also first time at a titled event that three Magnificent shoot-offs were held simultaneously on one range. We were prepared for 15 shooters, would have had 8 except Dismal could not handle the heat after a week of flu. We had separate championships and awards for Billy the Kid, Anne Oakley and Tenderfoot. We got a prep talk from the newest Annie Oakley before the first round was fired on how it was okay to lose as long as you were having fun.
The Resurrection: We did have a Second Chance Shoot, which is many times misnamed as a resurrection match. Top five there received "Almost Made It" bottles filled with wax so they could practice more. Following CFDA rules the true resurrection occurred in the ladies' main match . After 11 rounds 6 were left with 5 having 3 Xs and 1 having 2 X s. Round Twelve ended with Southwest KC getting her 3rd X and Slow Poke and Holli Day being eliminated. That left only four for a Magnificent Five, so following the rules, Holli Day and Slow Poke squared off in a resurrection shoot off to get back into the match. Slow Poke being the more accurate shot her way back into the fifth seed.
Slow Poke then proceeded to show that though she had been eliminated she was the best gunfighter there by gunning down the next four seeds in a row. The world record holder, Honey Badger, fought back from the loser bracket and defeated Slow Poke in their second match of the Magnificent Five. (Slow Poke had been lamenting that she had been 2-2 with Honey Badger in the main match only to have Honey Badger win the match setting a new world record, which Honey Badger did twice over the weekend.) The third match went to 2-2 before that ice in the veins gunslinger from Washington DC, Slow Poke, won with a accurate shot on the plate to Honey Badger blazing miss.
From facebook comments I learn that some of the credit should go to WOW who helped her get a stuck cleaning brush out of the barrel and the hand judge, Cowboy Up, for reminding Slow Poke to breathe. Slow Poke won best dressed ladies award and 50/50 raffle. But all good fortune has to be paid for and I understand as I write this that Slow Poke is still stuck in the airport gridlock trying to get home. I am sure glad she can't be holstered and heeled or someone would have to be repainting TSA staff.
Men"s Magnificent Five: When I made it to the top seven, I thought I had a chance to make the Magnificent Five or at least a resurrection shoot-off to get in. The men's event was unusual in that the top five had really conserved their X s with Master Gunfighter being in jeopardy being eliminated. Only one, I, was eliminated in round 13 and only one, Pork Rind, was eliminated in round 14, so there was no resurrection shoot-off. Lawless Speed was first out followed by the Draw. Rodeo Romero was on (better than 60%) hitting in the low 3s but not quite quick enough. The Championship was determined in three matches between Marshall Cooper and Master Gunfighter with the final match going to 2-2 with Master Gunfighter hitting and Marshall missing. Master Gunfighter had also won Fridays jackpot shoot.
School is in Session: A CFDA event is a great place to learn life skills. It is especially good for our kids. They learn discipline, responsibility, courtesy and respect. Before you play you got to work. We sold souvenir cups and magnets for shoot for the stars and I tasked AZ Gunslingers and Rio youth to solicit donations. I look around and see Buckeroo Ben with the cutest gal he can find at the time in tow working the crowd. Every time he came to me to report his results he had to tell me how proud of how his little brother, Coyote Kid, was doing with donations. Together they had over half of the total of about $700 in sales. Many thanks to all who bought magnets and cup. Each are individually designed so it will take me a while to work through the orders.
Rule 17: Before the event started the Comish, Quick Cal, announced there would be a change in how Rule 17 would be enforced from what had been published. In essence, the enforcement of the rule was being changed from guilty until proven innocence to innocence until proven guilty. I don't know if this is going to be published or just announced at titled events. The rule was not a problem and there were no loss of shot penalties but two warnings issued. I will tell you that it is a little stressful to have Quick Cal take the range when you are the only one on the line that may have a problem. But what the heck, the gunfighter facing you is a more important worry.
Summation: It was a fun event. Sure glad we have a full time Trail Boss running the show. Now if I just could find another 20 milliseconds, maybe I could get back to hearing some clank in my tin. I'm afeared Shady been looking for a more worthy opponent. Been trying to get Doc into marbles but she won't take the bait.
The shoot ran well with few problems. Although Arizona Gunslingers were the primary host the Rio Salado Vaqueros pitched in with one range. Many thanks to them and especially Muletrain and Southwest KC. The San Juan Shootists provided equipment, guidance and did the scoring with help from Miss Betty. Wench can run one of these in her sleep, many thanks! Our club was a little short on tear down labor, but those bandits from down south (Old Pueblo Gunfighters) helped get the club in a box back in the box in just a little over an hour. It is amazing how help just seems to appear from out of the crowd, I am thinking of all the range officers, for example that cowboy from Idaho who is not only dangerous on the line but behind the mic
One of the great strengths of CFDA is how the folks all pitch in and get the job done but that is also one of the weaknesses. It was humorous how the board had spend a lot of time discussing and making decisions on minor details and then when the workers went to work all that planning went out the window. You can't make water run uphill, all you can do is shrug your shoulders and go with the flow.
Ground Breaking Event: Don't know how many noticed but we had the first ever Territorial Tenderfoot Championship with Lil' James taking Coyote Kid to three matches in a Magnificent Two. Also first time at a titled event that three Magnificent shoot-offs were held simultaneously on one range. We were prepared for 15 shooters, would have had 8 except Dismal could not handle the heat after a week of flu. We had separate championships and awards for Billy the Kid, Anne Oakley and Tenderfoot. We got a prep talk from the newest Annie Oakley before the first round was fired on how it was okay to lose as long as you were having fun.
The Resurrection: We did have a Second Chance Shoot, which is many times misnamed as a resurrection match. Top five there received "Almost Made It" bottles filled with wax so they could practice more. Following CFDA rules the true resurrection occurred in the ladies' main match . After 11 rounds 6 were left with 5 having 3 Xs and 1 having 2 X s. Round Twelve ended with Southwest KC getting her 3rd X and Slow Poke and Holli Day being eliminated. That left only four for a Magnificent Five, so following the rules, Holli Day and Slow Poke squared off in a resurrection shoot off to get back into the match. Slow Poke being the more accurate shot her way back into the fifth seed.
Slow Poke then proceeded to show that though she had been eliminated she was the best gunfighter there by gunning down the next four seeds in a row. The world record holder, Honey Badger, fought back from the loser bracket and defeated Slow Poke in their second match of the Magnificent Five. (Slow Poke had been lamenting that she had been 2-2 with Honey Badger in the main match only to have Honey Badger win the match setting a new world record, which Honey Badger did twice over the weekend.) The third match went to 2-2 before that ice in the veins gunslinger from Washington DC, Slow Poke, won with a accurate shot on the plate to Honey Badger blazing miss.
From facebook comments I learn that some of the credit should go to WOW who helped her get a stuck cleaning brush out of the barrel and the hand judge, Cowboy Up, for reminding Slow Poke to breathe. Slow Poke won best dressed ladies award and 50/50 raffle. But all good fortune has to be paid for and I understand as I write this that Slow Poke is still stuck in the airport gridlock trying to get home. I am sure glad she can't be holstered and heeled or someone would have to be repainting TSA staff.
Men"s Magnificent Five: When I made it to the top seven, I thought I had a chance to make the Magnificent Five or at least a resurrection shoot-off to get in. The men's event was unusual in that the top five had really conserved their X s with Master Gunfighter being in jeopardy being eliminated. Only one, I, was eliminated in round 13 and only one, Pork Rind, was eliminated in round 14, so there was no resurrection shoot-off. Lawless Speed was first out followed by the Draw. Rodeo Romero was on (better than 60%) hitting in the low 3s but not quite quick enough. The Championship was determined in three matches between Marshall Cooper and Master Gunfighter with the final match going to 2-2 with Master Gunfighter hitting and Marshall missing. Master Gunfighter had also won Fridays jackpot shoot.
School is in Session: A CFDA event is a great place to learn life skills. It is especially good for our kids. They learn discipline, responsibility, courtesy and respect. Before you play you got to work. We sold souvenir cups and magnets for shoot for the stars and I tasked AZ Gunslingers and Rio youth to solicit donations. I look around and see Buckeroo Ben with the cutest gal he can find at the time in tow working the crowd. Every time he came to me to report his results he had to tell me how proud of how his little brother, Coyote Kid, was doing with donations. Together they had over half of the total of about $700 in sales. Many thanks to all who bought magnets and cup. Each are individually designed so it will take me a while to work through the orders.
