First IDPA match - some observations

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Wedge

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I know there is another "first match" thread below and I even posted in it. However I wanted to post a little more about my own impressions and observations without hijacking another post.

I shot the match with my Glock 17, using an Alessi IWB holster. I had the belt too tight and that really hurt my draw and reholstering.

First stage I went WAY too fast and ended up having 25 points down AND 1 FTN. Ouch.

Second stage was a drill. If I had slowed down a fraction of a second I would have had all 0s, instead I was 3 points down on practically a contact stage.

Third stage not only was I 21 points down, but I received 2 procedurals for shooting targets out of order.

By this point, I was feeling pretty low on myself. I wasn't aiming, I was going way too fast, my draw was terrible. However, I was entering the expontential learning curve at this point as well.

The 4th stage was completely different. Only 9 points down, ran in top half of SSP and top half over all. Huge accomplishment on my part. Same for the 5th and final stage.

Some self observations. You can shoot paper and say "front sight" to yourself all you want, but the first time the buzzer went off I just started shooting, I wasn't really aiming, I wasn't looking at the front sight, I was yanking the trigger, I was trying to shoot as fast as I could with no regard to scoring zeros.

I should have spent more time working on my draw. A lot more time. Same goes for reload.

Walking and shooting. Better to walk a little slower and hit the target with 1 shot (a popper) instead of walking fast and taking 5 shots to hit it.

Overall I was the top of the lower 1/3 (40th out of 60). I think some small tweaks would result in at top half to top 3rd. I had a RAW time of 101 seconds, but I had 50 seconds of penalties! 50 seconds! A thrid of my time was due to mistakes and rushing. Take a few extra seconds per stage and I could elimiate most of those penalties! I demonstrated that when I shot the 4th stage in particular (I felt really good about that stage right after I shot it).

Did I mention I need to practice the draw and reload more? I have already begun dry fire practice at home, just a few minutes but getting the repetions in place to create some muscle memory.

Also, years of target shooting only has developed the bad habit of closing one eye. I need to train myself to shoot with both eyes open.

In all, I am hooked. I would rather shot 80 rounds at an IDPA match than 250 rounds at paper. I know that I am capable of shooting everything in the zero if I slow down. I need to start slow and accurate and increase speed, not start fast and work on accuracy.

I definitely plan on joining IDPA and shooting again. I have a ton to learn and I had a great time. The people there were all very friendly with the newbs (like me), and the SO had some good tips for me as well. I also felt that the Glock was great for the game, no complaints. Same goes for the Alessi holster, the draw issues were due to having my belt too tight. Loosened up a notch and draw and 1 handed reholster are not an issue at all. All issues were software related.
 
Excellent post. I discovered IDPA about 4 years ago and am still having a great time. Watch and learn. Pick out a couple of Master and Expert class shooters and watch and ask questions. I have only encountered one or two who would not take the time to help a newbie. My recommendations are few and typically others will disagree: For the time being, don't worry about the clock. Be safe, and shoot slow for -0s. Speed will come with practice. Pay attention to both sights. Speed will come. Practice reloads and dry firing at home with a target you can get from the range after a match. But always check and recheck to ensure that the pistol is empty. Smooth reloads will save a lot of time. Practice RWR and slide lock reloads. The big dawgs in GA/Carolina can do RWRs faster than I can do slide lock reloads. Only part of the reason that they are and I won't be..... Also FYI there is a dedicated IDPA forum that has info as well. Lastly, shoot as often as time and budget will allow. Take care, Howard.
 
Welcome to IDPA, and it's awesome that you had such a good time. Even more awesome that you could identify so many improvement points on your first time out! I think my first match was all just a blur of brain farts (P.E.s) and -3s so coming out of it knowing specifically what you have to work on to improve is a huge win!

Are you close enough to the range where you shot to join their IDPA club and attend practices? That's a fantastic opportunity, even if you can only make it once a month, to get one-on-one advice from folks who know what they're doing. You will improve a lot faster shooting a few rounds with some coaching than you will shooting a lot of rounds on your own and hoping to stumble onto the right path.

Great shooting, and good luck!

