I have just read Quick Cal's explanation of the change of target size and distance and believe that he has made a turn in the wrong direction. I write this post not to criticize or to be an obstructionist. I will support Cal's decision, it is his business and he has done great things for the sport in the past.
I love cowboy fast draw because it is one of the few pure sports remaining in our society. In an early era we had many sports, i.e. character building activities. Most of these have been highjacked for their entertainment value. I am sensitive to this because I was a youth coach for over 15 years. If you take 10 kids and give them a ball they will play a game, sort out the rules, and learn some life skills. If you add in 20 parents trying to get their entertainment fix, you no longer have a learning environment of good character traits, but a environment where poor sportsmanship, bad manners, poor life skills are learned.
Yes, Cowboy Fast Draw teaches good character traits, even to old guys like me. It is a sport. It is not an entertainment venue. Nor should it be. Do we really want our sport to become like all the rest of the entertainment industry where you find so many miscreants.
Our sport grows, not because it entertains, but because one can participate and be successful in a relative short time. Where else can a brand new competitor go up against a World Champion and have not only a change to win but a good likelihood of winning.
IT IS THE SAME, MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO:
Cal says he will make the change for showmanship. He says that since the proportions are the same the balance between speed and accuracy will remain the same. I can buy that but it will not be the same for accuracy unless you shoot from 39.5 inches muzzle height. For a muzzle height of 39.5 inches a target height should be 47 inches at 17 3/16 target at 15 feet. But for a muzzle height of 44 inches target height should be about 46 inches. An inch may not seem like much but how many thumb nail wins have you had. Generally, higher muzzle height shooters will shoot low, lower muzzle height shooters will shoot high. Guess we could all change to 39.5 inches, to keep the same accuracy between 15 feet and the championship distance of 21 feet.
As for showmanship missing at 15 feet seems to be more devastating.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES:
While we transition I would expect accuracy to get a little worst for the reason set forth above, but not significantly. However, going to the balloon targets will probably result in significantly worst accuracy for two reasons.
Cal says he is not going to grease the balloon targets. For me, being able to see my hits is critical. I walk my hits to the light. I think most top shooters use the location of their hits to stay on target whether they are aware of it or not. If we can no longer see the exact location of the hit, our accuracy will decrease. That is the reason we hate shooting without a backstop or in poor light conditions. To illustrate, just how important this is to me, at Texas, to start I could not see my misses and missed 27 of my first 30 shots. I finally found the target and hit better than 80% for the next four days.
If you are going to get a top shooter, you have to get him or her, early in the event or early in the match. Ever notice how many times the first round or two nobody seems to be able to hit. That is because shooters have not yet found the target and they have not gotten into their shooting rhythm.
All shooters get into a certain rhythm on the line. I like to have the same announcer and like to learn his cadence. I have a certain pre-shot routine, physically and mentally. Anything that disrupts that rhythm is harmful to quickness and accuracy. Now we are going to change that all up for the World Magnificent Seven. The cadence and the rhythm will be different from what you have shot all event. Because of the target tendering for balloons each shot it will be like the first round of the day or for first shot of a match.
If you are serious about shooting in a Mag Seven at World in 2017, you probably should add a delay in your routine for the time it will take the target tenders to re-balloon. I am thinking about stepping off the line for 45-60 second after each and every shot, during each and every match, during each and every event. Who knows, I might get there and if I do, I want to have shot my Mag 7 routine all year long.
My guess is accuracy will get worst with the balloon targets. If Cal is going do this he should set up a practice range at 2016 World with 2 lanes at Championship distance, 2 lanes at 15 feet with 17 3/16 targets and 2 lanes at balloon targets. Then he ought to hire a high school or college interns to run and score each shot and tabulate the accuracy rate on the targets. Any one who wants to try these new targets should shoot down the line on all three target setups against an opponent from 21 to 15 to Balloon. That would simulate what is going to happen at World 2017. Let us see what is likely.