Rule 17: Before the event started the Comish, Quick Cal, announced there would be a change in how Rule 17 would be enforced from what had been published. In essence, the enforcement of the rule was being changed from guilty until proven innocence to innocence until proven guilty. I don't know if this is going to be published or just announced at titled events. The rule was not a problem and there were no loss of shot penalties but two warnings issued. I will tell you that it is a little stressful to have Quick Cal take the range when you are the only one on the line that may have a problem. But what the heck, the gunfighter facing you is a more important worry.
Summation: It was a fun event. Sure glad we have a full time Trail Boss running the show. Now if I just could find another 20 milliseconds, maybe I could get back to hearing some clank in my tin. I'm afeared Shady been looking for a more worthy opponent. Been trying to get Doc into marbles but she won't take the bait.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Arizona Five
On Shady Mtn we did a test run of Arizona Five and found that it is works well using the CFDA scoring program. It has two big advantages, one, there is no down time between rounds and two, you get to shoot against twice as many shooters.
I am going to lobby hard to use it this summer at our practice shoots. Our problem is having a large number of shooters in 115* heat. Arizona Five will help getting more rounds in.
The format: Arizona Five is a five shot option. You shoot five shots with the shooter hitting the most shots getting the win. If the shooters are tied 2-2, both shooters get a win because both shooters are shooting good enough to win, hitting between 40-80% and winning at least 2 shots each. If it is tied 0-0 or 1-1, after five shots both shooters get a X because both shooters are shooting less than 20% and deserve an X. Ties in time are re-shot. After five shots round one is complete for those six shooters.
The Shuffle: Upon the completion round one for those 6 shooters, the shooter on lane one moves to lane 6 and all other shooters move one lane to the left. Must move to the left to make score sheet work. Hand judges stay where they are, since they are the next round one shooters. You then shoot round two for those 6 shooters. Each shooter has a new opponent.
Scorekeeping: When setting up the match you tell the CFDA program to print only six shooters per sheet. (Or the number of lanes you have.) The first five boxes are used to score round one, boxes 6 & 7 record W/Xs and fastest time for round one, box 8 is lane assignments for round two, that leaves 6 boxes for scores of round two. Shooter on lane one is first shooter on the sheet and then you move him to the bottom row for scoring round two. It can be confusing and it helps to draw dark lines between the round two matches so it is clear who is shooting who. On the line there is no problem because targets are scored against your opponent.
While round two is being shot, scores of round one can be entered. ONLY round one! When the last round one match is complete those last six shooters are entered. The computer then draws what it thinks is round two. You can use that draw for round 3 and 4. You must enter a round completely then have the computer draw the next round before entering the next round scores.
Downtime On our test run, we used two draws to shoot four rounds, but the computer drew four rounds. We did not use two of the draws. WARNING: The x count listed on the draws may not accurate if you are using an earlier draw to shoot a round but you can run standings report after completion of entering a round that will have the correct x count. If you want an accurate x count on the draws you would have to wait until the scores of the second round shot on a scoresheet are entered, but then you would have downtime while those scores are entered.
In our test run, we did wait and used draw three for rounds three and four so we did have some downtime. But we could have used draw 2 for rounds 3 & 4 and there would not have been any downtime. Draw 2 having been made before the completion of rounds 1 & 2.
Scorekeeping can confusing but it is not hard once you get used to the format and you "follow the form, See score sheet for rounds 1&2 from test.
This test was actually much more confusing because we shot it on two lanes using a 6 lane score sheet. Shooter one had to wait several matches to shoot his/her second round.
Application to Events: I would only recommend Arizona Five for events where you are shooting a No X event for seeding. Shooters are not going to accept elimination based on ties. But you have to consider that most main matches are really nothing more that seeding matches. It is how we get to the top gunslingers on a particular day, whether it is Last Man Standing, Magnificent or Bracket shoots.
At Winter Range, Shady Mike reached a #2 seed, shooting against only 5% of the 79 shooter field. If he had shot against more shooters it probably would not made any difference the way he was shooting. I shot against him all week and I was hitting 80% at 4 flat and finished 1-6 against him in marble matches. He was just on and no one there could compete against him. But that is not the normal event. Normally the more opponents you shoot against, the more accurate the seedings will be. If we had shot Arizona Five, each shooter would have had 8 opponents or 10% of the field.
At our club shoots with say 40 shooters, should be able to get in 10 rounds of Arizona Five in summertime, and each shooter will have shot against 10 opponents or 25% of the field. So with a 1x magnificent shoot-off each shooter would get 11 matches. With our current format we are lucky to get 4 or 5 matches with a 40 shooter turnout in the summertime.
The only challenge is training the scorekeepers and computer operators. After we are done with Four Corners, I am suggesting we shoot this for 12 shooters every Sunday. If you want to come shoot on Shady Mtn, you got to learn how to score Arizona Five. Vic pick it up great Saturday That way we will have at least 12 trained scorekeepers for the summertime.
I am still trying to find people who want to learn how to announce and score a Magnificent 2 x shoot on two lanes instead of on 6 lanes. Seems to me to be terrible waste of lanes to use only one half of your facilities, guess it it more fun to shoot in the dark than to get done by sundown (insider neddle).
I am going to lobby hard to use it this summer at our practice shoots. Our problem is having a large number of shooters in 115* heat. Arizona Five will help getting more rounds in.
The format: Arizona Five is a five shot option. You shoot five shots with the shooter hitting the most shots getting the win. If the shooters are tied 2-2, both shooters get a win because both shooters are shooting good enough to win, hitting between 40-80% and winning at least 2 shots each. If it is tied 0-0 or 1-1, after five shots both shooters get a X because both shooters are shooting less than 20% and deserve an X. Ties in time are re-shot. After five shots round one is complete for those six shooters.
The Shuffle: Upon the completion round one for those 6 shooters, the shooter on lane one moves to lane 6 and all other shooters move one lane to the left. Must move to the left to make score sheet work. Hand judges stay where they are, since they are the next round one shooters. You then shoot round two for those 6 shooters. Each shooter has a new opponent.
Scorekeeping: When setting up the match you tell the CFDA program to print only six shooters per sheet. (Or the number of lanes you have.) The first five boxes are used to score round one, boxes 6 & 7 record W/Xs and fastest time for round one, box 8 is lane assignments for round two, that leaves 6 boxes for scores of round two. Shooter on lane one is first shooter on the sheet and then you move him to the bottom row for scoring round two. It can be confusing and it helps to draw dark lines between the round two matches so it is clear who is shooting who. On the line there is no problem because targets are scored against your opponent.
While round two is being shot, scores of round one can be entered. ONLY round one! When the last round one match is complete those last six shooters are entered. The computer then draws what it thinks is round two. You can use that draw for round 3 and 4. You must enter a round completely then have the computer draw the next round before entering the next round scores.
Downtime On our test run, we used two draws to shoot four rounds, but the computer drew four rounds. We did not use two of the draws. WARNING: The x count listed on the draws may not accurate if you are using an earlier draw to shoot a round but you can run standings report after completion of entering a round that will have the correct x count. If you want an accurate x count on the draws you would have to wait until the scores of the second round shot on a scoresheet are entered, but then you would have downtime while those scores are entered.
In our test run, we did wait and used draw three for rounds three and four so we did have some downtime. But we could have used draw 2 for rounds 3 & 4 and there would not have been any downtime. Draw 2 having been made before the completion of rounds 1 & 2.
Scorekeeping can confusing but it is not hard once you get used to the format and you "follow the form, See score sheet for rounds 1&2 from test.
Application to Events: I would only recommend Arizona Five for events where you are shooting a No X event for seeding. Shooters are not going to accept elimination based on ties. But you have to consider that most main matches are really nothing more that seeding matches. It is how we get to the top gunslingers on a particular day, whether it is Last Man Standing, Magnificent or Bracket shoots.
At Winter Range, Shady Mike reached a #2 seed, shooting against only 5% of the 79 shooter field. If he had shot against more shooters it probably would not made any difference the way he was shooting. I shot against him all week and I was hitting 80% at 4 flat and finished 1-6 against him in marble matches. He was just on and no one there could compete against him. But that is not the normal event. Normally the more opponents you shoot against, the more accurate the seedings will be. If we had shot Arizona Five, each shooter would have had 8 opponents or 10% of the field.
