Agreed, it's cheating yourself of life experience, not the game. I shot another club level IDPA last night. The club usually does not mandate a cover garment for non-classifier matches. One other person wore cover as prep for heading off to some big matches.
My match prep started at home. I almost put on running shoes, but then I stopped myself and put on the leather dress shoes I had been wearing. I got to the range and downloaded my G17 at the car then went inside. I replaced the very hi-cap mags of GDHP in my carrier with 10rds of range ammo and them went and shot. I purposefully did not walk through the one stage that had room clearing and blind targets from the start position.
All in all I got a good look at my walked in off the street carry methods. I even shot ok considering it was my second IDPA match and I hung 9 penalty points on one stage for thinking about those goofy reloads and forgetting to do all that silly strong/ weak hand only strings.
oops...
I don't know what to think of my draw. From concealment I put a centered hit on a 12yd target in 2.09. I was conscious of a pause looking fer that front sight.
I did see many others shooting their carry stuff too, but there are plenty with IDPA only guns and loads.
I'm not all that impressed by the "great" IPSC or IDPA shooters especially when they use the tricked-out race guns and "plan-out" just how many steps it takes to get from firing position 1 to position 2, etc. I've always considered a man in a modified weaver or isosceles stance as just a "bigger target". Remember there may actually be two BGs shooting back.
The really good ones would impress you with a 5 shot snubbie. That racegun did not jump out of a magic lake or get pulled from a stone and bestow some magical shooting ability on them. They practice
and they are good.
The stances. First off, most everyone will assume some sort of modified isosceles under stress. Second it is very fast, stable and natural pointing. You cannot shoot at that bigger target if you were shot already by the fast fella using it. Second, a bladed stance offers plenty of vitals in it's own right and is really less than ideal if in body armor. Third, who needs a stance when you are running for cover?
Edit: Just to corrupt the new guy.
http://vamdsection.org/ IPSC near you at NVPS, Black Creek, Fredricksburg, North Mountain etc... Also check out the IDPA at Cavalier and Black Creek.