Physical Ability vs Mental Strength

[grrclark]

DM, I think that is a key point, so often people will miss that target before stepping in the cage because they have convinced themselves they cannot hit a rabbit, a looper, high driven, etc.

 

No doubt their lack of reliability in hitting those consistently is predominantly due to lack of technique, but if you convince yourself that you are going to be rubbish then you most likely will be.

 

Although you recognised that you have had troubles with those targets previously you obviously had enough confidence and belief in yourself that you could have a better go at them this time round because you have improved over the year. That for me is a positive mental approach that has benefitted you.

 

I believe the 'focus' that Ed and Hamster has talked about is different, that is a skill or discipline in itself that is applicable for those at the top of the tree, but for the rest of us good concentration to make the most of what talents, skills or technique that we do have is also important, maybe not to hit those birds that we don't have the technique or skills for, but to not miss those targets that we do.

[Danger-Mouse]

 

Although you recognised that you have had troubles with those targets previously you obviously had enough confidence and belief in yourself that you could have a better go at them this time round because you have improved over the year. That for me is a positive mental approach that has benefitted you.

 

 

 

No, perhaps I didn`t make myself clear. Stepping into those cages I still doubted that I could/would hit those targets. Everytime I hit one it came as a surprise, I didn`t expect to keep hitting them, I was expecting to miss, that this freakish set of circumstances couldn`t last.

 

It was only later that I realised a year had gone by since I`d tried them and that obviously my skills had improved since last I attempted them.

[grrclark]

 

No, perhaps I didn`t make myself clear. Stepping into those cages I still doubted that I could/would hit those targets. Everytime I hit one it came as a surprise, I didn`t expect to keep hitting them, I was expecting to miss, that this freakish set of circumstances couldn`t last.

 

It was only later that I realised a year had gone by since I`d tried them and that obviously my skills had improved since last I attempted them.

 

That's just weird

 

Maybe it is unconscious thought trumping conscious thought and that supports the argument of Hammy and Ed that honed technique (unconscious thought) will count for more than belief.

[MonkeyKong]

It's a really interesting question that I've been talking about with some friends who are beginning to get into shooting.

 

I find that on days I'm going for a shoot I need to think through the technique and instruction I've received to make sure my brain is focused on what I am doing, but at the same time try and move my conscious thoughts into the background. The last part I've found important for timing and keeping the gun moving after I've fired. I find the whole process weirdly meditative and supremely satisfying when I have a good day. A friend describes it as "having his computer on".

 

You guys with way more experience than myself can probably confirm or disprove this, but I imagine that the more heavily someone has the "instructions" programmed in for things like gun mount, lead etc, the easier it is to get into that mode where you can let your natural timing take over. At least that's what I'm banking on anyway!

[Danger-Mouse]

 

 

You guys with way more experience than myself can probably confirm or disprove this, but I imagine that the more heavily someone has the "instructions" programmed in for things like gun mount, lead etc, the easier it is to get into that mode where you can let your natural timing take over. At least that's what I'm banking on anyway!

 

The "instructions" are muscle memory and sight/target pictures. The more you shoot the better you are able to figure out how a target should be approached.

 

At the session I referred to earlier there was a bird that was a fast rising quartering bird across the lake, a fairly difficult target. I`d seen the target from the side of the cage but not from the shooter`s view. I took my turn, picked up bird and stuck a metre of lead on it and watched it break.

 

I didn`t know that`s what it needed because no one else had hit it. It just felt right and on that occasion I was correct.

[MonkeyKong]

 

The "instructions" are muscle memory and sight/target pictures. The more you shoot the better you are able to figure out how a target should be approached.

 

Yes I guess that's what I'm trying to say, although I was using a rather **** computer analogy.

 

 

I didn`t know that`s what it needed because no one else had hit it. It just felt right and on that occasion I was correct.

 

I've had similar experiences, only to return a week or so later and totally fluff the same stand. I've found in my specific case, though, that it's down to my not having the muscle memory yet. My "mental strength", as you put it, has yet to become a limiting factor.

 

What I've found really interesting is that I enjoy the practice of the "mental" part just as much as the physical part. I never expected that aspect of the sport when I took it up.