At our club shoots with say 40 shooters, should be able to get in 10 rounds of Arizona Five in summertime, and each shooter will have shot against 10 opponents or 25% of the field. So with a 1x magnificent shoot-off each shooter would get 11 matches. With our current format we are lucky to get 4 or 5 matches with a 40 shooter turnout in the summertime.
The only challenge is training the scorekeepers and computer operators. After we are done with Four Corners, I am suggesting we shoot this for 12 shooters every Sunday. If you want to come shoot on Shady Mtn, you got to learn how to score Arizona Five. Vic pick it up great Saturday That way we will have at least 12 trained scorekeepers for the summertime.
I am still trying to find people who want to learn how to announce and score a Magnificent 2 x shoot on two lanes instead of on 6 lanes. Seems to me to be terrible waste of lanes to use only one half of your facilities, guess it it more fun to shoot in the dark than to get done by sundown (insider neddle).
Monday, February 29, 2016
Winter Range, Partners, and Adversaries
Most of the fastdraw loot at Winter Range came home to Shady Mtn. I won the SASS fastdraw sidematch on speed and the 45 revolver on luck. Shady Mike cut through 78 shooters to win the jackpot shoot without a loss. Miss Kitty won Bracket C of the jackpot shoot.
I have to believe the games we play on Shady Mtn may have something to do with it. Shady and I shoot marble matches about twice a week. It is just a 3 out of 5 match for a marble, a $1 gold piece. It is good to shoot against someone that is a little faster than you or a little more accurate with something on the line. It simulates those shoot off matches. We used to shoot for all the marbles about twice a year, but one of us got tired of that game.
The SASS side match was interesting, fun, and useful for training. At our town alley the SASS shooters got to shoot 10 shots for free, the first five being practice and not counting for time, and the second five for time with the sum of the three fastest counting for a score. You had to hit three to get a score. If a shooter wanted to improve his score he could buy an additional 5 shots for $5. All proceeds went to a SASS charity. Each SASS shooter got a ticket for each 5 shots for a drawing for a 45 revolver, one for men and one for ladies. Shooters could try as often as they wanted to. Only open to members of SASS who also competed in SASS event (I did long range but not very well.)
It was a good training match, the fact that you had to hit 3 out of 5 put pressure on you to be accurate. To improve your time put pressure on you to be quick. I purchased extra rounds every day and improved my time each day finally reaching a .394 average which was the winning time. I only shot SASS rounds once or twice a day and had to declare them to be SASS rounds before I shot, no picking a good 5 shot string. Last year it took me to the last day to catch the leader. This year my last day round was also the best. Trying to get that last few milliseconds while hitting better than 60% is really a good training routine.
I always shoot better against Shady, about 30 mls faster, and he helped me by shooting against me in my SASS matches. Some were also marble matches, don't know if I can afford to show up on Shady Mtn cause the tab is due. I have to add I always had one shot quicker than his fastest shot, but since he has been tuned up to about 80%, sadly he got all the marbles but one.
The SASS matches would make a good club practice match. You could have two tin cups one being a daily pot and one a monthly pot. Five shots would cost $2, $1 in each pot. Pot strings have to be declared before they are shot. The fastest total of 3 shots wins the daily pot. Must have 3 hits to get a score. One might think the daily pot might go to the fastest gun, but may more likely go to the most accurate. Quick only matters if you can hit that which you are trying to be quick about. Monthly pot would go to the shooter that improved his time the most during the month. I went from 1.223 to 1.182 over five days improving each day. Hard to shoot 60% while finding that last millisecond of speed.
I had the pleasure of hand judging a match between Holli Day and Honey Badger. It was something to behold. Holli Day had a .374 and Honey Badger a .375. Neither would give in or give up a millisecond, but I would add the match was determined on accuracy not speed.
Many thanks to all those 78 shooters who came to our bracket jackpot shoot, especially those bandits from down on the border, those Deputies from the coast, and those Shootists from the mountains. Think I only have one more bracket shoot left in me, that being Cave Creek.
Took my winnings and spend them on sutter's row, so you will just have to come to the Four Corners to see what the dog drags in.
I have to believe the games we play on Shady Mtn may have something to do with it. Shady and I shoot marble matches about twice a week. It is just a 3 out of 5 match for a marble, a $1 gold piece. It is good to shoot against someone that is a little faster than you or a little more accurate with something on the line. It simulates those shoot off matches. We used to shoot for all the marbles about twice a year, but one of us got tired of that game.
The SASS side match was interesting, fun, and useful for training. At our town alley the SASS shooters got to shoot 10 shots for free, the first five being practice and not counting for time, and the second five for time with the sum of the three fastest counting for a score. You had to hit three to get a score. If a shooter wanted to improve his score he could buy an additional 5 shots for $5. All proceeds went to a SASS charity. Each SASS shooter got a ticket for each 5 shots for a drawing for a 45 revolver, one for men and one for ladies. Shooters could try as often as they wanted to. Only open to members of SASS who also competed in SASS event (I did long range but not very well.)
It was a good training match, the fact that you had to hit 3 out of 5 put pressure on you to be accurate. To improve your time put pressure on you to be quick. I purchased extra rounds every day and improved my time each day finally reaching a .394 average which was the winning time. I only shot SASS rounds once or twice a day and had to declare them to be SASS rounds before I shot, no picking a good 5 shot string. Last year it took me to the last day to catch the leader. This year my last day round was also the best. Trying to get that last few milliseconds while hitting better than 60% is really a good training routine.
I always shoot better against Shady, about 30 mls faster, and he helped me by shooting against me in my SASS matches. Some were also marble matches, don't know if I can afford to show up on Shady Mtn cause the tab is due. I have to add I always had one shot quicker than his fastest shot, but since he has been tuned up to about 80%, sadly he got all the marbles but one.
The SASS matches would make a good club practice match. You could have two tin cups one being a daily pot and one a monthly pot. Five shots would cost $2, $1 in each pot. Pot strings have to be declared before they are shot. The fastest total of 3 shots wins the daily pot. Must have 3 hits to get a score. One might think the daily pot might go to the fastest gun, but may more likely go to the most accurate. Quick only matters if you can hit that which you are trying to be quick about. Monthly pot would go to the shooter that improved his time the most during the month. I went from 1.223 to 1.182 over five days improving each day. Hard to shoot 60% while finding that last millisecond of speed.
I had the pleasure of hand judging a match between Holli Day and Honey Badger. It was something to behold. Holli Day had a .374 and Honey Badger a .375. Neither would give in or give up a millisecond, but I would add the match was determined on accuracy not speed.
Many thanks to all those 78 shooters who came to our bracket jackpot shoot, especially those bandits from down on the border, those Deputies from the coast, and those Shootists from the mountains. Think I only have one more bracket shoot left in me, that being Cave Creek.
Took my winnings and spend them on sutter's row, so you will just have to come to the Four Corners to see what the dog drags in.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Philosophy from the Salty River
We have had lively discussion about format with Levi and Mitch. Levi says there can only be one winner. The acorn does not fall far from the tree. Mitch says that when he is 4th in Bracket C he is 32nd and deserves nothing. Both look at this from an individual perspective, Levi from his five year plan to win a World Championship and Mitch under the influence of his father. When you're talking about formats one needs to leave the realm of the individual and think in terms of the whole, the CFDA, the club, and the average shooter. That is why Quick Cal says "CFDA strongly supports the instituting Bracket Matches at all classes of events."
Last Saturday the Rio Salado Vaqueros held a 3x Magnificent Seven Match. As always it was an excellent event with 44 shooters attending. It is informative to consider the results in the discussion of format. The best gunfighter of the day clearly was The Draw (World 3rd) and the 2nd best gunfighter probably was Coyote Kid (Tenderfoot, age 7). Hi Strung was lamenting all day to me that he was shooting poorly (slow) but he was hitting and ended the main match clean with no x s. As such, Hi Strung was seeded 1st in the Magnificent Seven. Although probably in the top 20%, it was clear he was not the top gunfighter at the event.
Resurrection Feature: Although there was no official resurrection feature in the contest, it being a standard CFDA format, a resurrection did occur. In the last round of the main event, Coyote Kid eliminated the Draw reducing the field to 6. Following standard protocol, The Draw, clawed his way back through two other shooters to re-enter the field as the 7th seed.
