IDPA Practice?

pilot25 · Apr 27, 2018

Does anyone have any recommendations on drills to practice for IDPA?

Luckily, I have the ability to set up a course as if I'm at a match. However, I'm not quite sure what drills would be best to concentrate on.

I've found my focus goes out the window when the timer goes off. I want to finish fast and then forget in the middle of the course of fire what the heck my plan was. My shots are all over the place because I forget about my grip until its too late and the first few shots are off the mark.

Any suggestions or does it just come down to practice, practice, practice?

Biggfoot44 · Apr 27, 2018

Fundamentals ?

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

First mistake. You want to be fast..

I get it.. but really not necessary if you get on the top ten on the match or not esp if you are new to the game.

Take your time... Speed comes later when you get used to it. The more you attend matches the better (that's pretty much my practice mode).

Everyone freezes first time they hear the beep.

davsco · Apr 27, 2018

setup and do the various idpa classifiers (on their website). they cover all the basics.

you'll get better as you do more matches. there is just no substitute for when the 'real' timer goes off.

make a plan, close your eyes and you should be able to recite your plan. what and how many targets are going to be shot at each position, when you are going to reload, etc.

at your next match(es) ask your squad for input and feedback, sure they'll oblige.

and don't worry about anything above until you get your grip right, as without that, nothing else matters. the old saying, slow is smooth and smooth is fast. you only draw once on a stage so make it right.

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

davsco said:
setup and do the various idpa classifiers (on their website). they cover all the basics.

you'll get better as you do more matches. there is just no substitute for when the 'real' timer goes off.

make a plan, close your eyes and you should be able to recite your plan. what and how many targets are going to be shot at each position, when you are going to reload, etc.

at your next match(es) ask your squad for input and feedback, sure they'll oblige.

and don't worry about anything above until you get your grip right, as without that, nothing else matters. the old saying, slow is smooth and smooth is fast. you only draw once on a stage so make it right.

I find most people at the match are friendly and helpful.. don't be shy asking questions or ask for help.

bitterkenny · Apr 27, 2018

One of the best pieces of advise I've gotten was to relax - take a couple of deep breaths, roll your shoulders and neck around, etc. when you get to the starting position.

pilot25 · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
I find most people at the match are friendly and helpful.. don't be shy asking questions or ask for help.

Definitely. I've been given great tips by many experienced shooters. Makes the sport really pleasurable. One day I hope to get good enough to pay it forward.

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
First mistake. You want to be fast..

I get it.. but really not necessary if you get on the top ten on the match or not esp if you are new to the game.

Take your time... Speed comes later when you get used to it. The more you attend matches the better (that's pretty much my practice mode).

Everyone freezes first time they hear the beep.

I would disagree with this. Sure,if he's brand new the focus should primarily be on safety over speed.

Want to be fast, not a mistake

trying to get fast not a mistake

thinking speed comes in time is a mistake

thinking matches are practice is a mistake

Edit to add: There are plenty of SS's at my local club that I've heard say speed will come with time. And some of them were SS when I started IDPA 6-7 years ago, and they're still SS today. I'm not sure how long it takes for it to just come to you, but I'd rather work at getting fast instead of waiting.

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

It's such a broad question with out seeing you shoot and knowing where you're at now it's really hard to answer.

First I would recommend buying a timer and starting a regular dry fire schedule. Use the timer all the time, get used to the beep. It's like training a dog, in time your brain will know the beep means go to work and you'll do what you do. Spend more time at the match visualizing exactly what you need to do. Run it through your head over and over and over until you can do it with your eye's closed. If you have to think at all you're not mentally prepared to shoot the stage. It may not happen right away, but your problem of getting lost in the middle of a stage will go away with proper visualization. This will probably save you a ton of time.

For me the next biggest time saver was when I stopped looking for my hits on target. In time this turns into "shot calling" but basically put the sights on the target, pull the trigger. If the sights where on when you pulled the trigger you hit the target, so don't waste time looking for your hit.

If you want drills, most people start with draws and reloads easy stuff. Get that down in dry fire. Move on to transitions, again you can really do a lot here in dryfire and save ammo. Going to the range things like a Bill drill is good to be sure you're getting a good grip on the pistol. If you don't have a good draw and a solid grip you wont do well on this drill. A goal would be 2 seconds at 7 yards. I like the Blake drill to learn to really move the gun fast on transitions. Something like El Prez tests a lot of fundamentals in one short simple drill.

After fundamentals are looking good, you'll need to get in to entering and exiting positions and shooting on the move. This is where the real money is and what will start shaving lots of time off of your runs.

There is just so much, it really depends where you are currently. The hardest part of the game is self evaluating, and deciding what and how to practice.

Biggfoot44 · Apr 27, 2018

Disagreeing with most of the above disagreement ( except the part about matches not presently being practice).

I haven't see the the OP shoot yet either . But from his first post I'm picking up on inconsistent grip, and shots going all over the place .

* As I'm interpeting * , the OP needs to first concentrate on the basic fundamentals. Establishing grip , trigger control , and appropriate sighting practices . Establish the marksmanship basics and smoothness until second nature at leisurely pace , then gradually speed up .

If I'm wrong, and OP can shoot knats at slow fire already , then instead try the above advice .

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

Racinready300ex said:
I would disagree with this. Sure,if he's brand new the focus should primarily be on safety over speed.

Want to be fast, not a mistake

thinking speed comes in time is a mistake

thinking matches are practice is a mistake

Edit to add: There are plenty of SS's at my local club that I've heard say speed will come with time. And some of them were SS when I started IDPA 6-7 years ago, and they're still SS today. I'm not sure how long it takes for it to just come to you, but I'd rather work at getting fast instead of waiting.
trying to get fast not a mistake

Just maybe.. I don't know.. not all are gamer?!?