TRIPPING ON MY SPURS:
Alleluia has taken a year off, but he will be back in 2017, a little quicker, a little more accurate, and with a new pre-shot routine because he is a competitor and an athlete not an entertainer who deals in illusions.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
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.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Being a Better Gunfighter!
Dirty Dan mentioned on facebook that I slip cocked during the Southern Territorial Magnificent 7 and others have mentioned a 1.47 shot. I have no memory of it but do not deny it cause I am a stickwithit type of guy. I was raised on a farm by a bunch of uncles, cousins and brothers, and when things went wrong you were expected to "stickwithit," you were not allowed to just give up. Not to take a recovery shot is considered by me to be a character defect. It either shows a lack of "stickwithitness" or a prideful sense of false sportsmanship. Recently I won an event where my opponent intentionally missed a recovery shot, and I took it as a sign of disrespect to me. To this day, I always shoot better against him.
You know in SASS you are applauded for your recoveries. When you start out, you are always told about the lady world champion whose gun broke during a stage and she whips out her Redwing knife, fixes the gun, finishes the stage clean, and goes on to win the event. Guess there are more real cowboys in SASS than in our sport.
Last year at the Nebraska State Championship there was a shooter who had decided to shoot a slow deliberate aiming style of draw. He would draw after his opponent shot. I drew him in my last match. I was not mentally tough and got flustered. I was happy for him to win even though the loss probably cost me a top ten finish in the top gun standings. He needed the win more than I. Hope he is still shooting. I needed that loss. I am a better gunfighter for it. Because of rule changes, I am 20 mls slower this year than last but I think I am mentally tougher.
Every shooter is entitled to choose his own style of draw and shooting philosophy on the line. We need to welcome, enjoy and applaud all shooters. I know that many laugh at my style but I don't care. I have been trying to join the Red Hat Society but they won't let me in saying I have too many parts. If I can just get Obama aware this injustice I think he would issue an executive order making them take me. Well, tea is overrated anyway.
You know in SASS you are applauded for your recoveries. When you start out, you are always told about the lady world champion whose gun broke during a stage and she whips out her Redwing knife, fixes the gun, finishes the stage clean, and goes on to win the event. Guess there are more real cowboys in SASS than in our sport.
Last year at the Nebraska State Championship there was a shooter who had decided to shoot a slow deliberate aiming style of draw. He would draw after his opponent shot. I drew him in my last match. I was not mentally tough and got flustered. I was happy for him to win even though the loss probably cost me a top ten finish in the top gun standings. He needed the win more than I. Hope he is still shooting. I needed that loss. I am a better gunfighter for it. Because of rule changes, I am 20 mls slower this year than last but I think I am mentally tougher.
Every shooter is entitled to choose his own style of draw and shooting philosophy on the line. We need to welcome, enjoy and applaud all shooters. I know that many laugh at my style but I don't care. I have been trying to join the Red Hat Society but they won't let me in saying I have too many parts. If I can just get Obama aware this injustice I think he would issue an executive order making them take me. Well, tea is overrated anyway.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Quickness, Accuracy, and Mental Toughness
I write this post in support of our current target size, target distance and lack of a time limit. I think our events are well balanced and give all shooters the opportunity to compete. The current format does an excellent job sorting out who the best gunslinger is on a given day.
By far the most dominant characteristic of a competitive gunfighter is mental toughness. The second most dominant characteristic is accuracy. Quickness comes in a distance third in importance. That is why in most titled events about half the Magnificent field will be mentally tough accurate shooters regardless of quickness.
We have a good balance now, why make more silly rules or change target size or distance. I think WOW is right when he tells the whiners and poor sports to shut up and go practice. Those complaining have spent time practicing speed when they should have been honing their mental toughness and accuracy. If you can't win on the line, no rule is going help when you face that mentally tough accurate gunslinger. You might as well stop complaining and practice more.
The Oklahoma State Championship was a great example of how well the current format works. For the men the seeding rounds did an excellent job of sorting out the top 7 gunslingers. You can tell that by the fact that the final standings were identical to the seeding standings. That is not always the case and was not for the women. In the men not all were the quickest but all were mentally tough accurate shooters. Shane reach the Magnificent 7 via a CFDA resurrection shoot off. I did not shoot against any of the bottom 3 but I know by observation they were tough gunfighters.
