Galway Junior Rifle Club

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The Basics

[ Intake ] [ Outdoor Shooting ] [ Time ] [ Protests and Challenges ] [ Wobble Area ] [ Follow-Through ] [ Basics ] [ Basic Positions ]

Check Your Position
1. Make sure your natural point of aim is on the bull you're shooting at
2. adjust your position if necessary, then check it again
3. keep adjusting and checking until perfect
4. repeat the above steps every time you go to a new bull

Think Positive
1.always think of what you want to do
2.avoid thinking of what you don't want to do

example: "I don't want to jerk the trigger"
        "I want to squeeze the trigger"
(the top is incorrect, the bottom correct)

3.always encourage yourself, be your own cheering section

Visualize
1.picture a perfect shot in your mind, make it as real as you can
2.always picture a perfect performance
3.do it before every shot

Shoot Wobble Area
1.center wobble area on bull, squeeze trigger
2.never try to "pick off" a ten
3.never try to force a shot
4.just hold your wobble area and let the shot go
5.after practice, your wobble area will decrease and you will get better

Shoot Aggressively
1.take the shot as soon as you've established you wobble area
2.your best tie is between 4 and 7 seconds after you get on the bull
3.put the gun down if you cannot establish a good wobble area
4.over-holding is bad

Follow Through

1.hold your position perfectly until there is a hole in the target
2.avoid relaxing when the trigger breaks-stay on target
3.when shots are constantly low, this is a real indicator of lack of follow through

Maintain Emotional Control
1.stay calm- avoid any extremes of emotion
2.don't get mad, or sad or happy-stay detached until after the match
3.try to get into the "zone"

Ten Principles of Shooting

1. Increased stability results from good balance

2. the weight of the gun should be supported by bones not muscles

3. the gun should fit eh shooter's body and position

4. Stability is improved by holding a moderate amount of air in the lungs

5. Gun stability results from body stability

6. the ability to hold the body still in shooting is a learned skill

7. Body stability is a result of conscious muscle control

8. Mental activity during aiming is predominately non-verbal

9. The trigger should be squeezed within the time frame of maximum steadiness, and should impart no motion to the gun

10. Mental activity during trigger squeeze remains predominately non-verbal

QUOTE: 

"First the shooting position must be established...the natural point of aim [must] be checked...A number of dry-fire shots [must] be taken...Dry-firing is a shooter's 'warm-up exercise'...Establishing the position and dry-firing should take place during the preparation period.  Only after these two prerequisites are accomplished is the shooter ready to live fire the sighting shots."

~Robert Mitchell
National Rifle Coach

Thanks to coach Boykin and his handouts for the information

Heather Tillson 1/3/03