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
Just maybe.. I don't know.. not all are gamer?!?

And that's really the problem, if you practice your labeled a gamer as if it's a bad thing to want to improve at something.

Personally I'm not fast, I'm naturally a turtle. I have to push myself to get faster. The OP asked about drills to get better. If someone wants to get better, IMO it's a mistake to tell them to just shoot matches and you'll get better with time. He'll just have to get used to being called "gamer".

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

Racinready300ex said:
And that's really the problem, if you practice your labeled a gamer as if it's a bad thing to want to improve at something.

Personally I'm not fast, I'm naturally a turtle. I have to push myself to get faster. The OP asked about drills to get better. If someone wants to get better, IMO it's a mistake to tell them to just shoot matches and you'll get better with time. He'll just have to get used to being called "gamer".

Read what the op wrote...

1) he's new (at least how I read it)

2) he tried to finish the stage fast and that didn't go well.

3) lack of fundamentals while dynamic shooting.

As far SS.. I'm currently SS and been shooting idpa for few years. I find it as practice matches. instead of just shooting at targets (bullseye) I jumped on idpa...for fun and something new..

My point... Not all want a trophy at the end of the match... They go to have fun and be with like minded people to hang around with..

Going for speed at early stage (first few matches) will just set you up to being dq'd. Which I've seen many times.. personal experience.. I'd rather the op learn, get experience and speed will be second nature to him when his comfortable and has more experience.

John from MD · Apr 27, 2018

Op, you already know about "training to proficiency" so just apply the principals to shooting a pistol. Much of the training can be done away from the range. Dry firing and "air gunning" can be done in your house. You can even buy a laser trainer from laser lyte that will show your shot times and plot the shots on the target. ( like a really cheap box.(sym) :rolleyes:

0

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
Read what the op wrote...

1) he's new (at least how I read it)

2) he tried to finish the stage fast and that didn't go well.

3) lack of fundamentals while dynamic shooting.

As far SS.. I'm currently SS and been shooting idpa for few years. I find it as practice matches. instead of just shooting at targets (bullseye) I jumped on idpa...for fun and something new..

My point... Not all want a trophy at the end of the match... They go to have fun and be with like minded people to hang around with..

Going for speed at early stage (first few matches) will just set you up to being dq'd. Which I've seen many times.. personal experience.. I'd rather the op learn, get experience and speed will be second nature to him when his comfortable and has more experience.

I just reread his post and I don't know that I see where he says he's really new. He mentioned loosing concentration in a stage. I know guys who have been doing this for 10 years and still say things like "the buzzer goes off and I forget what to do" :rolleyes:

In fact you said "everyone freezes after the beep". Implying you have the same problem. That's not from lack of experience but from not knowing how to prepare for a stage mentally.

The core of his question is what drills should he do to improve. If he's asking about drills to me that means he may want to get something out of it that it sounds like you're not looking for. It's fine if you're happy rolling along as a SS. Practice isn't for everybody, it takes a lot of time and work to get good. Most people don't enjoy the boring repetition required to get good at something.

BigT5g · Apr 27, 2018

he's posting in the competition section not the training section which tells me he's looking to improve his match performance and not get tips on "the fundamentals" some of which don't even always apply to practical shooting.
In that case, if I were the OP I would listen to what Racinready300ex has to say.

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

Racinready300ex said:
I just reread his post and I don't know that I see where he says he's really new. He mentioned loosing concentration in a stage. I know guys who have been doing this for 10 years and still say things like "the buzzer goes off and I forget what to do" In fact you said "everyone freezes after the beep". Implying you have the same problem. That's not from lack of experience but from not knowing how to prepare for a stage mentally.

The core of his question is what drills should he do to improve. If he's asking about drills to me that means he may want to get something out of it that it sounds like you're not looking for. It's fine if you're happy rolling along as a SS. Practice isn't for everybody, it takes a lot of time and work to get good. Most people don't enjoy the boring repetition required to get good at something.

https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=216820

Not long ago op posted the above.. so he's not veteran of idpa.. don't know how many matches hes been.

As far as practicing on your own... How would he know if he's doing it right or wrong? Without somebody with experience watching him ..

Dry Fire.. unholster drill.. reloads ...yes can be practiced at home/alone.

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=216820

Not long ago op posted the above.. so he's not veteran of idpa.. don't know how many matches hes been.

As far as practicing on your own... How would he know if he's doing it right or wrong? Without somebody with experience watching him ..

Dry Fire.. unholster drill.. reloads ...yes can be practiced at home.

I didn't do a thorough background check on the dude. But, if he started in Nov of last year he should have some of the basics down.

You certainly hit the nail on the head with how will he know if he's doing it right or not. With out a doubt the hardest part of improving is self evaluation. When I started I hunted out knowledge....and still do today. Use youtube, forums like this and books, podcasts video yourself, dryfire with a mirror. If you can find a mentor at a local match that's even better. Hell, come to the range with me one day to practice, if he's in this area.

Dryfire can be so much more then just draws and reloads. I'll run complete stages in my living room. A lot of the skills we need can be mastered with out ever firing a shot. Get Anderson's or Stoegers book on Dryfire, get a timer and bust your ass. You can do it with out the books, but they'll help figure it out much faster.

lx1x · Apr 27, 2018

Racinready300ex said:
I didn't do a thorough background check on the dude. But, if he started in Nov of last year he should have some of the basics down.

Until he heard the timer buzzer..

Racinready300ex · Apr 27, 2018

lx1x said:
Until he heard the timer buzzer..

That happens to everyone :lol:

IDPA Practice?

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