Of top four gunfighters, two had 2 x s, and two had 3 x s. All of the top four had received most of their main match x s from the other top 4 shooters. It was clearly definitive that the order on quickness was Whiplash, Delta Whiskey, Quickstrike, and Everett. Almost as definitive the order on accuracy was Everett, Whiplash, Delta Whiskey and Quickstrike. Needless to say it was a brawl. Quickstrike losing to Everett and Delta Whiskey for fourth; Delta Whiskey losing to Quickstrike and Everett for third; Everett losing to Whiplash twice for second; and Whiplash losing only once to Everett for the Championship.
On competitive balance, it is interesting to note that the Magnificent 7 included based only on quickness the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th,16th, 24th and 26th quickest guns out of 42 shooters. Our current format is working!
For the women the sorting process did not work nearly as well. Corkey won the event from the seventh seed. This seems to be characteristic of the ladies. Slow Poke won the Four Corners Territorial after being eliminated in the seventh place. I think this results from the top gunslingers (toughness, accuracy, quickness) among the ladies not being as well defined. The entire field of shooters among the ladies is more uniform as to the three dominate gunfighter characteristics. Also among the ladies, quickness is much much much less important. This should be important to match directors and hosts. There may be a thought to reduce the magnificent shoot off to five for the ladies because of the smaller numbers of competitors when in fact it should be expanded for the ladies because of the uniqueness of the field. Had the shoot off been a Magnificent 8, the results may have been different, the current top gun lady sitting in the eight slot.
For the men at Oklahoma expanding the magnificent field would not have made any difference. However, I may be tripping on my spurs here, at the Four Corners, had the field been seven, the results would have been different. At the Southern had the field been five, the 2nd place shooter would not have made the shoot off.
Generally, the larger the magnificent field the more likely that the top gunfighter will win. We do shoot larger magnificent shoot offs than 7. Oklahoma was in effect for the men a Magnificent 8.
In summary, the current format is working, let's not screw it up.
"Quickness does not matter much in a gunfight." Little Bill, Unforgiven
By far the most dominant characteristic of a competitive gunfighter is mental toughness. The second most dominant characteristic is accuracy. Quickness comes in a distance third in importance. That is why in most titled events about half the Magnificent field will be mentally tough accurate shooters regardless of quickness.
We have a good balance now, why make more silly rules or change target size or distance. I think WOW is right when he tells the whiners and poor sports to shut up and go practice. Those complaining have spent time practicing speed when they should have been honing their mental toughness and accuracy. If you can't win on the line, no rule is going help when you face that mentally tough accurate gunslinger. You might as well stop complaining and practice more.
The Oklahoma State Championship was a great example of how well the current format works. For the men the seeding rounds did an excellent job of sorting out the top 7 gunslingers. You can tell that by the fact that the final standings were identical to the seeding standings. That is not always the case and was not for the women. In the men not all were the quickest but all were mentally tough accurate shooters. Shane reach the Magnificent 7 via a CFDA resurrection shoot off. I did not shoot against any of the bottom 3 but I know by observation they were tough gunfighters.
Of top four gunfighters, two had 2 x s, and two had 3 x s. All of the top four had received most of their main match x s from the other top 4 shooters. It was clearly definitive that the order on quickness was Whiplash, Delta Whiskey, Quickstrike, and Everett. Almost as definitive the order on accuracy was Everett, Whiplash, Delta Whiskey and Quickstrike. Needless to say it was a brawl. Quickstrike losing to Everett and Delta Whiskey for fourth; Delta Whiskey losing to Quickstrike and Everett for third; Everett losing to Whiplash twice for second; and Whiplash losing only once to Everett for the Championship.
On competitive balance, it is interesting to note that the Magnificent 7 included based only on quickness the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th,16th, 24th and 26th quickest guns out of 42 shooters. Our current format is working!