This is not uncommon. In 2015, Marshall Cooper was resurrected at Winter Range to go onto win in a Magnificent Five format. At Colorado, Bonnie Ringo out shot Marshall Cooper to secure the 5th seed. It happens at most shoots with the magnificent format.
This resurrection feature was instituted for its entertainment value, to have a full field, but many times it serves a better function, that is to determine who the best gunfighter is on a given day. On Saturday, The Draw even though he had been eliminated won a bye round, then 8 matches in a row to win the event. He was truly the best gunfighter on February 13 on the Salty River.
The Magnificent Seven format does a pretty good job sorting out who the best gunfighter is on a given day. Getting ready for the Magnificent Seven, I see Hi Strung in the dry fire area, trying to find some more speed and I lectured him to dance with the girl (draw) that got him the number #1 seed. He and I both could not take my advice, and two losses resulted for both of us.
Lest you think it is easy to shoot in the Valley of the Sun here is the results of Saturday's shoot. 1st The Draw (Two-time National Champion), 2nd Whiskey, 3rd Hi Strung (2nd Tombstone),4th Muletrain (2015 Senior World Champion), 5th Coyote Kid (Tenderfoot age 7), 6th Alleluia Ruah (2014 Super Senior National Champion) 7th Miss Kitty (2015 World Champion and Multi-Territorial Champion).
Getting back to the discussion, I think it is good for the sport to have multiple champions. I love the way the Powderhorn Ranch Regulators shoot the National Championship. On Sunday, championship day, they crown 15 or so category champions and then the overall youth, women and men's overall champions. I hope, but doubt, this year's national shoot will have that format.
The inadvertent resurrection feature has worked so well in determining the best gunfighter, I see no reason that we do not institute it for all shooters and have a true resurrection shoot. Now we have 2nd chance shoots just to occupy eliminated shooters. There is no good reason or rule that prevents us from putting meaning into these shoots by allowing the winner back in as the number 7th seed. (paragraph 4, page 21 would have to be tweaked a bit.) Shouldn't our goal be to determine the best gunfighter on any given day.
It is too late to do much about the 2016 schedule, but 2017 is less then a year away. Got my work cut out for me. I have stated before, the best championship format would be to shoot down to five, (or 6 if not having categories) then let the resurrection winner in as 7th seed and the fastest category champion in as the 6th seed. Don't we want to find out who the best gunfighter is at any given event. One of the weaknesses of the elimination format is that the luck of the draw many times determines how you do, not how you are shooting. To come back from the resurrection match to win is nearly impossible except for the best gunfighter there, and that is what we are trying to determine.
Last Saturday the Rio Salado Vaqueros held a 3x Magnificent Seven Match. As always it was an excellent event with 44 shooters attending. It is informative to consider the results in the discussion of format. The best gunfighter of the day clearly was The Draw (World 3rd) and the 2nd best gunfighter probably was Coyote Kid (Tenderfoot, age 7). Hi Strung was lamenting all day to me that he was shooting poorly (slow) but he was hitting and ended the main match clean with no x s. As such, Hi Strung was seeded 1st in the Magnificent Seven. Although probably in the top 20%, it was clear he was not the top gunfighter at the event.
Resurrection Feature: Although there was no official resurrection feature in the contest, it being a standard CFDA format, a resurrection did occur. In the last round of the main event, Coyote Kid eliminated the Draw reducing the field to 6. Following standard protocol, The Draw, clawed his way back through two other shooters to re-enter the field as the 7th seed.
This is not uncommon. In 2015, Marshall Cooper was resurrected at Winter Range to go onto win in a Magnificent Five format. At Colorado, Bonnie Ringo out shot Marshall Cooper to secure the 5th seed. It happens at most shoots with the magnificent format.
This resurrection feature was instituted for its entertainment value, to have a full field, but many times it serves a better function, that is to determine who the best gunfighter is on a given day. On Saturday, The Draw even though he had been eliminated won a bye round, then 8 matches in a row to win the event. He was truly the best gunfighter on February 13 on the Salty River.
The Magnificent Seven format does a pretty good job sorting out who the best gunfighter is on a given day. Getting ready for the Magnificent Seven, I see Hi Strung in the dry fire area, trying to find some more speed and I lectured him to dance with the girl (draw) that got him the number #1 seed. He and I both could not take my advice, and two losses resulted for both of us.
Lest you think it is easy to shoot in the Valley of the Sun here is the results of Saturday's shoot. 1st The Draw (Two-time National Champion), 2nd Whiskey, 3rd Hi Strung (2nd Tombstone),4th Muletrain (2015 Senior World Champion), 5th Coyote Kid (Tenderfoot age 7), 6th Alleluia Ruah (2014 Super Senior National Champion) 7th Miss Kitty (2015 World Champion and Multi-Territorial Champion).
Getting back to the discussion, I think it is good for the sport to have multiple champions. I love the way the Powderhorn Ranch Regulators shoot the National Championship. On Sunday, championship day, they crown 15 or so category champions and then the overall youth, women and men's overall champions. I hope, but doubt, this year's national shoot will have that format.
The inadvertent resurrection feature has worked so well in determining the best gunfighter, I see no reason that we do not institute it for all shooters and have a true resurrection shoot. Now we have 2nd chance shoots just to occupy eliminated shooters. There is no good reason or rule that prevents us from putting meaning into these shoots by allowing the winner back in as the number 7th seed. (paragraph 4, page 21 would have to be tweaked a bit.) Shouldn't our goal be to determine the best gunfighter on any given day.
It is too late to do much about the 2016 schedule, but 2017 is less then a year away. Got my work cut out for me. I have stated before, the best championship format would be to shoot down to five, (or 6 if not having categories) then let the resurrection winner in as 7th seed and the fastest category champion in as the 6th seed. Don't we want to find out who the best gunfighter is at any given event. One of the weaknesses of the elimination format is that the luck of the draw many times determines how you do, not how you are shooting. To come back from the resurrection match to win is nearly impossible except for the best gunfighter there, and that is what we are trying to determine.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Place Obsession
This is a rant about human nature and our obsession with the past. Our ability to try new things or novel things is many times limited by our obsession with what we have done in the past. The biggest hurdle to trying something new is the "can't" factor as in "You can't do that."
I was trying to come up with new and novel format for a jackpot bracket shoot. I thought, well, what if we paid 5 places in three brackets or a total of 15 shooters. We could divide the pot into 20 equal parts. Each of the top five would get 5% of the pot for being one of the top five shooters in the bracket. Then, since we love winners, we give the winner in each bracket an additional 5% for winning the bracket. And again, since we love winners, we shoot the bracket winners off to get an overall winner and he or she gets an additional 5%. The ultimate split works out to be 20%, 10%, 10% and then 12 5% winners. Makes sense to me, since a shooter's ultimate overall place has more to do with the luck of the draw than with how he is shooting, except maybe for that one shooter that goes all the way without a lose in the shoot-offs.
I pitched this to some of the board and club members and was hit with the "can't" factor. The pointed question I could not answer at the time was "Who is in fourth place?" Now, I can answer. There is no overall fourth place. There is just 15 shooters that shot well, three shooters that shot a little bit better, and one shooter that shot the best getting through the shoot-offs without a loss. He or she is the Overall Champion. I proposed Top Fifteen Medallions and little money to each of the top fifteen shooters, and then a little bit more money to the bracket winners and a little more money to the Overall Champion.
I don't suppose this will ever fly because of place obsession. We got to be able to pull our suspenders and say "I was fourth" to the other lower placing shooters even though one's draws may have been the easiest of the lot.
More rant.
We shoot in the summer heat, sometimes 115, and may have between 40 to 70 shooters on 6 lanes. It is not fun to wait an hour between rounds. I propose the Arizona Five to move the shoot along. We would only use it in no X contests like our bracket shoots before the shoot offs.
Arizona Five: Shooters shoot five rounds with the shooter with the most winning shots winning the match. If there is a tie 2-2, then both shooters get a win because both are hitting between 40% and 80%. If there is a tie 0-0 or 1-1, then both shooters get a X because both shooters are shooting 40% or less.
