Can I get some critiques of my first IDPA match?

Hello gents (and ladies?). I've been attending some local IDPA practices for a couple months now, and finally attended my first match last Saturday. I was hoping to get some critiques on any problems people can see with my performance. I'm happy to have shot well enough to score with the SS guys (placed 10th out of 30), but I definitely know I have a lot of improving to do. It's hard for me to properly evaluate myself, so was hoping some of you would be willing to give some input.

Just to clear up what I already know, I know I need to pull my shirt up higher on my draw. You can see me fumble it worst on the stage that has the cut out -0 target. I actually got the muzzle caught up in the front of my shirt, so I've been forcing myself in dry fire practice to rip my shirt all the way up to my right shoulder.

Also, though you can't really see it, my one-handed shooting, especially support hand, is terrible. The first stage you see me shoot, I had two FTN's, and had a -30. So that's hit the top of my practice list.

(Oh, and ignore the bit with the AR at the end. That was just for fun, and I have next to no experience with one, hence the awkwardness with the mag change and such. )

It's kind of hard to judge from the video but some of those stages didn't seem IDPA legal. Any strong hand only targets must be 10 yards or less, any support hand or head shot only targets must be 7 yards or less from the shooter.

Nonetheless, here are some one handed shooting tips. Practice SHO and WHO shooting EVERY TIME you practice. You don't have to burn a hundred rounds with each hand but it must be practiced regularly. I normally do 5 rounds each hand out of a 200 round practice session but I'm just keeping in practice. You should do more.

Extend the hand with the gun towards the target and take a half step (12") forward with the same side foot. Lean forward and put your nose over that forward knee. That is the aggressive stance that is idea for shooting multiple rapid accurate shots with one hand. Depending on movement and other props in the stage you may not be able to get that stance in a stage but that is what you want to try for.

When you are practicing in that stance, rotate the top of the gun inward somewhere between 10 and 45 degrees. Experiment with different degrees of rotation. What you are looking for is the angle where the front sight falls back into the notch naturally for the next shot. That is the angle that you want to use. It may be a different angle for SHO vs. WHO. Tilting the gun helps with getting a good fast sight recovery and it tends to lock up the wrist and forearm.

WHO triggering feels weird as heck so you have to practice it a lot. Dry fire helps.

Some folks tilt the gun further on WHO so they get the sights over in front of the dominant eye. I don't, I switch eyes when I switch hands, it dovetails with my rifle technique. Do what works for you.

Re. the draw, It's better to be a little slower and clear and draw the gun perfectly every time then to try to haul ass on the draw and foul it 10% of the time.

Gringop

Based on your scores it looks like you need to concentrate on calling your shot's. You raw time was good but the point's down is what killed you. You don't need to talk to the SO as you did on stage 5. That cost you time. Are you set on having a IWB holster? Another thing is the mags being under your shirt. That will cost time. So practice your draws, mag changes and calling shot's. Looked like you did well with foot work.

Nice Subaru!

Accuracy is something I definitely need to work on, for sure. I'm just not a very experienced shooter yet (only had this handgun, my first gun, since late May). I need to slow down and be more accurate. As for the talking bit, I did that without thinking because I the called three shots were really screwing with me, since I train doubles. I was pissed at myself for screwing that up again.


As much as I would love to optimize all my gear for the fastest times possible, I have promised myself I will only wear gear and clothing I will carry with. The only exception is the mag pouch. I normally only use a Desantis pocket pouch. Though it is a game, I do like to think of IDPA as a chance to add stress to my training.



Hey Pakin.

There's nothing wrong with that but the more you start shooting IDPA you will find it's not training it's a game. IDPA will help with gun handling skills. I thought the samething and the more I got into it I noticed how much of a game it really was.

Well, it will help me practice my carry draw.

I have no illusions about IDPA, I know it's a game.

Another video from a weekly practice match. I was going pretty slow that day, was pretty tired and brain was a bit fuzzy. I'm starting to hate all the one-handed shooting that is coming out to bite me recently. Boy do I need to practice it.

It also appears I need to practice my Magpul malfunction techniques. You can see me doubt myself for a second there on the FTF, so they clearly aren't muscle memory yet.

