wind control

[DaveMc]

Brad - this is a fair point. There really is not many "practice days" in this sport. Rod Davies even uses Queens leadups to develop loads and play.

Really it is up to each individual shooter to decide whether they take that leap and treat weekly club competitions as learning experiences over and above "winning" every week.

[aaronraad]

Mike

I might have to see if I can get one of the guys to actively coach me. Its probably the main thing our club is missing as most shooters think club days are the competition days. New shooters get a bit of coaching but thats about it. And to be honest I have never asked for it either.

You're definitely missing out Brad. Shooting TR coached is different again because you typically go without any optics at all, and rely (trust implicitly) on the coach for windage. Your job becomes purely elevation.

Speaking of club days...I find it's worth turning up to the range without any intension of shooting every now and again. It gives you a chance to interact with other shooters across the targets to talk about issues and ideas. You get some strange looks when they ask "How did you shoot today?", but conversations flow a little different when they realise you're not competing with them. I haven't been on range with an electronic target spectator viewing screen set-up but I suspect some of the experiences are similar.

[AlanF]

I think we're on the cusp of getting a new breed of F-Class wind coaches who realise the differences between TR and F-Class shooting, and there are many differences:

• Raw shooting accuracy is better in F-Class so if you see a shot outside the group, you take serious notice.
• The shooter can see exactly where the shots are going, so this requires absolute trust between coach and shooter.
• Shots can be despatched very quickly in F-Class so when required the coach must have a "fast track" mode of command.
• I think we're yet to see the ideal system for adjusting windage for F-Class. Knob twiddling is currently best, but holding off is theoretically faster if a fool-proof command system can be devised.

I reckon in a few years time, the best F-Class coaches will be specialists.

[aaronraad]

Another shooter described the discipline of the visiting F-Class team shooters as being on another level after watching the World LRC at Belmont in 2011. The concept of being able to stay on target and get off a good shot at a moments notice from the wind coaches takes more than a good shooter.

Some shooters are better individual shooters than team shooters, and some are good at both...and some of us are better at swaging them than sending them down range

[johnk]

Brad - this is a fair point. There really is not many "practice days" in this sport. Rod Davies even uses Queens leadups to develop loads and play.

That bloody sod was still working up loads on second day of the 2012 QRA Queens - and he won that one.

[DannyS]

Personally, I hate being coached.

One of the parts of the sport I enjoy most in going out to play with Miriah, sometimes she wins, sometimes I do, but we always have a great time. When I'm being coached someone else is playing with my girlfriend and I feel like I'm just watching on. Yes, I know I still have to pull good shots but that is just part of the game, without having to read the wind, I may as well shoot inside.

Just my thoughts, I know others love being coached.

Cheers
Danny

[Dave P]

Want to practice your wind reading cheaply shoot 22lr over 100 & 200 you will soon learn the value of patience and the cost is not excessive.
As for wind coaches I know a couple in Australia who will run a training program at your range .... they have some skill in the field as well.

http://www.benchrest.com.au/training.htm

Get a few members together and get a coaching session set up

[bruce moulds]

coaching seems to have 2 or more components.
one is the ability to detect changes, and adjust accordingly.
another is a system that works repeatedly and reliably with minimal bloodloss.
sling shooters all over the world have tended to shoot the 308, which does require a bit more winding than a 7mm lazer superspeed, so they get more practice.
with regard a system, they have had 150 years to develop theirs. this is an area we could tap into.
shooting as an individual is the same, but you are your own coach.
we all seem to agree that "no pain, no gain?.
keep safe,
bruce.

[Southcape]

I wonder if Linda can get James Corbett seconded to the national team as wind coach....

Already tried, James has prior commitments.

[RDavies]

I know that I very rarely win a club or local prize shoot. If I am not working on loads, I,m playing "shooting opposites". That is, if you see flags pick up or drop off, then quickly decide where to hold and shoot. When everyone stops shooting due to a change in conditions, start shooting. If it is a short/mid range meeting, I use my 6PPC and 66gn bullets, or maybe the trusty 22BR or 308 Hunting rifle. I might not score very well with these guns, but it helps to learn wind reading or rifle handling. Treat club and regional prize shoots as, you are not there to win, you are there to learn to win.

[AlanF]

I don't remember a serious prize meeting where I didn't try to win. However in recent years I've been using Queens leadups to test several barrels and/or loads. At Raton in August, I intend to use the US Nationals to test barrels/loads for the FCWC which follows it. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but I rarely find loads that work at home, then go equally well at a Queens. As far as wind reading practice goes, Rosedale provides plenty of that most Saturdays. We've had 1000yds the last two Saturdays, and there's another on Saturday week .

[bruce moulds]

while we all learn by getting it wrong, we cannot learn it all this way.
you have to get it right to fully learn.
also by getting it right you know your limitations at that end of the scale.
, and what to expect.
to me it is important to get a gun going well as early as possible so i can learn good things from it.
keep safe,
bruce.

[bartman007]

as most shooters think club days are the competition days.

Hi Brad,

It's really up to the individual as to what days they wish to compete in, and what days they wish to practise in.

On my syllabus, we have designated Championship days / Pennant days / Load development+practise days and the rest is open to whatever the members want to do. We are a small club, however it gives us the most flexibility!

Having someone coach you will develop your ability to get the same shot off each time. This is important, however don't do too much of that, as it is just like driving a car, once you know how to do it, it just happens.

Where you will get the most benefit, is coaching other shooters!!! That will highlight a number of facets of working with another shooter. Personalities are fun to work with, and everyone has different needs. Ego needs to be balanced, along with confidence levels, along with nerves, etc. And if they got out of bed on the wrong side that morning, then at times it can be worse than the missus

When you are coaching someone else, you have a better chance to follow the wind the whole time, and catch that change that occurs just prior to the shot going off!

I am happy to coach beginners, as that allows me to simply alter the wind based on where I felt the shot should have gone. At times I will alter the turrets before the target comes up, and simply confirm it is where I expect it to be. This allows you to focus solely on wind reading. You will benefit greatly from it.

By coaching beginners, they are happy as they can focus on shooting, and you have the ability to work with a range of personalities, and manage their mental state as they shoot.

See, we can do more than just be a club shooter, we can mentor at the same time! WIN WIN.

[Brad Y]

Mike

Agree 100%. I like the way also Rod thinks for club days, shoot on the bad conditions and dropoffs and pickups to get a feel for where the calls need to be made.

Im going to try a bit more of that.

Our club is also guilty of just having set ranges each weekend and nothing else. The trouble we have is that we shoot alongside another club and the range gets set out once a weekend for that range only. Everyone sets up, shoots, packs up, goes and has a cup of tea and a biscuit (sigh) read out who won the day then go home. There are a few working on staying back later and playing around a bit more so hopefully that happens.

[bartman007]

Hi Brad,

You can always visit other ranges. This gives you experience reading wind that does vary from range to range.

Most clubs will designate specific ranges for each week, that way they can ensure all ranges are shot on a regular basis.