RecoilRob
Member
Back when I was first learning to shoot the pistol, a test was proposed to demonstrate whether or not your position was comfortable and natural....this being the 'eyes closed' drill.
How to do it: With an empty pistol...pick out an aiming spot across the room (or wherever you might be) which can be a target, light switch...whatever, just something to align your sights on. Take dead aim then close your eyes....and slowly count to 30. Don't cheat!! After 30 seconds open your eyes and see where you're pointing. It might surprise you!
I've shot with a lot of people and watched countless video's where people are adopting all kinds of weird looking and what appear to be uncomfortable positions which I believe are hurting their performance. If you have to strain to hold your position...fatigue will set in and your body will want to go to a place where it's more comfortable. Without the constant correction provided by your eyes your body will drift to that more comfortable place. In recoil you then must fight both the forces just experienced on top of what's needed to maintain the position. If your body will go back to where it was without effort...recovering from recoil should be quicker and easier. That's what this drill might be able to show you.
For some it might only take a minor repositioning of the feet to be able to pass the test, but if you're like me...the Isosceles position just doesn't work no matter how hard I tried. The only way I can pass this test is with a Modified Weaver (or Chapman...whatever you call it) and once I found this it's worked very well for over 40 years now. Pistol gripped straight up the forearm, arm almost straight with eye looking down the arm and support arm applying tension rearward and inward to form a strong position. How far to angle toward the target and how aggressively to place the feet will show in a few tries. My stance is pretty much the same as if I was going to thud someone as hard as I can in the chest with a punch. That would be a good place to start if you know how to box....and sadly from what I've seen on YouTube the art of punching effectively seems to be a lost art on our young.
Once you get to the point (if you do...congratulations!) where you can hold on target for 30 seconds, then you can expand to shooting with eyes closed...(only where it can be done safely of course) which will totally freak out your friends. We would do drills with 3 or 4 full size silhouettes spread out at 10 yards and from low pistol have someone call out one of the targets. Before you can raise the pistol you must close your eyes....then make the shot. With a little practice this can be done easily and instinctively and I think would make people a better defensive shooter. Please don't do this where it can't be done with complete safety so it might not be possible unless you have a private place to shoot.
How to do it: With an empty pistol...pick out an aiming spot across the room (or wherever you might be) which can be a target, light switch...whatever, just something to align your sights on. Take dead aim then close your eyes....and slowly count to 30. Don't cheat!! After 30 seconds open your eyes and see where you're pointing. It might surprise you!
I've shot with a lot of people and watched countless video's where people are adopting all kinds of weird looking and what appear to be uncomfortable positions which I believe are hurting their performance. If you have to strain to hold your position...fatigue will set in and your body will want to go to a place where it's more comfortable. Without the constant correction provided by your eyes your body will drift to that more comfortable place. In recoil you then must fight both the forces just experienced on top of what's needed to maintain the position. If your body will go back to where it was without effort...recovering from recoil should be quicker and easier. That's what this drill might be able to show you.
For some it might only take a minor repositioning of the feet to be able to pass the test, but if you're like me...the Isosceles position just doesn't work no matter how hard I tried. The only way I can pass this test is with a Modified Weaver (or Chapman...whatever you call it) and once I found this it's worked very well for over 40 years now. Pistol gripped straight up the forearm, arm almost straight with eye looking down the arm and support arm applying tension rearward and inward to form a strong position. How far to angle toward the target and how aggressively to place the feet will show in a few tries. My stance is pretty much the same as if I was going to thud someone as hard as I can in the chest with a punch. That would be a good place to start if you know how to box....and sadly from what I've seen on YouTube the art of punching effectively seems to be a lost art on our young.
Once you get to the point (if you do...congratulations!) where you can hold on target for 30 seconds, then you can expand to shooting with eyes closed...(only where it can be done safely of course) which will totally freak out your friends. We would do drills with 3 or 4 full size silhouettes spread out at 10 yards and from low pistol have someone call out one of the targets. Before you can raise the pistol you must close your eyes....then make the shot. With a little practice this can be done easily and instinctively and I think would make people a better defensive shooter. Please don't do this where it can't be done with complete safety so it might not be possible unless you have a private place to shoot.