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.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
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.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Who we are!
We had our August monthly practice shoot at Pioneer with 33 gunslingers in attendance. It was a pretty tough bunch with 4 of the top 8 shooters from Nationals, and a World Champion, two World Category Champions, numerous other three shooters, a couple of old timers draw cock aim shooters, three youth shooters, a 7 year old who slip cocks and recovers 50% of the time, a 9 year old who slip cocks and recovers 30% of the time, a 10 year who is just quick and deadly and an assortment of other shooter all of whom are tough gunslingers.
We shot our Arizona Bracket shoot in near perfect weather. Most of the speed finished in 3rd to 10th place in bracket A, some in bracket B and a few in bracket C. A new shooter, a draw, cock, aim old timer shooter, was clean until the final match of the day, the final match of bracket A.
I sincerely believe that the Arizona shooters do so well in titled matches not because we shoot against quick shooters but because we shoot against tough gunfighters, whether that is a draw, cock, aim shooter or 7 year old slipping cocking and recovering to win matches. Generally we don't devalue misses.
We welcome all comers. Come shoot with us, whether you "slow shoot", slip cock and recover, flail and hit 30%, or are quick and accurate. We don't care. We need the practice. You can even come and whine and we will be nice to you, though we might poke little a fun at you.
Isn't this a great sport. Where else can a new shooter go through a field of champions and end up in second place. Where else can a 7 year old compete with World Champion and win. We like the sport as it is. It is a gunfight folks.
"Quick don't matter much in a gunfight." Little Bill
We shot our Arizona Bracket shoot in near perfect weather. Most of the speed finished in 3rd to 10th place in bracket A, some in bracket B and a few in bracket C. A new shooter, a draw, cock, aim old timer shooter, was clean until the final match of the day, the final match of bracket A.
I sincerely believe that the Arizona shooters do so well in titled matches not because we shoot against quick shooters but because we shoot against tough gunfighters, whether that is a draw, cock, aim shooter or 7 year old slipping cocking and recovering to win matches. Generally we don't devalue misses.
We welcome all comers. Come shoot with us, whether you "slow shoot", slip cock and recover, flail and hit 30%, or are quick and accurate. We don't care. We need the practice. You can even come and whine and we will be nice to you, though we might poke little a fun at you.
Isn't this a great sport. Where else can a new shooter go through a field of champions and end up in second place. Where else can a 7 year old compete with World Champion and win. We like the sport as it is. It is a gunfight folks.
"Quick don't matter much in a gunfight." Little Bill
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Be careful what you ask for! You may get it! The National Flap
I write this post not to be argumentative and not to criticize others but only to try to be helpful. Those who have strong feelings need to consider the flap at Nationals.
What I saw and what I heard: In the men's event we were down to the top 15 or so. It was a tough group, all quick, accurate and seasoned veterans. The round was shot without any unusual happenings. The Range Master was probably our best and most knowledgeable Range Master. After the round was over, an interloper of the opposite gender, confronts the Range Master in a verbally abusive tone and accuses him of failing to do his job by not calling "unsportsmanship violations" on a particular competitor. The Range Master in a calm but firm manner said he did not see any violations and the round was over. The interloper then storms off to take the matter up with an higher authority. Before the start of the next round Cal takes the mic and reprimands the competitors for making complaints about "sportsmanship" and to "stop it." The competitors are all bewildered, not knowing that anything had happened and none having made any complaints whatsoever.
That is what I saw and heard, now here is what was going on. There was a match between a high 3 shooter against a low 4 shooter. The low 4 shooter has a history of "slow shooting" apparently believing he is more accurate doing so. Apparently he was shooting in the 7s and 8s and he won. The low 3 shooter did not complain, he himself has a history of "slow shooting" in the mid 4s against 5 and above shooters. Both these gentlemen are seasoned veterans, credits to our sport, and great competitors. There was absolute no problem with the round and no complaints from anyone but the interloper which caused a public reprimand of the field. Is this really where we want to go?