For the women the sorting process did not work nearly as well. Corkey won the event from the seventh seed. This seems to be characteristic of the ladies. Slow Poke won the Four Corners Territorial after being eliminated in the seventh place. I think this results from the top gunslingers (toughness, accuracy, quickness) among the ladies not being as well defined. The entire field of shooters among the ladies is more uniform as to the three dominate gunfighter characteristics. Also among the ladies, quickness is much much much less important. This should be important to match directors and hosts. There may be a thought to reduce the magnificent shoot off to five for the ladies because of the smaller numbers of competitors when in fact it should be expanded for the ladies because of the uniqueness of the field. Had the shoot off been a Magnificent 8, the results may have been different, the current top gun lady sitting in the eight slot.
For the men at Oklahoma expanding the magnificent field would not have made any difference. However, I may be tripping on my spurs here, at the Four Corners, had the field been seven, the results would have been different. At the Southern had the field been five, the 2nd place shooter would not have made the shoot off.
Generally, the larger the magnificent field the more likely that the top gunfighter will win. We do shoot larger magnificent shoot offs than 7. Oklahoma was in effect for the men a Magnificent 8.
In summary, the current format is working, let's not screw it up.
"Quickness does not matter much in a gunfight." Little Bill, Unforgiven
Monday, May 16, 2016
What a blast!
Having just finished my second Magnificent Seven of the year all I can say is "what a blast." Great competitors, great outcome, more fun than one person should be allowed to have! Looking forward to meeting Quickstrike, Delta Whiskey, Whiplash on the line again.who knows maybe with a black badge in the balance, them boys need to practice missing more, not fast enough yet.
Had a chance to lobby some for my pet project, a championship with a true resurrection, to the uniform outcry of "you can't do that." By the way, by CFDA rule, 7th place was resurrected in the men's match. I think it is the "word" so I decided to quit using it.
Positives:
What would be wrong with a three day championship where:
- Every shooter would get 6 x s in main match;
- Every shooter would be alive through day two;
- Half of the field would get to shoot in a Magnificent shoot-off:
- Half of the field would be alive until their last shot on day three;
- Preliminary sorting after day one, half of the field would be shooting for their lives in a 2 x match; half the field would continue in main match and be shooting in 2 x category championships;
- There would be 18 champions on Championship Sunday:
- Eighteen Championship Buckles; balance in gold coin, no frills or goodie bags;
- All matches on Sunday would be set by Saturday night;
- No computer needed on third day;
- If less 120 shooters, shot on two 6 lane ranges;
- All matches on Sunday set at a specific time, you would know the schedule and opponents Saturday night;
- All included in one entry fee;
What do you think? And if you say "you can't do that" think about it some more.
Last man standing favors me, would have won in that format, those speedy guys would have knock each out, but a Magnificent shoot-off is a blast.
Oklahoma was a great event, great venue, great folks. Looking forward to the Southern Territorial there next year. Next year, loverboy will come so you better be practicing missing to get faster. Bring me the next shooter cause I ain't missing!
Had a chance to lobby some for my pet project, a championship with a true resurrection, to the uniform outcry of "you can't do that." By the way, by CFDA rule, 7th place was resurrected in the men's match. I think it is the "word" so I decided to quit using it.
Positives:
What would be wrong with a three day championship where:
- Every shooter would get 6 x s in main match;
- Every shooter would be alive through day two;
- Half of the field would get to shoot in a Magnificent shoot-off:
- Half of the field would be alive until their last shot on day three;
- Preliminary sorting after day one, half of the field would be shooting for their lives in a 2 x match; half the field would continue in main match and be shooting in 2 x category championships;
- There would be 18 champions on Championship Sunday:
- Eighteen Championship Buckles; balance in gold coin, no frills or goodie bags;
- All matches on Sunday would be set by Saturday night;
- No computer needed on third day;
- If less 120 shooters, shot on two 6 lane ranges;
- All matches on Sunday set at a specific time, you would know the schedule and opponents Saturday night;
- All included in one entry fee;
What do you think? And if you say "you can't do that" think about it some more.