This has also been met with the "can't" factor. "You got to have a winner." No, you don't, you can have a winner, or two winners, or two losers in a match. This would be used only when there is no elimination factor involved, we are only shooting seeding rounds, trying to sort out who is shooting the best this particular day. If two shooters can't hit the target more the once in five shots they ought to sit down, and let's get on with the sorting.
If you can't tell, I am a little frustrated by the "can't" faction. To get this little shoot off of the ground I need a little boost from positive comments, I get plenty negativism from the "can't" faction, that is human nature.
The old Vaquero was giving some advice to the young Vaquero saying, "Remember, you are a Mexican, not a Mexican't." A native American shop owner was lamenting the state of today's youth saying, "Unfortunately, our young people are all pull start, not push button start, like those from India."
I was trying to come up with new and novel format for a jackpot bracket shoot. I thought, well, what if we paid 5 places in three brackets or a total of 15 shooters. We could divide the pot into 20 equal parts. Each of the top five would get 5% of the pot for being one of the top five shooters in the bracket. Then, since we love winners, we give the winner in each bracket an additional 5% for winning the bracket. And again, since we love winners, we shoot the bracket winners off to get an overall winner and he or she gets an additional 5%. The ultimate split works out to be 20%, 10%, 10% and then 12 5% winners. Makes sense to me, since a shooter's ultimate overall place has more to do with the luck of the draw than with how he is shooting, except maybe for that one shooter that goes all the way without a lose in the shoot-offs.
I pitched this to some of the board and club members and was hit with the "can't" factor. The pointed question I could not answer at the time was "Who is in fourth place?" Now, I can answer. There is no overall fourth place. There is just 15 shooters that shot well, three shooters that shot a little bit better, and one shooter that shot the best getting through the shoot-offs without a loss. He or she is the Overall Champion. I proposed Top Fifteen Medallions and little money to each of the top fifteen shooters, and then a little bit more money to the bracket winners and a little more money to the Overall Champion.
I don't suppose this will ever fly because of place obsession. We got to be able to pull our suspenders and say "I was fourth" to the other lower placing shooters even though one's draws may have been the easiest of the lot.
More rant.
We shoot in the summer heat, sometimes 115, and may have between 40 to 70 shooters on 6 lanes. It is not fun to wait an hour between rounds. I propose the Arizona Five to move the shoot along. We would only use it in no X contests like our bracket shoots before the shoot offs.
Arizona Five: Shooters shoot five rounds with the shooter with the most winning shots winning the match. If there is a tie 2-2, then both shooters get a win because both are hitting between 40% and 80%. If there is a tie 0-0 or 1-1, then both shooters get a X because both shooters are shooting 40% or less.
This has also been met with the "can't" factor. "You got to have a winner." No, you don't, you can have a winner, or two winners, or two losers in a match. This would be used only when there is no elimination factor involved, we are only shooting seeding rounds, trying to sort out who is shooting the best this particular day. If two shooters can't hit the target more the once in five shots they ought to sit down, and let's get on with the sorting.
If you can't tell, I am a little frustrated by the "can't" faction. To get this little shoot off of the ground I need a little boost from positive comments, I get plenty negativism from the "can't" faction, that is human nature.
The old Vaquero was giving some advice to the young Vaquero saying, "Remember, you are a Mexican, not a Mexican't." A native American shop owner was lamenting the state of today's youth saying, "Unfortunately, our young people are all pull start, not push button start, like those from India."
Friday, January 29, 2016
Resurrection Revisited
We got some really good observations from Rodeo, Powder Keg, Boss 45 and WOW. It is helpful to get feed back. Just because there is some grumbling does not mean that the basic concept is flawed.
One needs to remember what we are trying to accomplish with a practice shoot. Our goals should be:
1. To give all of the members an equal opportunity to practice, not a just a select few;
2. To fit the shoot within the time we have, summer time that is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
3. To have fun.
Rodeo suggests we should mimic the CFDA shoots and I agreed. But for a practice shoot this present some problems. With the last man standing format with a 3x, a large portion of our members only get a few rounds. The format we are using insures all the members get about the same amount of shooting. Also, with the last man standing format many leave when they are done and tearing down is left to just a few.
Boss 45 highlighted the potential for sandbagging. I have never believed that has been a problem, but understand that is a concern.
WOW expressed we need to get more rounds in. That is not a format problem, but a space problem. Until we get more lanes, we will have to address this with either Montana Five or 2 out of 3, neither of which is popular.
Try this on for size. A magnificent five on two lanes take 45 minutes. A three person shoot off takes less that 15 minutes.
We shoot a No X shoot from 8 to 11 for seeding purposes. If we have more than 40 shooters, we do Montana Five or 2 out of 3, so that we get more rounds in. Then we divide into brackets by x s and time out and shoot 1x magnificent format down to 5 shooters in each bracket. Then we shoot a magnificent five 2x in each bracket (should take 45 minutes). We finish the day by shooting off the three winners with a bye shoot-off, then one championship round.
If I were doing a jackpot shoot with this format I would suggest that that 75% of the prize money be divided by 15 with each of the top shooters getting 5% and then the Champion getting an additional 10% and each winners getting additional 5%. So split would be Champion 20%, two 2nds get 10% each and 12 others getting 5% each.
What do you think. Your input is appreciated and helpful. Think in terms of the club and not just how it may affect you.
"Quick don't matter much in a gunfight!" Little Bill, Unforgiven.
One needs to remember what we are trying to accomplish with a practice shoot. Our goals should be:
1. To give all of the members an equal opportunity to practice, not a just a select few;
2. To fit the shoot within the time we have, summer time that is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
3. To have fun.
Rodeo suggests we should mimic the CFDA shoots and I agreed. But for a practice shoot this present some problems. With the last man standing format with a 3x, a large portion of our members only get a few rounds. The format we are using insures all the members get about the same amount of shooting. Also, with the last man standing format many leave when they are done and tearing down is left to just a few.
Boss 45 highlighted the potential for sandbagging. I have never believed that has been a problem, but understand that is a concern.
WOW expressed we need to get more rounds in. That is not a format problem, but a space problem. Until we get more lanes, we will have to address this with either Montana Five or 2 out of 3, neither of which is popular.
Try this on for size. A magnificent five on two lanes take 45 minutes. A three person shoot off takes less that 15 minutes.
We shoot a No X shoot from 8 to 11 for seeding purposes. If we have more than 40 shooters, we do Montana Five or 2 out of 3, so that we get more rounds in. Then we divide into brackets by x s and time out and shoot 1x magnificent format down to 5 shooters in each bracket. Then we shoot a magnificent five 2x in each bracket (should take 45 minutes). We finish the day by shooting off the three winners with a bye shoot-off, then one championship round.
If I were doing a jackpot shoot with this format I would suggest that that 75% of the prize money be divided by 15 with each of the top shooters getting 5% and then the Champion getting an additional 10% and each winners getting additional 5%. So split would be Champion 20%, two 2nds get 10% each and 12 others getting 5% each.
What do you think. Your input is appreciated and helpful. Think in terms of the club and not just how it may affect you.
"Quick don't matter much in a gunfight!" Little Bill, Unforgiven.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Tombstone Revisited & Arizona Gunslinger Bracket with Resurrection
The 2016 Tombstone shoot is in the books and as usual the Old Publeo Gunfighters put on a great event. I think the value of the door prizes exceeded the entry fee. This year's event used the Arizona Gunslinger Bracket shoot as a format. For those not familiar with it, that format has a no x seeding shoot for as many rounds as time will permit. Then the shooters are seeded by x s and time out of last round and divided into three brackets, then there is a magnificent one x shoot off with the top three shooters in each bracket winning prize money. The prize money is divided equally between Bracket A, B, and C.
This has been been very popular format for jackpot shoots because of the perception that it allows the average shooter a better chance of winning prize money. The perception is that the A bracket is the fastest and the C bracket the slowest, but in fact that is normally not the case. At tombstone, the fastest bracket was the B bracket. Hanker Hank has given me the results and analyzing it, I find that the average time out of A bracket was .6285, B bracket .6039 and C bracket .6403. Taking just the five fastest shooters in each bracket, the averages were A .4464, B .4088, and C .4924. At tombstone, Powder Keg was dialed in and came from the 5th seed to win A Bracket.
Powder Keg won and everyone says he won tombstone, but I am not sure he was the best shooter on that day. Two/thirds of the field did not have a chance to compete against him. Fastest shooter there was Witlock with a timeout of .332, but he was in Bracket B.
