What's with the towel?

Status
Not open for further replies.
In IDPA, there are often props used as part of the stage. For instance, the COF might read ...

You are standing in the shower when you hear the door bell but aren't expecting guests. You don a towel and grab your pistol off your dresser, when you see several armed men trying to invade your home....

I don't know if this was IDPA, he has several videos. It appears shot in another country, with the "non silloette" targets I've seen in ipsc videos. But I don't think ipsc uses props like IDPA does.

But no, to my knowledge there are no tactical towels out there :)
 
The linked-to video is of an IPSC competition, and props are usually used to add to the stress that the shooter is under, making him or her have to remember things besides "shoot fast and accurately". If a shooter either forgets to, or doesn't do, something that's specified in the walk-through, they get penalized (either once, or for each target they engage from that point on).
 
Yep, used several of those back when I used to shoot competetion. One of my favorites was the holiday one, where we had a simulated car trunk, and you started bent over putting a package in it...
 
Add two peices of velcro to hold it closed, sew in a spare mag pocket and flashlight holder, add two peices of night vision reflective "follow me!" tape on the back, and make in either black or ACU camoflauge, and voila! Tactitowel.
 
Its a stage prop, without knowing how the stage is worded, could be start in the shower etc. I am guessing it read you have to end with the towel the easiest way to do that would be to wrap it around your waist or stuff it into your shirt.
 
I'm sure it's a lot different when you're actually participating, but some of the props used in some these action pistol type stages look down right ridiculous.

For instance, the ones where they have the plastic baby doll and the shooter is supposed to carry the baby while shooting. Everytime I see video footage of these types of stages, the shooter is always carrying the baby doll in a manner that you would never, ever carry an actual baby (i.e. held by only one leg or arm or even the head, squeezed underneath the support arm and body).
 
For instance, the ones where they have the plastic baby doll and the shooter is supposed to carry the baby while shooting. Everytime I see video footage of these types of stages, the shooter is always carrying the baby doll in a manner that you would never, ever carry an actual baby (i.e. held by only one leg or arm or even the head, squeezed underneath the support arm and body).
Click to expand...

Some times they don't adequately explain what is considered man handling. If you don't tell them to do something, many are going to try to get the best score that they can and in most cases that means holding the baby by it's hair.
 
There was a stage in an ipsc national match, maybe finals or something (cant remember, was in a magazine) where you started in a row boat, *buzzer* engage pp1 (pepper popper 1) with an oar, draw weapon, engage other targets inside a "bait shop." There are several stages I've seen where you start with your arm around a manican (plastic model doll) and other hand in manican's hand like your dancing, then shoot from either side and between the legs of "Matilda" to simulate a shootout during a dance.

It's called practical shooting because the situations in which the stages are made are meant to by similar to what may actually happen. stages aren't created to create a scene of what to expect when you are shot at while dancing, more just to make it competitive and challenging. Of course you wouldn't be carrying a baby by the hair or by one leg, but the name of the game is practical shooting, this isnt SCA afterall ;).
 
then shoot from either side and between the legs of "Matilda" to simulate a shootout during a dance.
Click to expand...
shooting between the legs sounds fun sign me up!:)

hey they have tactical acu cooking aprons so why not towels too!
 
shooting ipsc is a BLAST (pun intended). Its challenging, fun and exciting. My experience is very limited, I've only shot a handful of times, but it is definetly a sport in which anyone can compete. Be it for fun or for the win, practical pistol is a sport anyone with enthusiasm for pistols will enjoy. Beyond the sport, it prepares your mind and your hands to operate your weapon when it matters most. It gives you the forum to practice defending yourself and those around you.

Check out the website if you think the sport may be for you.

http://www.uspsa.org/

check out the "what is practical shooting" and "How do I get starter?" links
 
The answer is obvious:

You can't be a Hoopy Frood unless you *really* know where your towel is!

(obligatory Douglas Adams reference because I can't believe nobody else has yet)

I'm sure it was a prop there. However, at the USPSA nationals I noticed that most of the grand master level shooters carried a towel with them at all times--to wipe their brow, clean off hands, and/or draped over the gun to prevent dust.
 
Every time I see video footage of these types of stages, the shooter is always carrying the baby doll in a manner that you would never, ever carry an actual baby (i.e. held by only one leg or arm or even the head, squeezed underneath the support arm and body).
Click to expand...
That's how I used to carry my kids when they were little. Don't know how they turned out. Don't talk to them much anymore. Never know when you're gonna be in a shoot out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top