Last man standing favors me, would have won in that format, those speedy guys would have knock each out, but a Magnificent shoot-off is a blast.
Oklahoma was a great event, great venue, great folks. Looking forward to the Southern Territorial there next year. Next year, loverboy will come so you better be practicing missing to get faster. Bring me the next shooter cause I ain't missing!
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
The Waggle and Mental Toughness or "Bring me another shooter"
After shooting in the Magnificent Seven of the Southern Territorial, a young shooter about age ten asked me why I shake my hips before I shoot. I responded that I have one artificial hip and one bad hip and it is painful for me to shoot. It helps if I can loosen up my hips and my lower back before I shoot.
More importantly it is my current waggle. Most professional athletes in sports that require a shot, golf, baseball, tennis, etc. use a waggle. A waggle is a meaningless motion that is done after the athlete has got through his physical and mental routine before the shot. It is the signal to the athlete that he is ready to go and make the shot. Wild Onion Willie's waggle is to stick his trigger finger in the trigger guard and then position it to its shooting location. Stampede Loverboy checks to make sure his gun in loose in the holster. Many top shooters do a mock draw, that is what Thirsty does. A waggle is a signal to the body and mind that you are ready to make the shot. My waggle is currently loosening the hip and shift of balance right and left.
I shot pretty well at the Texas State and the Southern Territorial. In the State I had 19 matches including the bracket match and was 15-4. Of my 4 losses, two were competitive losses and two were losses that were mental losses. In the Territorial main match I had 3 losses two of which were to Short Keg. I have shot a bit against Short Keg and quite frankly in the Territorial I just got flustered and could not find the target against him.
I was seeded 6th in the Magnificent Seven and when I got the seeding I texted Shady that I thought I had a good draw. My confidence was boosted by the fact that I had just beaten the 1st seed and 7th seed in the main match. Also, we would be shooting on 1 & 2 of Range A where I had finished the previous day winning three matches in a total of 10 shots. Even though the field had two black badges and 4 three shooters, I felt I could handle the field if I put the fear of Alleluia in them. My attitude was "I ain't missing, bring me the next shooter."
I had lane choice and I chose lane 1 because I thought that would put me on lane 2 for Short Keg. I really don't remember the first five matches, except somewhere in there I see Miss Kitty motioning me to clean my gun, to which I responded I ain't leaving, bring me the next shooter. I don't need to clean my gun I only shoot three rounds per match, bring me the next shooter.
Eventually I got to the number 1 seed, Delta Whiskey, who was the number 1 seed not because he is quick, which he is, but because he is mentally tough. He gives me my first loss and I have go take care of the number 3 seed a second time. I ain't missing, bring me the next shooter.
In our rematch I defeat Delta Whiskey. We have now shot three times and I have won twice. Most shooters would fold, but Delta Whiskey has that champion mental toughness and hits 60% winning the Championship. It was a fun match and I am looking forward to a rematch. I ain't missing.
Any discussion of mental toughness has to include that gal from Virginia. Slow Poke is a solid 4.8-5.5 shooter who has the game figured out. At the Four Corners Territorial she is eliminated only to be resurrected and win 5 in a row to win the event. She won the Southern. She has the champion mental toughness. I am going to listen to her to see if I can pick up her mental routine. That will be worth more in wins that any speed that I can get. Another new shooter to listen to is Powder Keg. He went through the Texas State and the state bracket shoot with only one loss. Almost an impossible feat.
I still have not come down, bring me the next shooter. Hope I don't stumble on my spurs.
More importantly it is my current waggle. Most professional athletes in sports that require a shot, golf, baseball, tennis, etc. use a waggle. A waggle is a meaningless motion that is done after the athlete has got through his physical and mental routine before the shot. It is the signal to the athlete that he is ready to go and make the shot. Wild Onion Willie's waggle is to stick his trigger finger in the trigger guard and then position it to its shooting location. Stampede Loverboy checks to make sure his gun in loose in the holster. Many top shooters do a mock draw, that is what Thirsty does. A waggle is a signal to the body and mind that you are ready to make the shot. My waggle is currently loosening the hip and shift of balance right and left.
