Shooting with Rhythm

Posted On: 09-26-2022

David R. Vaught, Ph.D.

I use the Garmin Xero S1 in lessons and what it reveals to shooters sometimes takes them back a bit.  Ask your youth shooters how long they have once they pull the trigger to hit a target and the responses will typically be 2-3 seconds.  The reality is the time they have to see the target, lead the target and hit the target is really less than a second.  The Garmin shows most times the average is about 0.7 seconds.  That is a lot to do in a short period of time.

I mention the idea of rhythm shooting because I watch a lot of shooters that simply pull the trigger after a period of time and never find the lead.  So the idea of a 1-2-3 rhythm is just doing what they think they need to do.  Often when watching the shot stream in relation to the target I see that stream all over the place and many time two to three feet from the target.  One tends to ask what exactly are you shooting at and did you see the target?  In response they say, “Yes I saw the target and don’t know why I pulled the trigger when I did.”  So somehow we have to align the eyes with the target but not let a rhythm get in the way. 

In about 0.7 seconds the target is about 30 yards out, plenty of relative time to “find” the lead, and then pull the trigger.  So perhaps instead of the 1-2-3 rhythm we ask our shooters so slow down.  A 1-22222-3 idea to force them to find the lead.  This might take some time, but stay with your shooters and force them to wait.  In about one second the target will be at 40 yards and if we ever do use a pattern board we would know that is our sweet spot, lots of pellets in a 30” circle. 

Next time at the range talk about the delayed time one has to reach a target.  With full chokes employed have time to wait and shoot.  Make them find the lead that of course is always changing as the target moves away.  Next, when they hit a target ask them to tell you what the mental picture was in relation to how the target broke.  What did they see; pieces, bottom, top, dust?  That mental picture coupled after achieving the correct lead will build scores quickly.  It becomes sort of a “aha” moment. 

The idea here is to slow down and realize you don’t have a lot of time, but you have enough time to break targets.  The Garmin Xero S1 shows so many attributes of a shooter and provides feedback to each shooter instantaneously.  Where one misses, percent of targets thrown by direction, distance from the shot stream and the target and speed of acquisition.  So much to use to benefit any shooter. 

So hope this helps – slow down, find the target and pull the trigger – it’s that easy.