To those thinking it would be good to just ban recovery shots, this same incident is informative. The Range Master is adamant that he never saw a slip cock or a recovery shot. A veteran spectator has said he heard a click and the "offender" did slip cock and recovered. So were these shots the hated "recovery shots"? Whose knows? Is not always easy to tell. I shot for the first time in three weeks last Saturday and did, on one shot, fumbled my draw, catching my trigger finger on the trigger guard. I did recover and hit the target. Would this have been a banned recovery shot? In the Mag 7 I took what appeared to be a recovery shot after an apparent "slip cock." After the event I find out that the ammunition was dimpled so it may have been host provided defective ammunition and a provisional shot.
Most of the anger on this issue really direct at the shooter who "slow shoots." Banning recovery shots will do nothing to alleviate this anger.
Some of the anger is directed towards the "aimed shot." If you are going to ban the aimed shot, remember that most of our new shooters start out as "aimed shot" shooters.
My suggestion is accept all shooters as they are. Be happy that you have an opponent. Welcome all shooters. If someone wants to shoot slower that should be fine with all in the sport, they are easier to defeat.
Thank you.
What I saw and what I heard: In the men's event we were down to the top 15 or so. It was a tough group, all quick, accurate and seasoned veterans. The round was shot without any unusual happenings. The Range Master was probably our best and most knowledgeable Range Master. After the round was over, an interloper of the opposite gender, confronts the Range Master in a verbally abusive tone and accuses him of failing to do his job by not calling "unsportsmanship violations" on a particular competitor. The Range Master in a calm but firm manner said he did not see any violations and the round was over. The interloper then storms off to take the matter up with an higher authority. Before the start of the next round Cal takes the mic and reprimands the competitors for making complaints about "sportsmanship" and to "stop it." The competitors are all bewildered, not knowing that anything had happened and none having made any complaints whatsoever.
That is what I saw and heard, now here is what was going on. There was a match between a high 3 shooter against a low 4 shooter. The low 4 shooter has a history of "slow shooting" apparently believing he is more accurate doing so. Apparently he was shooting in the 7s and 8s and he won. The low 3 shooter did not complain, he himself has a history of "slow shooting" in the mid 4s against 5 and above shooters. Both these gentlemen are seasoned veterans, credits to our sport, and great competitors. There was absolute no problem with the round and no complaints from anyone but the interloper which caused a public reprimand of the field. Is this really where we want to go?
To those thinking it would be good to just ban recovery shots, this same incident is informative. The Range Master is adamant that he never saw a slip cock or a recovery shot. A veteran spectator has said he heard a click and the "offender" did slip cock and recovered. So were these shots the hated "recovery shots"? Whose knows? Is not always easy to tell. I shot for the first time in three weeks last Saturday and did, on one shot, fumbled my draw, catching my trigger finger on the trigger guard. I did recover and hit the target. Would this have been a banned recovery shot? In the Mag 7 I took what appeared to be a recovery shot after an apparent "slip cock." After the event I find out that the ammunition was dimpled so it may have been host provided defective ammunition and a provisional shot.
Most of the anger on this issue really direct at the shooter who "slow shoots." Banning recovery shots will do nothing to alleviate this anger.
Some of the anger is directed towards the "aimed shot." If you are going to ban the aimed shot, remember that most of our new shooters start out as "aimed shot" shooters.
My suggestion is accept all shooters as they are. Be happy that you have an opponent. Welcome all shooters. If someone wants to shoot slower that should be fine with all in the sport, they are easier to defeat.
Thank you.
Monday, August 29, 2016
To each his own!
I commend The Irishman for his work with the data on recovery shots. He has done us a service by compiling this information. However, I would reach opposite conclusions from his data.
It is clear that recovery shots are a very small portion of shots fired, somewhere in the area of 1%. It is really not a problem. But the data does show a problem.
The accuracy rate has been going down. It is getting to be more and more acceptable to miss. We have been devaluing the miss. To me this stems from a basic misunderstanding of the sport. It is a gunfight. It is not a speed contest. WOW correctly points out that all of the top shooters take recovery shots. That is because they understand it is a gunfight and not a speed contest.