It has always annoyed me that the winner of Bracket A claims to have won the shoot (think loverboy) when 2/3rds of the field does not have the opportunity to make it to 1st place.
The Arizona Bracket shoot works best with small to medium shoots. At Tombstone there were 55 shooters and we only got four seeding rounds. That means that the luck of the draw has more to do with where you are seeded and where you place than how you are shooting. If you draw the best three shooter you go down to the bottom in the bracket shoot or out in a last man standing, even if you are shooting well and are the 4th best shooter there. With small numbers you get more seeding rounds and so there is a chance to overcome a tough series of shooters.
WE CAN IMPROVE ON THIS FORMAT. By adding a resurrection feature, we can give each shooter a chance to make it to first. What you do is to shoot the Arizona Gunslinger Bracket as normal, and then take the top three shooters in each bracket and shoot them off. You put all of the 1s on lanes 1 & 2 and they are shooting for 1st, 2nd and 3rd with A 1 getting a bye, you put all of the 2s on lane 3&4 shooting for 4th 5th and 6th with A 2 getting a bye, and you put all of the 3s on lane 5 & 6 and they are shooting for 7th 8th and 9th.
Every shooter has a chance to make it to 1st no matter where they are seeded. No one is out until the fat lady sings.
We tried the Arizona Gunslinger Bracket Shoot with Resurrection last Saturday and it worked. Adding the additional rounds only added two more rounds and about 10 minutes to the shoot. We had 42 shooters participate in the shoot off. EB was seeded 39th, being in bracket C, and he was unstoppable, winning 8 matches in Bracket C and two matches against the other number 1s to win the event. HawgLeg Willie was seeded 17th and moved up to place 7th. Powder Keg was on fire again being seeded 8th and moved up until he met the number one seed Lawless Speed. Lawless Speed finished 2nd and Powder Keg finished 4th. We had one tenderfoot shooter, Coyote Kid, seeded 29th who finished 9th. Our Billy the Kid shooter, Buckeroo Ben, was seeded 28th and finished 6th.
Looking at the breakdown of the top nine, we had 2 three shooters, two four shooters, two five/six shooters, two long guns, two 7/8 shooters, and two youth.
The format rewards the best gunfighter, not necessarily the quickest nor the slowest, but the ones who in the shoot offs are shooting the best. It is interesting to note that we had seven World, National, Territorial, State champions shooting Saturday, none of whom made the top nine. The Champions were pretty much evenly distributed among the three brackets. The fastest shooter there got mowed downed by EB in Bracket C.
Some might says the the lack of the Champions in the final nine means format is not good, but I don't think so. The Champions just were not hitting and it you don't hit you don't win. To do well in this format, what is needed is consistency. You must shoot well in each and every match and for a lot of matches.
SPEED BIAS: There is a speed bias built in since seeding is done by xs and time out. Also the A shooters get a bye. One would expect the speed to be in Bracket A, which among the nine, both of the 3 shooters came from Bracket A. The two fastest shooters were in Bracket B and C. You can't miss fast enough to win.
Saturday's shoot was just for practice and was not for prize money.
However, if and when it is used of a jackpot shoot, prize money can be distributed 1 through 9, thereby alleviate one of the complaints we hear about the bracket shoot.
MAJOR TITLED EVENTS: The Arizona Gunslingers Bracket Shoot with Resurrection would make a great warm-up event at a titled shoot. Warm-up event should be just that, a chance to get dialed in and prepared for the main event. With the last man standing format, say 3x, 25% of the field only gets three matches.
With two ranges, you can shoot everyone together for the seeding rounds and get probably get 6 or 7 rounds in if you have 60 shooters or 5 or 6 with 80 shooters. Then seed by xs and time out into 6 brackets. Shoot three brackets one range and three brackets on the other. Shoot offs on each range would remain separate and you would have 9 places set on one range and 9 places on the other. So you could pay out prize money to a total of 18 shooters. Sounds like fun
One big advantage, after the seeding rounds, you do not need the computer. Everything is set up on paper.
Well, what do you think?
"Remember boys quick don't matter, if you don't hit that which you are trying to be quick about."
This has been been very popular format for jackpot shoots because of the perception that it allows the average shooter a better chance of winning prize money. The perception is that the A bracket is the fastest and the C bracket the slowest, but in fact that is normally not the case. At tombstone, the fastest bracket was the B bracket. Hanker Hank has given me the results and analyzing it, I find that the average time out of A bracket was .6285, B bracket .6039 and C bracket .6403. Taking just the five fastest shooters in each bracket, the averages were A .4464, B .4088, and C .4924. At tombstone, Powder Keg was dialed in and came from the 5th seed to win A Bracket.
Powder Keg won and everyone says he won tombstone, but I am not sure he was the best shooter on that day. Two/thirds of the field did not have a chance to compete against him. Fastest shooter there was Witlock with a timeout of .332, but he was in Bracket B.
It has always annoyed me that the winner of Bracket A claims to have won the shoot (think loverboy) when 2/3rds of the field does not have the opportunity to make it to 1st place.
The Arizona Bracket shoot works best with small to medium shoots. At Tombstone there were 55 shooters and we only got four seeding rounds. That means that the luck of the draw has more to do with where you are seeded and where you place than how you are shooting. If you draw the best three shooter you go down to the bottom in the bracket shoot or out in a last man standing, even if you are shooting well and are the 4th best shooter there. With small numbers you get more seeding rounds and so there is a chance to overcome a tough series of shooters.
WE CAN IMPROVE ON THIS FORMAT. By adding a resurrection feature, we can give each shooter a chance to make it to first. What you do is to shoot the Arizona Gunslinger Bracket as normal, and then take the top three shooters in each bracket and shoot them off. You put all of the 1s on lanes 1 & 2 and they are shooting for 1st, 2nd and 3rd with A 1 getting a bye, you put all of the 2s on lane 3&4 shooting for 4th 5th and 6th with A 2 getting a bye, and you put all of the 3s on lane 5 & 6 and they are shooting for 7th 8th and 9th.
Every shooter has a chance to make it to 1st no matter where they are seeded. No one is out until the fat lady sings.
We tried the Arizona Gunslinger Bracket Shoot with Resurrection last Saturday and it worked. Adding the additional rounds only added two more rounds and about 10 minutes to the shoot. We had 42 shooters participate in the shoot off. EB was seeded 39th, being in bracket C, and he was unstoppable, winning 8 matches in Bracket C and two matches against the other number 1s to win the event. HawgLeg Willie was seeded 17th and moved up to place 7th. Powder Keg was on fire again being seeded 8th and moved up until he met the number one seed Lawless Speed. Lawless Speed finished 2nd and Powder Keg finished 4th. We had one tenderfoot shooter, Coyote Kid, seeded 29th who finished 9th. Our Billy the Kid shooter, Buckeroo Ben, was seeded 28th and finished 6th.
Looking at the breakdown of the top nine, we had 2 three shooters, two four shooters, two five/six shooters, two long guns, two 7/8 shooters, and two youth.
The format rewards the best gunfighter, not necessarily the quickest nor the slowest, but the ones who in the shoot offs are shooting the best. It is interesting to note that we had seven World, National, Territorial, State champions shooting Saturday, none of whom made the top nine. The Champions were pretty much evenly distributed among the three brackets. The fastest shooter there got mowed downed by EB in Bracket C.
Some might says the the lack of the Champions in the final nine means format is not good, but I don't think so. The Champions just were not hitting and it you don't hit you don't win. To do well in this format, what is needed is consistency. You must shoot well in each and every match and for a lot of matches.
SPEED BIAS: There is a speed bias built in since seeding is done by xs and time out. Also the A shooters get a bye. One would expect the speed to be in Bracket A, which among the nine, both of the 3 shooters came from Bracket A. The two fastest shooters were in Bracket B and C. You can't miss fast enough to win.
Saturday's shoot was just for practice and was not for prize money.
However, if and when it is used of a jackpot shoot, prize money can be distributed 1 through 9, thereby alleviate one of the complaints we hear about the bracket shoot.
MAJOR TITLED EVENTS: The Arizona Gunslingers Bracket Shoot with Resurrection would make a great warm-up event at a titled shoot. Warm-up event should be just that, a chance to get dialed in and prepared for the main event. With the last man standing format, say 3x, 25% of the field only gets three matches.
