Top shot show on History

One year can be a long time if you are determined to do well.
I know a guy who went from scratch to USPSA Master in a year and a half.

Jermaine is no doubt a good shot but getting lost on the CoF cost his team and hitting a no-shoot target cost him on the elimination.

I don't particularly have a lot of respect for a lot of the blue team members. None of them seem to have the courage to knock Jay down several pegs and stand up to him. They should man up and tell him to back off and listen to the instructors-his form is terrible. Last night, he got lucky. Jermaine let his head get to him.

It's just entertainment, but I like it.

As the way the show is edited, it looks like Jay is this years Brad E. and/or Kelly (combo). He seems to do well in pressure situations (so far) even though his practice sessions were terrible. He also comes across as a-know-it-all that gives advice when none is asked. However, this is just how he's portrayed. It probably isn't even close to who he really is - who knows?

There are a lot of accusations on unfair 'setups' on Top Shot, some may have merit. However, in this case, as presented, I don't see how Jay received an unfair advantage. If it were scripted, then the whole premise of the show would be annihilated if it were ever leaked out. The 6-to-6 point tie with the tie-breaker on friendly hits did seem coincidentally dramatic, but most likely Jermaine's mistakes were his undoing. I really liked Jermaine; man he looked like what you expect in a shooter. He also came across as a really stand-up guy. However, in unfamiliar competitive situations, you just don't know how some people react.

As a novice I had the fortune of a helpful range master on how NOT to hold a handgun i.e. the cup-and-saucer hold. He called it the 'manicure' technique Nevertheless, Jay had his reasons not to switch techniques mid-stream. His view was it's too late to unlearn something in a short period of time, then perform in pressure situations.

Jay looks bad initially in a match, recovers quickly, still looks bad, but then works his way into hitting targets. A lot of people just get flustered in similar situations and completely collapse e.g. Mike from last season's first episode. If it's just dumb luck, he's doing it consistently. It may catch up with him, but it he's managed to elude the alligator jaws so far.

Daryl as presented by the show's editors as similar to last season's Adam Benson i.e. a back-stabber. It looked like it was only Daryl's decision, but apparently it was a team decision, but without the knowledge of Jermaine and Jay (Daryl's account in another forum). Nevertheless, despite Jay's many annoyances, IMO, the team should have at least tried to patch things with him first since he was performing. The plan backfired when Jay beat the heavily favored Jermaine. Now they've still have to deal with their teamwork issues, but with emotions running much higher. Again, this is coincidentally dramatic.

Jermaine's 30 seconds seemed a lot shorter than Jay's but that could be how it was edited or just my perception.

Being a golf instructor, Jay should know the benefit of a proper grip. I found his statement, "don't show me how to shoot, show me how to shoot faster" irritating since a proper grip would help him shoot faster. It's unfortunate that he's so arrogant because he seems to have a natural talent for the sport.

I suspect he won't do as well during the compound bow challenge. There will be more pressure on him to perform for the team since that's what he's proficient in.

I hope the blue team starts to speak their mind to him. I would have told him to back off the first time he lurked over my shoulder.

What an episode. I liked Jermaine and tolerated Jay but you can't say the wrong one left when they were both in a fair competition. At the worst, it just stinks. I don't see Jay doing so well once they get out of the firearm territory.

Daryl, who broke the team's agreement to let Jermaine pick his own opponent, is obviously the most threatened by how Jay is doing.

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Or perhaps he understands that 5's shouldn't be so arrogant as to think they can lead 10's. Which is exactly what is going on here. Jay is extremely arrogant and egotistical amongst much more highly skilled shooters. Yet he asserts himself as some sort of leader when he is anything but. Were I on the show, we would clash instantly. A little humility goes a very long way.

A little humility goes a very long way.

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Unfortunately for Jermaine, so does shot placement.

browneu said:

Being a golf instructor, Jay should know the benefit of a proper grip. I found his statement, "don't show me how to shoot, show me how to shoot faster" irritating since a proper grip would help him shoot faster. It's unfortunate that he's so arrogant because he seems to have a natural talent for the sport.

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Just for the sake of a counter-point ... if your technique is poor, but consistent, does it make sense to change it on the eve of a make-or-break competition?

