I'm still figuring out how this will work itself out, so please bear with me to start.
I'm interested in ideals we set for ourselves, and the limits of reality, relative to ability. Ignoring the nature ("natural talent") vs. nurture ("work ethic") argument for a moment...
What is the ratio you think is required to achieve a known ranking as measure of ability? In other words, how many classes per year, matches per month, practice sessions per week, etc. do you think is required to become a USPSA or IDPA Master? What about a USPSA "C"? and what is the output required to initially achieve that level vs. maintaining it once achieved? If you have to go to the range and practice two days a week to achieve Master, can you back off and go instead twice a month to maintain that? Does the focus shift from static range training to attending more matches?
I'm thinking about this in terms of physical fitness where there are limits to how big/strong/fast you are going to get and that is largely limited by (pharmacology excluded) time and effort invested. Does the same thing apply to shooting? Do we set unrealistic goals or fail to understand the real commitment that is necessary to achieve certain goals?
The reason I'm asking all of this is that I am interested in the limits that the realities of life place on our time, and what we can realistically hope to achieve within those limits. In other words, there is a balance point wherein you aren't going to continue to improve given X amount of money & time invested. It is unlikely that someone is going to become a Master class shooter if they shoot one match ever few months and maybe get to the range once a month for two rounds of Dot Torture. But, then, what classification CAN that person hope to achieve?
I think it was Basham, or maybe McNamara, or some other NLP-type that said goals have to be realistic and achievable, but just out of your current reach (or words to that effect), so how do we ensure that the goals we set meet with the resources we have available?
Hope this makes sense. I'll try to clarify as (if?) the thread develops.