With two ranges, you can shoot everyone together for the seeding rounds and get probably get 6 or 7 rounds in if you have 60 shooters or 5 or 6 with 80 shooters. Then seed by xs and time out into 6 brackets. Shoot three brackets one range and three brackets on the other. Shoot offs on each range would remain separate and you would have 9 places set on one range and 9 places on the other. So you could pay out prize money to a total of 18 shooters. Sounds like fun
One big advantage, after the seeding rounds, you do not need the computer. Everything is set up on paper.
Well, what do you think?
"Remember boys quick don't matter, if you don't hit that which you are trying to be quick about."
Friday, January 1, 2016
Proverbs from Shady Mountaiin
When confronted by a verbal barrage a gunslinger can step to the line and resolve the matter by wax or issue a retort. Such great retorts are for example:
Don't be too sure you are quicker than me!
Been quick enough so far!
Appaloosa
You just shot an unarmed man!
Well, he should have armed himself if he is going to decorate his saloon with my friend!
Unforgiven
I have to put up with a daily barrage from Shady Mtn, most times I just let it slide but sometimes have the energy to retort.
Your New Years resolution is something that shouldn't go in one year and out the other.
Let the deaf hear and the blind see!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losing a marble can not be undone, only forgotten.
Never forgotten, only mourned.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A gunfighter must be aware of his surroundings and the state of his firearm.
And that of his prospective opponent!
Nope, one can't worry about opponent's state or equipment.
Thought that is what you did, made sure he was loaded to dry fire.
He better follow your lead, he can't remember what he did.
Heh, we are kind of on a roll, seeded in the top three two months in a row.
Not bad.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heh, on your way out of town would you stop by, I would like hear a couple more clanks in my bucket.
Retired my short guns. I don't exist anymore. Can't compete. Going to my smitthy to get my scatter gun worked on. Out of time as usual.
Sure go ahead and quit after you have all of the marbles. Bat Masterson wouldn't do that.
I'll be back
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That was some pitiful shooting yesterday.
You did good, Progress for me, Maybe I can't do what I want. We'll see.
Quick don't matter much unless you can hit that which you are trying to be quick about.
You should have put a marble in anyway
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't be too sure you're quicker than me;
Been known to go to the shift in a tight spot.
Been quick enough so far.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Started off bad, finished good, beat powder keg 2 out of three.
Good, he needs a little humbling!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not shooting faster than average is what keeps the average down.
I think you better rethink that, not shooting faster than average is what keeps the average up. Been listening to those bureaucrats too long, up is down and down is up, and we can cut spending by spending more.
If you shoot faster then the average goes up, better have another cup.
Guess we need to go back to school. Up is down, down is up. I know the government told me so.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
He who fears losing marbles is certain of defeat.
Difference between you and me and the Shelton boys, you got feelings.
I know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teach yourself not to be afraid of losing a marble or two but treat the experience as a lesson.
Better to give than to receive
I like that thought.
A perfect season is where in every match your opponent is quicker than you, every match goes to 2-2, and you win half and lose half.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
All the mistakes I've made while shooting for marbles was when I wanted to say yes and said no.
Don't cry over spilled marbles.
==================================
When you believe you have lost the power and control of your draw, nothing will ever seem easy or simple.
You talking to me or rather about me. Getting disheartened.
It's just talking in general, "if the shoe fits wear it."
"You should never kick a sleeping dog," if the shoe fits wear it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, A mind is a terrible thing to waist.
Waste not, want not, and add to the waist.
OK, whatever.
Noted in new rules our two handed shooters must "where" an identifying object. Never no if it's the computer or a smarter wit, or just a typo. My chip does most of my writing.
I am aware of that but forgot, that's why your there to keep me out of trouble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh thanks, you're a big help, don't strain yourself, wish I thought of that.
Don't get huffy. Just don't know why or what they are suggesting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What you get for Christmas.
Nothing yet, Lump of coal. Been naughty so says little woman.
Well remember, If the shoes fits wear it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
If one complies he quotes from facebook, does that make one a published author?
Nope, only me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unretorted proverbs from Shady Mtn:
If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed will not cease to exist even if done within the scope.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as bucket work does your accuracy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no luck in Cowboy Fastdraw except where there is discipline, which some of us have none.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok go to bed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whover is selected for line judges duty should study people's excuses, it's human nature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employ your time in improving your draw at the camp so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.
Don't be too sure you are quicker than me!
Been quick enough so far!
Appaloosa
You just shot an unarmed man!
Well, he should have armed himself if he is going to decorate his saloon with my friend!
Unforgiven
I have to put up with a daily barrage from Shady Mtn, most times I just let it slide but sometimes have the energy to retort.
Your New Years resolution is something that shouldn't go in one year and out the other.
Let the deaf hear and the blind see!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losing a marble can not be undone, only forgotten.
Never forgotten, only mourned.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A gunfighter must be aware of his surroundings and the state of his firearm.
And that of his prospective opponent!
Nope, one can't worry about opponent's state or equipment.
Thought that is what you did, made sure he was loaded to dry fire.
He better follow your lead, he can't remember what he did.
Heh, we are kind of on a roll, seeded in the top three two months in a row.
Not bad.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heh, on your way out of town would you stop by, I would like hear a couple more clanks in my bucket.
Retired my short guns. I don't exist anymore. Can't compete. Going to my smitthy to get my scatter gun worked on. Out of time as usual.
Sure go ahead and quit after you have all of the marbles. Bat Masterson wouldn't do that.
I'll be back
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That was some pitiful shooting yesterday.
You did good, Progress for me, Maybe I can't do what I want. We'll see.
Quick don't matter much unless you can hit that which you are trying to be quick about.
You should have put a marble in anyway
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't be too sure you're quicker than me;
Been known to go to the shift in a tight spot.
Been quick enough so far.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Started off bad, finished good, beat powder keg 2 out of three.
Good, he needs a little humbling!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not shooting faster than average is what keeps the average down.
I think you better rethink that, not shooting faster than average is what keeps the average up. Been listening to those bureaucrats too long, up is down and down is up, and we can cut spending by spending more.
If you shoot faster then the average goes up, better have another cup.
Guess we need to go back to school. Up is down, down is up. I know the government told me so.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
He who fears losing marbles is certain of defeat.
Difference between you and me and the Shelton boys, you got feelings.
I know.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teach yourself not to be afraid of losing a marble or two but treat the experience as a lesson.
Better to give than to receive
I like that thought.
A perfect season is where in every match your opponent is quicker than you, every match goes to 2-2, and you win half and lose half.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
All the mistakes I've made while shooting for marbles was when I wanted to say yes and said no.
Don't cry over spilled marbles.
==================================
When you believe you have lost the power and control of your draw, nothing will ever seem easy or simple.
You talking to me or rather about me. Getting disheartened.
It's just talking in general, "if the shoe fits wear it."
"You should never kick a sleeping dog," if the shoe fits wear it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, A mind is a terrible thing to waist.
Waste not, want not, and add to the waist.
OK, whatever.
Noted in new rules our two handed shooters must "where" an identifying object. Never no if it's the computer or a smarter wit, or just a typo. My chip does most of my writing.
I am aware of that but forgot, that's why your there to keep me out of trouble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh thanks, you're a big help, don't strain yourself, wish I thought of that.
Don't get huffy. Just don't know why or what they are suggesting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What you get for Christmas.
Nothing yet, Lump of coal. Been naughty so says little woman.
Well remember, If the shoes fits wear it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
If one complies he quotes from facebook, does that make one a published author?
Nope, only me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unretorted proverbs from Shady Mtn:
If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed will not cease to exist even if done within the scope.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as bucket work does your accuracy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no luck in Cowboy Fastdraw except where there is discipline, which some of us have none.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok go to bed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whover is selected for line judges duty should study people's excuses, it's human nature
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employ your time in improving your draw at the camp so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Isn't this Sport Great!
Boxing day 2015 was a pretty typical day for the Arizona Gunslingers except for the cold windy weather. Thirty-three shooters braved the cold weather including some from Texas, Idaho and Iowa.
The format: We shoot a no X "I came to shoot" format for as many rounds as we can get in. After the seeding rounds, the field is divided into three equal brackets based on Xs and time out and we hold a 1 X magnificent shoot off. We therefore get three champions and everyone gets to shoot in a magnificent shoot off. So Saturday we had three magnificent eleven shoot-offs.