-Sam
 
Matches are 2x/month and about 80 miles away. Making it every couple of months shouldn't be a problem, that was about how frequently I have been going to the range.

I was getting a lot of great feedback during the match as well which really helped. The proof was in the score though, that's for sure!
 
Haven't really been able to shoot a actully IDPA match yet, But been going and learning tricks, The One thing best learned was the slow down for better score overall. I can't wait til I can get in line with My fellow Idpa guys.
 
Hooked, not after the first match. I am not a sales rep or anything but try and get hold of the Jerry Barnhart shooting videos or dvd's and then you will see yourself hooked into this amazing sport. Remember - Keep it Safe.
 
...try and get hold of the Jerry Barnhart shooting videos or dvd's...
Click to expand...
To expand on this thought, many successful competitors have developed instructional books and videos. Most I have seen are ok - some better than others - but all have something worth reading/seeing. My current home library has material from Brian Enos, Matt Burkett, D.R. Middlebrooks, Saul Kirsch, and one or two others I can't recall. Also, if you have the time and money to take this one step further, many of the big names in competition offer training you will likely find very beneficial. Books and videos are great, but hands-on training is usually far better.
 
This is going to sound very much like a post I just made on another thread in this section, but I think it is worth repeating because I hear it so often from the best shooters out there.

Stop saying "I need to go slower". Going slower, in a timed sport, is counter-productive. What you need to do is shoot more accurately, not more slowly. Wasted movement is what makes you slow. Eliminate that in practice. In the match, shoot for score, not time.

Now, will getting all -0s take longer than just blazing away? Sure. But focusing on going slower will only make you slower.

Place you're focus on shooting the -0 when you're shooting, and go fast everywhere else.
 
for almost every sport out there you will end up practicing at half speed or half strength while making sure your basics and movements are down pat. Work on technique and form first and then get the strength and speed to round out yourself.
 
Congrats! IDPA will definitely spoil you when it comes to standing and shooting paper.

Get a copy of the rules (IDPA.COM) and read them. Ask the guys you shoot the next match with for help on the ones that aren't clear.

I respectfully disagree re: going slow. Slow Down, learn the game and rules, pay attention to your aiming and trigger break, reloads, etc. Once you get all that pretty much worked out in your head and muscle memory, you will pick up speed. Remember that old sayings "Fast is fine, but accuracy is final." and " You can't miss fast enough to win.".

And there is hope, you WILL overcome the "brain dump" that comes from the buzzer.

Have fun and shoot straight.

RMD
 
Remember this, you can't shoot fast enough!! Rob is right, don't go slow, just become smoother and more accurate. Remember to see the front sight before pulling the trigger. As you become more honed, then you can get away with point shooting on the closer targets.
 
Some self observations. You can shoot paper and say "front sight" to yourself all you want, but the first time the buzzer went off I just started shooting, I wasn't really aiming, I wasn't looking at the front sight, I was yanking the trigger, I was trying to shoot as fast as I could with no regard to scoring zeros.
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Something about that beep that sucks brains out. Most want to be 1st place right off the bat but there are too many goofy rules for that to be the case. Give yourself a few months to get the "feel."
 
Something about that beep that sucks brains out. Most want to be 1st place right off the bat but there are too many goofy rules for that to be the case. Give yourself a few months to get the "feel."
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth!
 
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast
Click to expand...

That's the mantra I keep in my head. It doesn't really mean go slow, it means do all things smoothly & accurately. With that will come speed.

Here's my brain activity before & after the beep:
^v^v^v^v^v^^ BEEP ____________________________

lol.... I remember doing a box drill (take 1 shot ONLY at each corner of a big "box" that you walk around).... beeper goes off & BAMBAMBAM, 3 shots on 1st target. sigh.

Told my wife a while ago I learned a new way to count:
(say this VERY fast) 1 2 3 4 5 7 oops
 
congratulations on starting a great sport.
shoot at the speed that you can see the sight and call the shot. it may feel slow on some shots and it may feel fast on others. doesn't matter. make the front sight your gas pedal.

dryfire the reloads and draw. that will help and get you the repetitions you need to learn the skills. that will help immensely
 
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