Stage Planning - Tips & Tricks

[Clobbersaurus]

I though it would be good to share ideas about stage planning and mental prep.

I'm very much aware that this is a muscle that can only be trained by shooting more stages. I found myself very behind on time in my last match due in part to some stage planning and prep errors and I want to learn more about this aspect of the game.

One thing I learned at my last match:

1) Once you have set your plan and mentally run through the stage thoroughly, it's best to stick with the plan, even if you see someone do something that is faster. I made this mistake on my first stage at the last match, and changed my stage plan right before I stepped up to the line. The result was two botched reloads and improper positioning at a critical part of the stage. I figure it cost me at least 4 seconds.

So if you have some tips and tricks about stage planning please share. Perhaps we can make this thread a resource for others!

[BigT]

Take a few moments to look at the stage before jumping into a plan. If you start walking a plan straight away you will start that groove in your head and sometimes miss better options.

Understand that unless your plan is mouth breather stupid it's not going to make that much of a difference. Your ability to execute the plan and the skills therein are what get results not the half step you save in a spot.

Generally plans with silly chance taking backfire. A simple easy to execute plan that doesn't require perfect foot placement and body placement beats the one that's therotically easier but has you more focused on where to step than pulling the trigger.

If you can make the shots easier make the shots easier. As with everything it's about "within reason" so don't run 25m to get 5m closer to the target. But often times while the bullet travels 5m faster than you do getting to the easier position speeds up set up and shot time enough to be worth it.

Make a plan that works for your skill level. That goes both ways, don't try execute the plan of the dude in your squad who can hit four targets between hitting and activator and the activated target coming out, if you can only hit one in that time. By the same token if you can hit four targets with a good degree of certainty don't chicken out and waste time .

If things go pear shaped get back on plan as soon as possible and just continue executing it.

[Bummy425]

How many of you sketch out a plan for each dtage? I have seen a few do that, thinking about giving it a try.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[BigT]

How many of you sketch out a plan for each dtage? I have seen a few do that, thinking about giving it a try.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

In IPSC we only have 5 minutes to walk the stages and may not step onto them before that, so theres no time for a any sketches.

I've seen guys try use the diagrams from the COF to make plans and it generally ends in tears.

[BN]

During the walk through, go down range behind the walls and find and count all the targets. Make sure you have found all the hidden targets. :)

Never, never, put a partially loaded magazine back in your pouch. ;)

Relax. Isn't this supposed to be fun?

[Artemas2]

show up early and help build the stages :)

[BigT]

show up early and help build the stages :)

We have people to do that for us :)

[GuanoLoco]

In IPSC we only have 5 minutes to walk the stages and may not step onto them before that, so theres no time for a any sketches.

I've seen guys try use the diagrams from the COF to make plans and it generally ends in tears.

No field course stage design survives construction.

[GuanoLoco]

Focus on identifying a correct plan (engage all targets), a simple plan, a low risk plan. Program the plan thoroughly and try to execute it well. Be aware of your level of skill and plan accordingly.

I'm going to guess too much time obsessing about stage planning and not nearly enough time spent on stage programming (at least 10x, can you wordlessly do it with your eyes closed envisioning every sight picture?). In Ben Stoeger classes he routinely takes a complex stage and executes it to the best of his ability with the best and worst proposed plans. There isn't much difference - at least for him. Us mortal folk have more opportunity to screw things up with complex/risky plans.

Compound with not enough practice so you are trying to add 'one more thing' like grip/trigger/whatever consciously and it is a recipe for inconsistency at best.

[45dotACP]

Agreed...a simple plan, executed aggressively is far better than a complex plan that you screw up.

I like to get round count and target count, first, take a walk through, make sure my math lines up with the round count so I know I have all the targets. Then I plan round count and then reloads. For instance, if I have a 24 round count stage with 11 paper and two steel targets, I make sure that I count up 11 paper and two steel. Then I start working up a way of moving through the stage, counting the rounds (2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,17,18,20,22,24), then I start working out when I reload while moving through the stage (2,4,6,8,reload,2,4,6,reload,1,2,4,6,8,10).

From there I make sure I have a reference point where I execute my reloads, and just kinda visualize afterwards.

[GuanoLoco]

It should go without saying, but I see enough people screw this up. Make sure you are engaging each target at least once, and no more than once.

Nothing will ruin your stage/match/day faster than forgetting a target, or finding 4 holes in a target that is visible from more than one position and 0 holes in a target that is easily overlooked.

[Clobbersaurus]

Focus on identifying a correct plan (engage all targets), a simple plan, a low risk plan. Program the plan thoroughly and try to execute it well. Be aware of your level of skill and plan accordingly.

I'm going to guess too much time obsessing about stage planning and not nearly enough time spent on stage programming (at least 10x, can you wordlessly do it with your eyes closed envisioning every sight picture?). In Ben Stoeger classes he routinely takes a complex stage and executes it to the best of his ability with the best and worst proposed plans. There isn't much difference - at least for him. Us mortal folk have more opportunity to screw things up with complex/risky plans.

Compound with not enough practice so you are trying to add 'one more thing' like grip/trigger/whatever consciously and it is a recipe for inconsistency at best.

Stage programming I am getting much better at. I run through it at least 10 times before my run. I tend to overthink the stage though and like I said above, changing a stage plan after I have already programmed one is a recipe for disaster.

[olstyn]

Stage programming I am getting much better at.

I screwed this up just last night. We had a stage that was basically execute an el pres @ 7 yards, then run to a second box @ 5 yards and put 2 in each body and then 1 in each head. I executed a reload I didn't need to and didn't even realize it until afterward when someone asked me why. Somehow I had it in my head that there were mandatory reloads in both boxes. Probably cost me somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5 seconds for the extra reload.

