Thoughts on improving your shooting
By Tibor Gonzcol
© 2003. If this article is to be printed, distributed or used in part or whole, it is expected that due acknowledgement will be given to the source and author/compiler.
Planning your shooting program
Set your ultimate goal. (What do you want from this sport?)
Decide on matches to be favoured. (What is the match/matches you like most?)
Plan a physical and shooting program. (You may need help from an experienced coach)
Plan a competition program. (Which matches you will attend, when and why?)
Keeping Records
Keep a shooting diary.
Shot by shot.
Day by day.
Match by match.
Prepare graphs.
Analysis of Performance
Shooting diary; record of conditions, shots, techniques, solutions, scores (if shooting for scores), thoughts feelings, positive solutions, rewarding comments.
Shot by shot: look for patterns (first five shots are being great, then the performance dips....or the first lot are less than expected - settling in?)
Day by day: Analyse daily performance in relation to weather, shooting conditions, and yourself. Was your performance aided by, or in spite of conditions?
Match by match: analyse your match performances over a period of time with the aid of graphs. Compare results of Club matches to Open Competitions to Training.
Analyse progress: are you in fact progressing? If not, take a long look at your objectives, minor (short term and ultimate (long term).
Resetting minor objectives
Be constantly resetting minor objectives
Always keep objectives well ahead of present performance
Make sure you give yourself something to work for.
Minor objectives may be a score but preferably, a performance.
If you are not progressing, it is usually because you are accepting your present level of performance and not making yourself strive for (and work for) more distant objectives.
Evaluation of ideas
Always keep an open mind to positive suggestions.
Reject negative ideas.
When your own plan is slower than you expected and you want to try a new idea, do so but give it a minimum of three months before rejecting it.
Listen to those you trust and pick out those pieces of information that would be most helpful to you.