Psychology
Shooting requires a high level of mental discipline. The following are tips to aid shooters in mental training.
1) Shot procedure
2) Between shots
In between shots, the shooter will prepare for the next one shot match shot. The first step is to never generate a last shot review or analysis. The shooter should relax mentally and physically in preparation for the next one shot match shot. By taking deep breaths, the shooter replenishes the oxygen supply in the body to replace and eliminate lactic acid generated within the previous shot. The last stage is the mental checklist visualization stage. The shooter should visualize a perfect shot process, going through each and every step of the mental checklist and mental shooting technque carefully. But before any of this takes place the shooting athelte must find and fix the natural point of aim before the position is solidified.
3) In competition
It is important to note that competition scores will usually not match up to mental training scores. In spite of preparations made, it is unlikely that competition scores will reach the standard of training scores because of loss of mental focus.
This is due to a few reasons: Mental stress, competition anxiety, environmental differences and the presence of a time limit.
Rather than trying to mitigate these factors, the shooter should come to terms with the fact that with every competition, these stress factors can only be generated and always be present if the athlee allows it to happen. Hence, the shooter will gradually come to terms with this stress. Competition experience will help the shooter get used to the mentally challenging environment that competitions present. Therefore, extensive preparations prior to and during competitions is vital to the shooting athlete.
In competitions, score counting and attempting to offset lower-scored shots with high-scored shots will only result in greater stress and is counterproductive incurring greater error of technique. This is therefore harmful to the shooter’s frame of mind. In addition, thinking about previous blunders will only divert the focus from the matter of firing the shoters goal of firing the perfect bull’s-eye. Consistency is important when executing the mental checklist or shot procedure.