Jay knew he was shooting low and left with his teacup grip, but he had no idea what would happen if he changed his grip. We just had a great golf example of this same principle. Look at Tiger Woods' performance in the WGC Match Play after a number of changes to his swing.

Just for the sake of a counter-point ... if your technique is poor, but consistent, does it make sense to change it on the eve of a make-or-break competition?

Jay knew he was shooting low and left with his teacup grip, but he had no idea what would happen if he changed his grip. We just had a great golf example of this same principle. Look at Tiger Woods' performance in the WGC Match Play after a number of changes to his swing.

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That's a good point. I didn't think of it in that way.

Dude seriously had me rolling with the multiple attempts to "charge" the hill. He deserved to be sent packing after that.

Go Red Team!!!
I like the Mississippi guy (Can't remember his name).
And from the previews, they do put Jay in his place. Of course, you never can tell with how they edit things.

"Jermaine beat Jermaine". That is what my wife said at the end of the elimination challenge.

tarosean said:

Dude seriously had me rolling with the multiple attempts to "charge" the hill. He deserved to be sent packing after that.

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I don't think thats a fair way to put it at all. People get caught up in the action, its FUN to do things like that. Jermaine had his head in the competition, a little too much maybe, but I think he was probably one of the best guys there.

As for the preview of the next episode, I don't think blowing up at Jay like that is very productive. The guy who voted for him seems to be getting praise, but honestly he was a bit of a backstabber. Be honorable, and tell him straight up why you have a problem with what he is doing. Have some balls-he may be pissed, but at least he won't have grounds to that way.

The way I see it Jay got lucky, there was no skill involved with him winning over Jermaine. Jay has good mental focus but shooting skills he has not, he's hit his targets by luck since day one. Some people preform well under pressure and that is where Jay has the advantage over his competitors, doesn't mean he's a skilled shooter.

Jermaine was a skilled shooter who defeated himself after a bad day at the range. If he had kept his head together he would have beaten Jay but my gut feeling tells me that he entered the elimination challenge in a defeated mindset because of his screw ups on the M1a challenge and it cost him.

Jay's skill set (reading the wind, estimating range, developing specific muscle memory) is very valuable to shooting. He's a 'natural' in some ways.

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There's no doubt Jay has the potential to become a great shooter shooter someday, however he seems to be still learning to shoot and he's not their yet. Considering he's only been shooting a year I would imagine that in another year or two if he sharpens his shooting skills and improves his technique a little he will be one hell of a good shooter.

If he would only learn to take advice from those who want to help him improve I think it would be in his best interest. He also needs to be put in his place by his fellow teammates because he needs a serious attitude adjustment.

Dude seriously had me rolling with the multiple attempts to "charge" the hill.

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Yeah. What a stupid thing to do. A couple times.

So much for his attention to detail. If you want to call that a detail lol.

I see in the previews that the next team challenge is with a bow. Blue team may be happy to have an Olympic archer like Jay still around for that one.

Jay has good mental focus but shooting skills he has not, he's hit his targets by luck since day one.

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I really hate to take up for a jerk like Jay, but luck is something that happens very rarely, mostly only once. If something is repeated over and over, it isn't luck.

Will hold my opinion on Jay untill I see him with a bow. The way I see it is its a show based on overall skill and if you just make it by and win but you advance it is what it is.
If he chokes in his own sport then he is as much a loser as all the others who struck out in their own expertise sport.
I do have a small amount of pity on some of the folks who have been eleminated over this and last years show. what I see is folks who do try but do not have the skill it takes.

Take the guy last year who's sport was shooting from a horse at ballons or the such with I guess you would call buckshot. now yeah he is used to using the colt SAA but could not hit anything with it with a regular round at a small target. goes for the action shooting folks from what I see as they run around and are VERY fast and pretty good at what they do but again fail over and over again to hit a target with accuracy.

Now yeah I also believe the on any given day thing to a point but it only happens once in awhile but on this show it happens everyweek.

And my opinion on the money thing is kinda BS to me. As to me the pressure does not really come untill you get close to the end of any competition. It seems to me you always try to do your best and being your best gets you to the top. then in the championship game or the shoot off is where the pressure should be. Just look at the cross fires in the olympics costing a gold medal.