There is an old saying adapted to practical shooting sports: there are two kinds of shooters - those who have been disqualified at least once and those who will be disqualified some day.
Very few people go more than a few years in the shooting sports without at least one DQ. Mine happened on the last stage of a USPSA state match when I tripped on a fault line. As I was going down, I decided to drop the gun in the gravel to use both hands to save my pretty face. I was DQ'd, but I survived!
Well you have to set priorities and a face that pretty doesn't come along every day. Jim.
^^THUS^^ Other than the pretty face part LOL. Seriously though If/When a DQ happens don't take it personal it is just the rules. Think of it as a crawl, walk run thing. The majority of folks have nevr done anything close to an IDPA/IPSC/ICORE etc etc match where there is "running with a loaded gun and some thought process"
I think a lot of people would feel this way. You definitely don't want to develop bad habits that would lead to a DQ in a match but the opposite end of the spectrum is worrying about earning a DQ to a point where it stops you from progressing as a shooter. You want that threat to always be there and have it force you to always be mindful of where you are and what you are doing. but what you don't want is when it becomes your sole focus while participating in a match instead of trying to improve your other skills. As was said earlier, sooner or later your brain takes a turn south and you earn it.
I'd suggest studying the rules at www.idpa.com and then in a safe environment with unloaded gun, practice handling the gun as per the rules. Maybe this would help alleviate some concerns.
I also, suggest that you go to a couple of matches simply to observe and not shoot and get a sense of what it is all about.
There is an old saying adapted to practical shooting sports: there are two kinds of shooters - those who have been disqualified at least once and those who will be disqualified some day.
Very few people go more than a few years in the shooting sports without at least one DQ. Mine happened on the last stage of a USPSA state match when I tripped on a fault line. As I was going down, I decided to drop the gun in the gravel to use both hands to save my pretty face. I was DQ'd, but I survived!
^^THUS^^ Other than the pretty face part LOL. Seriously though If/When a DQ happens don't take it personal it is just the rules. Think of it as a crawl, walk run thing. The majority of folks have nevr done anything close to an IDPA/IPSC/ICORE etc etc match where there is "running with a loaded gun and some thought process"
I'm just taking the whole thing slow and letting the skills progress. Practicing and just going to have fun at each match. If I DQ, well I'll have to see how that goes with my brain and how it works. Just try not to dwell on it and learn from it.
Second match finished yesterday. Time of my first match was 186.somethingorother and yesterday's was 172.38. Not bad, I don't think. Yesterday's match was intentionally harder so the faster guys get some more challenging practice before the state match in a few weeks. Each stage had moving targets.
As you know now, the overall time can vary widely based on the specific courses of fire for the day. Gauge your performance and progress relative to how the others finished for a given match.
I get what you're saying.
rhino; Missed you Saturday at Wildcat, you pre-registered but didn't show. Did you get caught up in the mase of Indiana road closures? I had one detour so that wasn't too bad but some there had a horrible time. Jim.