[olstyn]

My big pieces of advice on the topic are pretty simple:

1) Be friends with your squadmates and discuss the stage planning with them. You will often see things that aren't obvious to each other and improve everybody's plans.
2) Pace off different routes through the stage and see which ones are smoothest and/or have the least number of steps, or that reduce the number of positions you have to stop at; in the end, this game is all about efficiency.

[RJ]

Good thread. I am following with interest. I can't offer anything much, because my two matches to date (one Steel, one local USPSA) were a blur.

As a lefty, it didn't seem helpful to me to watch others. Mostly I seemed to go opposite. What do ya'll lefty's do?

Otherwise, what I remember is:

Count the targets. Make sure you attempt to shoot them all.

Load 11 in the starting mag. (Somebody told me this. Were they serious?)

Move your butt. I think I was so focused on muzzle awareness it slowwwwwed me down. (On reflection I think I was ok with that. Did not want any free Dairy Queen chits.)

Aim high and left. (I have a persistent low and right tendency. I noticed I did better on the steel match compensating. Bad, but until I figure it out, it seemed to help.)

About all I got. Am going to pay attention to how you guys do it and ask questions.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[GuanoLoco]

Good thread. I am following with interest. I can't offer anything much, because my two matches to date (one Steel, one local USPSA) were a blur.

As a lefty, it didn't seem helpful to me to watch others. Mostly I seemed to go opposite. What do ya'll lefty's do?

Otherwise, what I remember is:

Count the targets. Make sure you attempt to shoot them all.

Load 11 in the starting mag. (Somebody told me this. Were they serious?)

Move your butt. I think I was so focused on muzzle awareness it slowwwwwed me down. (On reflection I think I was ok with that. Did not want any free Dairy Queen chits.)

Aim high and left. (I have a persistent low and right tendency. I noticed I did better on the steel match compensating. Bad, but until I figure it out, it seemed to help.)

About all I got. Am going to pay attention to how you guys do it and ask questions.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sigh, lefties. In USPSA lefties make a left handed stage plan and then try to do walkthroughs right to left swimming upstream while the reast of the squad is doing the congo line left to right. Good luck with that.

I keep 11 in my starting mag in my left front pocket. Works as long as it is a loaded gun start. Otherwise, pull the 11th round or you will get bumped to open.

Exist immediately after the last shot from a position, move quickly reloading as you go, then decelerate as you come in to a new shooting position with the gun already up and pointed at the target or where the target will be. This is one of your biggest areas to save time. Then shoot as fast as you can get a acceptable sight picture on eevry shot.

Do some drills where you learn to pull the trigger straight back *quickly*. DA, SA, Striker, whatever.

[BN]

Shoot slow, do everything else fast. Well, you want to shoot fast too, but time between shots is where you can make up time.

[ranger]

There is something about the buzzer that confuses all my plans............

[olstyn]

Shoot slow, do everything else fast. Well, you want to shoot fast too, but time between shots is where you can make up time.

Yup. I spent quite a while as a shooter at the upper end of D class who would regularly beat C (and sometimes B) class shooters on field courses because I ran faster. I couldn't keep up with them on classifiers because my shooting wasn't there yet, but I made up a lot of time getting from position to position.

[Clobbersaurus]

One thing I have been doing is trying to squad with the best shooters in my club. I watch their match prep and stage planning closely and ask questions when it's appropriate.

Thanks for the responses in this thread, it's all good stuff to think about.

[BigT]

One thing I have been doing is trying to squad with the best shooters in my club. I watch their match prep and stage planning closely and ask questions when it's appropriate.

Thanks for the responses in this thread, it's all good stuff to think about.

Excellent suggestion. You can learn plenty from watching the grown ups and how they approach things. And most of the guys will go out of their way to help a new shooter as long as you aren't a dick.

Two quick hints on that though.

Don't start asking questions when he's on standby and is getting his shit together to shoot the stage. Or even worse when he's walking to the line.

Don't tell the dude who just crushed you on the stage how he's wrong when he gives you advice because Mcmillan Rosebush and Instructor 32 degrees on you tube said you should do it differently


Oh and Matt Hopkins is right

On your walk through
"Exit out the back of the stage!!"

[GuanoLoco]

Shoot slow, do everything else fast. Well, you want to shoot fast too, but time between shots is where you can make up time.

Chuckle...

[Gio]

Here's some things I find useful in stage planning:

1. The most important thing to do to improve efficiency is to reduce # of shooting positions. I count even shuffling my feet a few inches to bring a target into visibility as an extra shooting position. If you save a reload but added a shooting position you lost time almost without a doubt.

2. Choose the least risky plan. Finishing a second or two down on a stage will not hurt your match score much when the winner just had a better plan, but blowing the same stage bc you tried to go to slide lock 3 times in the stage and ended up doing standing reloads as a result will kill your time.

3. Once you have a plan, mentally rehearse it over and over and don't change it even if a shooter on your squad ahead of you does something you think is much better/smarter.

4. Try setting up a stage in practice. Run it the most efficient way you can 5 times. Now run it the least efficient way you can think of 5 more times and compare results. I think you'll be shocked at the outcome. Hint, they will be very close, which leads me back to the first three points above.

Another fun stage comparison to do in practice: setup a stage and shoot it where you run through the stage as fast as you can, and shoot it again where you walk between positions, but shoot, draw, transition, etc at the same speed as your fast run. Be aggressive with your walking, I.e. Enter positions with gun up ready to shoot, leave positions quickly as you're firing your last shot, but walk between shooting positions. I think the results will also surprise you outside of stages you have to run 10+ yards between positions.