Need IDPA Help

[scalce]

I basicly started shooting pistols in general this January and have done about 4 IDPA matches as I figured it would be good practice for basic skills.

I am getting my ass kicked on a monthly basis. I am not dead last but usually in the bottom 25%.

How can I practice at home or at the range?

We only have a 50 foot range and I can't shoot closer unless nobody is there.

Would setting up two IDPA targets side by side and practice be helpful?

I am thinking a timer may also be helpful at the range.

[Bycyclist]

Originally Posted by scalce

I basicly started shooting in general this January and have done about 4 IDPA matches. I figured it would be good practice for basic skills.

I am getting my ass kicked on a monthly basis. I am not dead last but usually in the bottom 25%.

How can I practice at home or at the range?

We only have a 50 foot range and I can't shoot closer unless nobody is there.

Would setting up two IDPA targets side by side and practice be helpful?

I am thinking a timer may also be helpful at the range.

A few suggestions -
1. Get lessons if you can from at least Master rated instructor
2. If not, get Matt Burkett's videos: www.burkettvideo.com - especially the volumes - How to Shoot Faster and How to Practice
3. Finally, get an airsoft replica and set up a "garage" practice range to practice your movements, etc. (my range wont allow hardly anything either).

Not that I'm that good yet or anything, but I went from near dead last to first in 6 consecutive matches at our club doing the above (Nov 06 through this April)

[jnclement]

I feel your pain. I moved up fast, and then started back down. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I have a lesson set up next week. Maybe it's because I'm taking that acronym to heart (IDPA - I don't practice anymore). Are you trying to be too accurate? Odds are, if you shoot a stage clean, you shot it too slow. Sometimes it's a lot better to drop a couple of points and save 5-10 seconds.

[DM-SC]

NOTE*** Be 1,000% sure your gun is unloaded before doing the following!

If you don't do so already, dry fire practice is very helpful. Shooting well requires motor memory skills that can only be learned by repetition.

Practicing the draw/grip is also very important. You can't shoot well if you start out slow and/or with a bad grip on the gun.

One thing I see a LOT (and am guilty of myself! ) is shooting too fast. Slow down, be more accurate and your scores will improve. Then, try to add a bit of speed...a little at a time.

Doing well involves a LOT of different little things. All of them must be practiced in order for you to do them well. You can't get it right on match day until you get it right BEFORE the match.

[scalce]

I think the majority of my issues are going too fast and a bad grip.

I have been holding the gun kind of cocked in my hand.

When I aim I am using muslces to aim it left but then my follow up shots go to the right because that is where my neutral grip is going.

I need to learn to hold the gun more in the web.

It is very slight but enough to toss the round 2-5" at 50 feet.

[DM-SC]

Practicing the "draw", including acquiring a good grip, just requires practice. First, you need to find out what a good grip is for you.

Then, practice drawing/griping until you feel comfortable that you are getting it right. I do this as part of my dry-fire practice.

The next step is at the range doing drills where you draw and fire a round at a target and repeat. Then, do the drill shooting two shots.

The "feel" of a proper shooting grip takes some time to form and set in memory. Once you know how the gun is supposed to feel in your hand, you can get to the point where you just KNOW when it's not right and adjust before you fire the first shot.

Be patient. It takes time but, if you practice well...you'll shoot well!

[Old School]

There are two components you must master before you start winning: confidence and accuracy.

First, you need to be confident that your gun will go "bang" each and everytime you pull the trigger (when the gun is loaded). You need to be confident that each time you draw that your grip is correct (great skill gained during dryfire). You need to be confident that your sights are correct and that your ammo is as accurate as required (shoot for groups, slow). Once you are confident with these matters, your mind can focus on more important matters; you move to accuracy.

IDPA is as much about accuracy as it is speed. Get a paper plate (8" version) and setup it up at any distance (7 yards would be ideal). Draw and shoot two round into that plate as slow or fast as you can as long as both shots hit the paper. If you miss, you are shooting too fast; slow down and try again. Repeat this over and over. Over time, your splits will speed up and your accuracy will also improve.

Once you have these two components down, you need to understand the game. IDPA is a game of time, everything comes down to time. If you have 4 targets and you can shoot those for target clean in eight seconds, you just shot that stage in 8 seconds. If you shot that same stage in 4 seconds, but drop 6 points in the process, you just shot that stage in 7 seconds. You gained a second, even though your accuracy is off. However, you need to ask yourself this question, "Can I draw the gun from concealment and pull the trigger 8 times within 4 seconds clean?" Most will say no. In this case, take your time and get your hits. The speed will come.

Next time you shoot a match, set this goal for yourself. If the match round count is 100 rounds, you should set the expectation that you will shoot the match within 125 seconds total (25% goal). If you do this, next time decrease your handicap to 20%, then 15% and so on. Over time, you want to get closer to the round count, one second per round. To win, you will need beat the 100% in most cases. Look at the scores of the winners and see where they come in at. That will tell you where you need to be as well.

Finally, everyone who started shooting IDPA started exactly where you are. Only patience and practice will allow you to improve.

Good luck!

OS