I shot pretty well at the Texas State and the Southern Territorial. In the State I had 19 matches including the bracket match and was 15-4. Of my 4 losses, two were competitive losses and two were losses that were mental losses. In the Territorial main match I had 3 losses two of which were to Short Keg. I have shot a bit against Short Keg and quite frankly in the Territorial I just got flustered and could not find the target against him.
I was seeded 6th in the Magnificent Seven and when I got the seeding I texted Shady that I thought I had a good draw. My confidence was boosted by the fact that I had just beaten the 1st seed and 7th seed in the main match. Also, we would be shooting on 1 & 2 of Range A where I had finished the previous day winning three matches in a total of 10 shots. Even though the field had two black badges and 4 three shooters, I felt I could handle the field if I put the fear of Alleluia in them. My attitude was "I ain't missing, bring me the next shooter."
I had lane choice and I chose lane 1 because I thought that would put me on lane 2 for Short Keg. I really don't remember the first five matches, except somewhere in there I see Miss Kitty motioning me to clean my gun, to which I responded I ain't leaving, bring me the next shooter. I don't need to clean my gun I only shoot three rounds per match, bring me the next shooter.
Eventually I got to the number 1 seed, Delta Whiskey, who was the number 1 seed not because he is quick, which he is, but because he is mentally tough. He gives me my first loss and I have go take care of the number 3 seed a second time. I ain't missing, bring me the next shooter.
In our rematch I defeat Delta Whiskey. We have now shot three times and I have won twice. Most shooters would fold, but Delta Whiskey has that champion mental toughness and hits 60% winning the Championship. It was a fun match and I am looking forward to a rematch. I ain't missing.
Any discussion of mental toughness has to include that gal from Virginia. Slow Poke is a solid 4.8-5.5 shooter who has the game figured out. At the Four Corners Territorial she is eliminated only to be resurrected and win 5 in a row to win the event. She won the Southern. She has the champion mental toughness. I am going to listen to her to see if I can pick up her mental routine. That will be worth more in wins that any speed that I can get. Another new shooter to listen to is Powder Keg. He went through the Texas State and the state bracket shoot with only one loss. Almost an impossible feat.
I still have not come down, bring me the next shooter. Hope I don't stumble on my spurs.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Put the fear of Alleluia in 'em!
I had a pretty good day shooting at Rio Salado Vaqueros practice shoot. It was a 3 x last man standing affair. The field was not overwhelming but it did have a World Champion, several World Champion Category shooters, multiple Territorial Champions and of course a Two-time National Champion. 38 shooters in all. I only had one poor match shooting 57% at mid four speed. In the other ten matches I shot 89% at mid four speed. To quote William Munny, "I was lucky in the order, but then I'm always lucky in the order when......" Most of the speed ended up shooting in the 2nd chance match.
I mention this only as a prelude to my main point. The Alleluia training regiment trains gunfighters, not necessarily the quickest but maybe the most deadly. Saturday shoot, for me was what it always should be, except that one match in which I got flustered and lost the target.
I am looking for two disciples to train in the Alleluia system for 8 weeks. I would prefer new shooters because they come without all that baggage, but would consider seasoned shooters who have the right attitude. Would like one lady and one man. Plan to start May 1 and finish the week before the Pioneer shoot in June. Prefer folks in the Valley of the Sun so I can meet with them weekly, but would consider others dedicated to the system.
Commitment:
1. Must be willing to shoot a minimum of 150 rounds off of the clock a week. Would plan to meet with you at least once a week in the desert for a practice session. Normally student would shoot 50 rounds three times a week. Wax is reusable so 500 wax should be sufficient.
2. Must be willing to forego the clock except for competition. You can't learn to be a gunfighter if you have grailfever.
3. Must be willing to dry fire in front of a mirror on days not shooting live rounds.
4. Must forgo outside influences. Only one mentor allowed. Quickest way to booth hill is to work on your draw during competition.