It is bothers to me to see all of the three shooters that can not hit the broadside of a barn even if they are inside. If you practice enough to be quick, you practice enough to be a 80% shooter. These shooters don't hit because they don't understand that it is a gunfight. They practice missing in their relentless pursuit of speed.
I would not brag too much about never taking a recovery shot. What you are saying is that you have intentionally thrown a match, have intentionally lost, have intentionally manipulated the standing, apparently out of a false sense of sportsmanship. If it is okay to intentionally lose then it okay to intentionally lose. Powder Keg and Marshall Cooper both had the opportunity to intentionally lose in round 13 of the Nationals and thereby eliminate three other mid 3 shooters. They did not do it but they had the opportunity to do so.
Intentionally not taking a shot when you are entitled to do so, devalues the miss. If you miss you ought to lose. It is not okay to miss. It is also disrespectful to your opponent. You don't find this among the top shooters because they respect their opponent. They know they better take the shot when they have the chance because their opponent is not going give them another chance. They respect their opponent.
Saying it is alright to intentionally not shoot or intentionally not hit is the problem. My shooting partner at nationals had 3 x s and so did his opponent. He did not take a recovery shot. On the very next shot his opponent did.
Time limits will only create more problems. Then there is the problem of what is a "slip cock", what is a recovery shot. I was given a sportsmanship warning for what appeared to be a slow recovery shot, (I am just slow) when in fact it was a provisional shot after host provided defective ammunition. Can of worms!
There is an easy solution! It is a gunfight folks, not a speed contest. Simple Rule: Every competitor must fire a shot in each match without regard to time or technique except for gun malfunctions. Every competitor must use his best efforts to hit the target. Every competitor must load sufficient to complete the match.
Let's put this nonsense to bed!
It is clear that recovery shots are a very small portion of shots fired, somewhere in the area of 1%. It is really not a problem. But the data does show a problem.
The accuracy rate has been going down. It is getting to be more and more acceptable to miss. We have been devaluing the miss. To me this stems from a basic misunderstanding of the sport. It is a gunfight. It is not a speed contest. WOW correctly points out that all of the top shooters take recovery shots. That is because they understand it is a gunfight and not a speed contest.
It is bothers to me to see all of the three shooters that can not hit the broadside of a barn even if they are inside. If you practice enough to be quick, you practice enough to be a 80% shooter. These shooters don't hit because they don't understand that it is a gunfight. They practice missing in their relentless pursuit of speed.
I would not brag too much about never taking a recovery shot. What you are saying is that you have intentionally thrown a match, have intentionally lost, have intentionally manipulated the standing, apparently out of a false sense of sportsmanship. If it is okay to intentionally lose then it okay to intentionally lose. Powder Keg and Marshall Cooper both had the opportunity to intentionally lose in round 13 of the Nationals and thereby eliminate three other mid 3 shooters. They did not do it but they had the opportunity to do so.
Intentionally not taking a shot when you are entitled to do so, devalues the miss. If you miss you ought to lose. It is not okay to miss. It is also disrespectful to your opponent. You don't find this among the top shooters because they respect their opponent. They know they better take the shot when they have the chance because their opponent is not going give them another chance. They respect their opponent.
Saying it is alright to intentionally not shoot or intentionally not hit is the problem. My shooting partner at nationals had 3 x s and so did his opponent. He did not take a recovery shot. On the very next shot his opponent did.
Time limits will only create more problems. Then there is the problem of what is a "slip cock", what is a recovery shot. I was given a sportsmanship warning for what appeared to be a slow recovery shot, (I am just slow) when in fact it was a provisional shot after host provided defective ammunition. Can of worms!
There is an easy solution! It is a gunfight folks, not a speed contest. Simple Rule: Every competitor must fire a shot in each match without regard to time or technique except for gun malfunctions. Every competitor must use his best efforts to hit the target. Every competitor must load sufficient to complete the match.
Let's put this nonsense to bed!
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Handicapping the Men's Top Gun Race
With less than 60 days to go the men's top gun competition appears to be pretty well defined. Gray Ghost appears to lead but is actually in 6th with 217 points because "they counted seven." Skagway Sam suffered the same affliction and actually is in 10th with 181 points. Being in the top ten this late in the season is quite an accomplishment.