Bracket C: The top seed in Bracket C was Hogleg Willie from the Loess Hills of Western Iowa. He is a new shooter with less than 1.year in the game. Also from the Loess Hills was Council Bluff Ranger seeded seventh. The Ranger was on a roll putting three or four to boothill. Isn't this game great.
Also in bracket C was Texas Gunny shooting in his very first shoot. He is the father of Smoking Shawn, a deadly new shooter. In the third round Texas Gunny was matched up against World Champion Miss Kitty and he won. Where else can a new shooter in his third match go up against a World Champion and win. Isn't this game great.
Bracket B: The three top women shooters ended the seeding rounds all with two Xs. Seeding is by Xs first, then fastest time out in the last round. Therefore there is a speed bias, after all it is "fastdraw." So, Holli Day went to Bracket A, and Miss Kitty was seeded 1 in Bracket B and Southwest KC seeded 3rd in Bracket B. In the finals of Bracket B it was Miss Kitty against Southwest KC. Isn't this game great.
Bracket A; It was exactly one year ago that Holli Day started her fastdraw career. No one can argue that she has not entered the realm of the quick. She finished 10th overall, being sent to compete with the quick and the deadly. Bracket A was a interesting mixture of the Quick (Sub 4 shooters) at the bottom of the bracket, including Holli Day, and the Deadly (those who don't practice missing) in the middle of the bracket, and near the top of the bracket, the quick and the deadly from Shady Mtn. Wyoming Ranger, shooting the long gun in the 6s did his part to take care of the Quick. Four shooters from Shady Mtn were left to face the Windmill Kid, the # 1 seed. The finals were between Windmill Kid and Alleluia. There is a bit of history here, the last meeting of these shooters making the front page of The Daily Republic of Mitchell, South Dakota, because Windmill just looks like a cowboy shooter. The results were the same. We don't practice missing on Shady Mountain.
Isn't this sport great! Where else can such a varied group of skill levels, ages, and quickness, compete and everyone has a chance to win.
The format: We shoot a no X "I came to shoot" format for as many rounds as we can get in. After the seeding rounds, the field is divided into three equal brackets based on Xs and time out and we hold a 1 X magnificent shoot off. We therefore get three champions and everyone gets to shoot in a magnificent shoot off. So Saturday we had three magnificent eleven shoot-offs.
Bracket C: The top seed in Bracket C was Hogleg Willie from the Loess Hills of Western Iowa. He is a new shooter with less than 1.year in the game. Also from the Loess Hills was Council Bluff Ranger seeded seventh. The Ranger was on a roll putting three or four to boothill. Isn't this game great.
Also in bracket C was Texas Gunny shooting in his very first shoot. He is the father of Smoking Shawn, a deadly new shooter. In the third round Texas Gunny was matched up against World Champion Miss Kitty and he won. Where else can a new shooter in his third match go up against a World Champion and win. Isn't this game great.
Bracket B: The three top women shooters ended the seeding rounds all with two Xs. Seeding is by Xs first, then fastest time out in the last round. Therefore there is a speed bias, after all it is "fastdraw." So, Holli Day went to Bracket A, and Miss Kitty was seeded 1 in Bracket B and Southwest KC seeded 3rd in Bracket B. In the finals of Bracket B it was Miss Kitty against Southwest KC. Isn't this game great.
Bracket A; It was exactly one year ago that Holli Day started her fastdraw career. No one can argue that she has not entered the realm of the quick. She finished 10th overall, being sent to compete with the quick and the deadly. Bracket A was a interesting mixture of the Quick (Sub 4 shooters) at the bottom of the bracket, including Holli Day, and the Deadly (those who don't practice missing) in the middle of the bracket, and near the top of the bracket, the quick and the deadly from Shady Mtn. Wyoming Ranger, shooting the long gun in the 6s did his part to take care of the Quick. Four shooters from Shady Mtn were left to face the Windmill Kid, the # 1 seed. The finals were between Windmill Kid and Alleluia. There is a bit of history here, the last meeting of these shooters making the front page of The Daily Republic of Mitchell, South Dakota, because Windmill just looks like a cowboy shooter. The results were the same. We don't practice missing on Shady Mountain.
Isn't this sport great! Where else can such a varied group of skill levels, ages, and quickness, compete and everyone has a chance to win.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Team Competition
Team Competition
MAIN MATCH: 3X,
3 shot (Arizona summertime best of 5), last man standing format. Standard
format, team members will shoot against team members if so drawn.
TEAM COMPETITION:
Entry fee $5 per shooter for first
team entry. A shooter may join as many teams as he would like but subsequent
team entries are $10 for the second entry, $15 for third and so on. Youth
shooters are free.
All entry fees from team competition go
to Shoot for the Stars.
Teams are 4 to 7 shooters with the
four top placing shooters considered for team scoring. Team scoring is the sum of the top four
placing shooters, low score wins. The 5th through 7th
team members are important because you never know who the top four will be and
a team’s 7th shooter may be ahead of an opponent’s 4th
shooter thereby moving that opposing shooter down in the placings.
Placings of shooters going out in
the same round are determined by fastest time out. Ties will be shot off before next round. Ties in team standings will be determined in
favor with the team with the highest placing shooter.
No
requirements as to guns, division, residency or club membership.
ARIZONA SUGGESTED TEAMS: The
Champs, The Young Guns, The Shady Mtn
Gang, Rio Salado Vaqueros, and Old Publeo Gunfighters.
Shooters may
sign up on any team first come first signed on or make up their own teams, for
example, family teams would be fun.
EXAMPLES:
Thirsty
might want to sign up on The Champs, a team of Territorial, State, and Club
Champions, and on a family team of
Thirsty, Lawless Speed, Half Cock Willie, Calaboose Bill, Buckeroo Ben, and
Coyote Kid (Grandpas, Kid and Grandkids.)
His entry fee for team competition would be $5 plus $10 for second entry
for total of $15.
A young guns
team of Lawless Speed, Col Hip Shot, Holli Day, Prickly Pear, Dirty Dan, Hot
Flash and High Strung would be a tough team.
AWARDS:
Magnet Awards for team members memorializing their victory are available
from azgunslingerstore.com at reasonable costs.
Sample
Sign-up Form
Team
Name:________________________________
Team
Members: Place Top four
1
_________________________ _____ _______
2
_________________________ _____ _______
3
_________________________ _____ _______
4 _________________________ _____ _______
5
_________________________ _____ _______
6
_________________________ _____ _______
7
_________________________ _____ _______
Team
Total Score _______
Comments:
1. Team scoring is only the top 4
shooters are scored. If all team members
are scored, then a shooter or two who are having a bad day might drag down an
otherwise good team. Also, since the
bottom shooters of the match have the highest placings numbers scoring 100% of
the team members unfairly considers the bottom team members over the top team
members. On the other hand, only scoring
the top one or two shooters really makes it into an individual event. There needs to be a balance. Best balance would be shooting seven and
scoring 5, like cross country. However,
I suggest shooting 7 and scoring 4 to be more accommodating to clubs to enter
teams. For example, if Rio Salado brings
seven shooters they could enter seven on one team. If they bring 8 shooters, then it makes sense
for them to enter two 4 shooter teams.
Other shooters could join their
teams and since it is always better to have 7 shooters than just 4 because you
never know who is going to be shoot well on any given day, it is to their
advantage to have other shooters sign onto their teams until full.
2. Many shooters have multiple
connections to other shooters. For
example, I practice on Shady Mountain and would like to join a team with those
shooters. I also have family members
shooting so it would make sense for me to enter a family team. This format allows multiple entries. However, the fee goes up to discourage
someone from joining every team. All
teams are open to everyone as long as there is a slot open. Once seven shooters have joined, then no more
entries on that team are allowed.
3. Added workload: There really is very little extra work needed
to have this event if you are have a last man standing shoot since it utilizes
the CFDA scoring system. You need
someone to collect the money and supervise the sign-up sheets. You need someone to add up the score sheets
near and at the end of the event. Since
90% of the shooters will be placed by the last several rounds of the event,
most team scores will be known by the last round. The ideal match would be to have four teams
within a point or two of each other at the end with team members still
shooting. That would be exciting. The more likely situation is to have the team
competition determined before the last several rounds since the best team top
to bottom should win.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
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