5. Must acquire practice stand. (about $25)
6. Must agree I can use your alias and story in any future publications.
Goals:
1. Goal for the man would be to be a 4 shooter shooting better than 80%.
2. Goal for the lady would be to be a World Champion. This is not a higher goal, it just that the next Lady World Champion will be a 4 or 5 shooter shooting better than 60%.
3. My goal is to see if I am in left field or not. You will be the test of the training regiment.
The Draw:
Most new shooters start out with the level and follow through draw. They spend months or sometimes years learning to be fast with this technique. Some become top shooters but most level out in the mid 5s. Some spend years trying to unlearn the follow through to get truly fast. We will try to learn the Lock-elbow/Thumb-roll draw. If you can't do the lock elbow draw you still can be a 4 flat shooter shooting the level and follow through. The flail draw is a defect and not an acceptable draw although some shoot world record times with it. It is a symptom of grailfever.
I plan to video students before, during and after the 8 weeks and give each their reaction/draw splits.
Observation: I have to end this post with an observation of my idol, Miss Kitty, World Champion. She is getting ready to hand judge me late in the event and she has her box of 100 cartridges open looking at them. To me there is no reasonable order to the shot shells and unshot shells so I ask her about it. She tells me there is a definite order and she can ascertain the hits and misses of each round from the order in the box. See why she is a world champion. I got to get her to train me more! She never has, I just pick up tips here and there by watching her.
I mention this only as a prelude to my main point. The Alleluia training regiment trains gunfighters, not necessarily the quickest but maybe the most deadly. Saturday shoot, for me was what it always should be, except that one match in which I got flustered and lost the target.
I am looking for two disciples to train in the Alleluia system for 8 weeks. I would prefer new shooters because they come without all that baggage, but would consider seasoned shooters who have the right attitude. Would like one lady and one man. Plan to start May 1 and finish the week before the Pioneer shoot in June. Prefer folks in the Valley of the Sun so I can meet with them weekly, but would consider others dedicated to the system.
Commitment:
1. Must be willing to shoot a minimum of 150 rounds off of the clock a week. Would plan to meet with you at least once a week in the desert for a practice session. Normally student would shoot 50 rounds three times a week. Wax is reusable so 500 wax should be sufficient.
2. Must be willing to forego the clock except for competition. You can't learn to be a gunfighter if you have grailfever.
3. Must be willing to dry fire in front of a mirror on days not shooting live rounds.
4. Must forgo outside influences. Only one mentor allowed. Quickest way to booth hill is to work on your draw during competition.
5. Must acquire practice stand. (about $25)
6. Must agree I can use your alias and story in any future publications.
Goals:
1. Goal for the man would be to be a 4 shooter shooting better than 80%.
2. Goal for the lady would be to be a World Champion. This is not a higher goal, it just that the next Lady World Champion will be a 4 or 5 shooter shooting better than 60%.
3. My goal is to see if I am in left field or not. You will be the test of the training regiment.
The Draw:
Most new shooters start out with the level and follow through draw. They spend months or sometimes years learning to be fast with this technique. Some become top shooters but most level out in the mid 5s. Some spend years trying to unlearn the follow through to get truly fast. We will try to learn the Lock-elbow/Thumb-roll draw. If you can't do the lock elbow draw you still can be a 4 flat shooter shooting the level and follow through. The flail draw is a defect and not an acceptable draw although some shoot world record times with it. It is a symptom of grailfever.
I plan to video students before, during and after the 8 weeks and give each their reaction/draw splits.
Observation: I have to end this post with an observation of my idol, Miss Kitty, World Champion. She is getting ready to hand judge me late in the event and she has her box of 100 cartridges open looking at them. To me there is no reasonable order to the shot shells and unshot shells so I ask her about it. She tells me there is a definite order and she can ascertain the hits and misses of each round from the order in the box. See why she is a world champion. I got to get her to train me more! She never has, I just pick up tips here and there by watching her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)