One would have says the favorites probably are Marshall Cooper (8th) and Powder Keg (9th). Marshall has the potential to add 110 points while Powder Keg can add 104 points. A dark horses may be The Draw (5th), Boulder (3rd) and Vic Torius (7th).
The Old Timers: Short Keg (1st) Everett Hitch (2nd), Buzzard Cooper(4th) and The Draw (5th) seem to be solidly in the top ten even if they fade as their points are in the bank.
The race for that 10th place buckle appears to be between three gunslingers, Skagway Sam (10th), Whiplash (11th) and Mongo (12th). I would put my money on Whiplash because he only has 5 events, but it is his first World and an early out would put him out. All three could be pushed out of the top ten by a stretch run by Oregon Ranger (26th) with three events or Master Gunfighter (19th) with three events.
It is a credit to our sport that the top twelve shooters includes four Old Timers and two new shooters. Clearly illustrates that our shooters can be competitive well into their retirement years and new shooters can reach the top within their first few years.
I must not have enough to do. Looking at the shooters potentials, if they win out, I think their maximum score would be, Marshall Cooper 307; Everett Hitch 301; the Draw 288; Short Keg 287; Powder Keg 286; Master Gunfighter 283; Gray Ghost 279; Boulder Vaquero 278; and Oregon Ranger 254. Of course, they all can't win out.
Looking at the tenth spot looks to me that it will take 210 points to sneak in. If Whiplash does not shoot, my money would be on Mongo since he has a 10 points to drop off to Skagway Sam's 26 points. Mongo will have 60 points available to Sam's 44 points at World. Whiplash will have 70 points available.
September 13 update. Whiplash finished 4th in Kentucky State Championship so I think that moves him up to 7th with 214 points. He now has six events so it will be harder to move up since new events replace lower placing events. Mongo also placed 6th gaining 13 additional point to move to 184 points and 10th place.
Last chance before FGA is Nebraska this weekend. Better come and shoot if you want to move up.
One would have says the favorites probably are Marshall Cooper (8th) and Powder Keg (9th). Marshall has the potential to add 110 points while Powder Keg can add 104 points. A dark horses may be The Draw (5th), Boulder (3rd) and Vic Torius (7th).
The Old Timers: Short Keg (1st) Everett Hitch (2nd), Buzzard Cooper(4th) and The Draw (5th) seem to be solidly in the top ten even if they fade as their points are in the bank.
The race for that 10th place buckle appears to be between three gunslingers, Skagway Sam (10th), Whiplash (11th) and Mongo (12th). I would put my money on Whiplash because he only has 5 events, but it is his first World and an early out would put him out. All three could be pushed out of the top ten by a stretch run by Oregon Ranger (26th) with three events or Master Gunfighter (19th) with three events.
It is a credit to our sport that the top twelve shooters includes four Old Timers and two new shooters. Clearly illustrates that our shooters can be competitive well into their retirement years and new shooters can reach the top within their first few years.
I must not have enough to do. Looking at the shooters potentials, if they win out, I think their maximum score would be, Marshall Cooper 307; Everett Hitch 301; the Draw 288; Short Keg 287; Powder Keg 286; Master Gunfighter 283; Gray Ghost 279; Boulder Vaquero 278; and Oregon Ranger 254. Of course, they all can't win out.
Looking at the tenth spot looks to me that it will take 210 points to sneak in. If Whiplash does not shoot, my money would be on Mongo since he has a 10 points to drop off to Skagway Sam's 26 points. Mongo will have 60 points available to Sam's 44 points at World. Whiplash will have 70 points available.
September 13 update. Whiplash finished 4th in Kentucky State Championship so I think that moves him up to 7th with 214 points. He now has six events so it will be harder to move up since new events replace lower placing events. Mongo also placed 6th gaining 13 additional point to move to 184 points and 10th place.
Last chance before FGA is Nebraska this weekend. Better come and shoot if you want to move up.
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.
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