Good on you for jumping in and doing it.
Looks like you're off to a good start.
A few suggestions from what I saw in addition to those already mentioned.

1. On your Reload With Retention I noticed you replaced the mag in your carrier. That front pocket of your shorts provides a nice big opening to slip it into much quicker.
2. On the El Prez type start (the one with the bag in your hand facing up range). See if turning into the gun works better for you. I find turning into the gun with a quick head snap to get eyes on target is faster for me. Try both and do what works for you.
3. Moving while shooting in the practice sessions. Don't cross your feet. Move deliberately side to side with the arches of your feet facing each other, this maintains a much more stable shooting platform.
4. Good advice above about canting the gun while shooting SHO or WHO. I tend to push left when shooting SHO or WHO (right handed shooter) Pay attention to that as well once you get your foundation down as you may need to be aware and address that too.

From someone that's never done it: Looks great!

Looks like you did great for a first match! Welcome aboard!

That was just me and my silly Magpul techniques. I promptly stopped doing it for a pocket. I'll still practice the mag pouch swap for real life scenarios...but for the game? Pocket.


Sorry, I don't completely follow what you mean here.


I've settled down on a 15 degree cant or so, and it has definitely helped my follow through one-handed.

Thanks for the tips guys!

For your first match, I think you did great and should be very proud of yourself. Everything comes with time and it appears you're a quick study.

If you want some training/tips, let me know. Couple of good friends up in Washington that can take care of you and are USPSA Grandmasters and/or IDPA Masters that know how to teach and do it well.

Keep up the good work and keep having fun.

Rich

Think about it like this. Pivot on the foot of/ turn towards your holster. In the stage I mentioned you pivoted on the foot/towards your mag holders.
Again, looks like you're doing great. I've seen people do it both ways, there is no right way other than the one that works for you. Just try them both and see how it feels.
Focus on the pivot and what feels right there, then worry about the other part. For me, I have my head wrapped over my shoulder looking for or already on the target before I'm turned and usually before the gun clears the holster.

Take bigdawg up on that offer. Invaluable stuff right there that you can't afford to turn down.

I shot a match this weekend at the Austin Rifle Club and screwed this one up. I practiced doing the tactical reload by dropping the mag in my short's pocket as suggested above. Of course they set up the stage so you have do the reload while crouched down behind a barrel. Needless to say I couldn't get the darn mag in my pocket when cramped behind a barrel. Those tricky stages always get you and are great learning experiences.

That right there is very key.

Sometimes I see guys that are trying so hard that it looks like they are studying for an exam.

I'd definitely be down for some help. I know there's so much for me to learn.


I got you know. I do the turn into my left because for me it's more natural while pressing out. I just feel awkward and off-balance doing it the other way. Probably has something to do with me being right-legged (there's such a thing!). It plays into my fight reaction as well, throwing the strong side of my body around and forward.


This is one of the reasons I try to practice the reload using the mag pouch, not my pocket. Using techniques that work 99% of the time yadda yadda etc.


But IDPA is serious business I thought?

Little update on my progress.

I've come a long way in the last couple of months. Classified Sharpshooter in IDPA, shot a couple matches, attended a lot of practices. Caleb Giddings of Top Shot fame, who shoots with us now at our IDPA practices, gave me a little one on one coaching time today. Holy crap I was doing some weird shit. I was ducking my head down "operator" style whenever the heat got turned on, which explained why a lot of my follow up shots were sucking. Also my draw was kind of retarded. I went from a 2.2s draw-from-concealment-to-headshot time, to 1.7s. The thing I was happiest about today is I think I'm finally learning to call my shots. It has lead to a vastly increased transition speed, and overall rise in accuracy.

Shot the FAST drill in 5.46 at the end of the night. Me happy.
Got my sights set on Expert now that I've sorted a lot of my shit out.

Skip the Magpul BS.

TAP

RACK

BANG

That's all you need to know. They make it too complicated.

Um, what?

Look at your gun, fix it. How is that complicated?

Tap rack bang a stovepipe or a double feed and let me know how that works out.

I bet you love HK's mag release don't ya.

Looks like the OPs covered it, get yourself some snap caps or dummy rounds & dry fire 5 to 10 mins a day.
Rinse & Repeat

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