Originally Posted by
Mr_White
Just wanted to post some observations that I think are related to this specific part of what DB posted above. I'm only expressing something from the training/competition environment here.
I was fortunate to attend the Rangemaster NW Tactical Conference this last weekend. One of the events was the defensive pistol match. It consisted of an individually-shot course of fire on a paper target, scored comstock, then a man vs man/woman vs woman shoot off on steel for the top 16 (men) and top 4 (women) based on scores from the paper match. The scores from the paper match and shoot off combined to determine the winner.
It worked out well for me, for the same reasons the main Rangemaster Tactical Conference match worked out well for me earlier in the year in Arkansas.
There were interesting psychological dynamics that played out and I think are related to DB's comment.
I believe there was a chain of effects in my favor emanating from skills and effectively progressing to coolness.
I have good skills. That gives me confidence in myself and in carrying out the processes I know to work (presentation, sights, trigger.) That confidence allowed me, even though afraid of losing to any of the numerous shooters in the competition capable of beating me, to push those thoughts aside and remain mentally composed and focused on completing the task at hand (presentation, sights, trigger.) I drew cleanly and fired exactly one miss on the plates in four rounds of the shoot off (if I am remembering correctly, I fired 25 shots to make 24 hits.) I *think* that was less than anyone else.
Overwhelmingly firing hits under the existing circumstances is undoubtedly the primary reason it worked out well for me. And the speed I have developed allowed me to shoot at that level of care while maintaining relevance/dominance in the dimension of time. I was able to have faith that I would be fast enough, and just concentrate on making the hits.
Comments had been made to me as we waited during lunch for the shoot off to start - expectations of me to win, statements that I better not screw up, etc. - external expressions of outcome focus that can also come internally.
Calmness came from confidence which came from skills, and that is what allowed me to push all those unproductive statements, thoughts, and emotions aside and instead remain mentally composed and focused on completing the task at hand (presentation, sights, trigger.) It was the only way forward.