First IDPA experience

[regalado1]

Just shot my first IDPA today. Seen it before in person and on the youtubes, but never participated before. Well, today my trap buddy took too long to get there so I went ahead and signed up for the event. The group was pretty small, maybe 20 or so total. Good size.

Safety brief, roles and responsibilities followed by a walk and talk of the entire course. Any questions, then get to it.

My first station I did absolutely terrible and tried to go WAAAYY too fast. I shot horribly. I could tell my nerves had gotten to me and I was simply trying to go too fast and my accuracy suffered because of it.

I got progressively better as the event went on. I slowed way down, took my time and focused better and better by each station. I was getting more comfortable as I figured out what to expect, the target order and scoring, etc.

Everyone there did a really good job staying safe and considerate of others. All while helping the new guys by explaining the different scoring, and tips/tricks.

Overall, it was a really good day of shooting and I did better than expected and progressed nicely as it went on. I'm sure with more practice I'll continue to improve.

If any of you are thinking about getting into IDPA, I would encourage you to just get out there and give it a go. Go slow and concentrate on the fundamentals. It will actually help you. Practice and practice so that it all doesn't just fly out the window once that buzzer goes off and makes you goes into hurry and shoot mode...haha Just do it.

[VictorFranko]

LOL the buzzer is just like the mind eraser, blue-light thingy from the movie "Men In Black"
Welcome to IDPA.

[regalado1]

Yeah, indeed. So true.

I spent 6+ years in the Army Infantry, so I need to practice on the transition from shoot, move and communicate all at the same time...to shoot, cover, reload, difference between the reloads, order of targets etc. Just need more time under the buzzer.
Thanks. Already looking forward to the next one.

[Bert Gamble]

I am taking the required prep class on 4 Feb. It looks like fun.

[jlbflyboy172]

You have inspired me to check it out. Sounds like fun! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[gixxerfitz]

I am taking the required prep class on 4 Feb. It looks like fun.

What location is the prep class your taking?

[regalado1]

@jlbflyboy172 - Cool man. That was sort of my intent. Share my very positive experience and hope that someone might be persuaded to give it a try. Someone that might have been thinking about doing it, but hesitant for some reason(s).

I had a friend that did it with me (the guy that took to long to get there as we had planned to shoot trap). He had been talking about wanting to do it for a while, but he was a little hesitant and had a lot of reserves. He was afraid that, being new, he would hold everyone up, take too long, make too many procedural mistakes, shoot the targets in the wrong sequence, etc.

I told him to just jump in there and give it a go. As long as you follow all the safety protocol (which isn't anything out of the normal - proper muzzle direction, don't sweep your body with the muzzle, keep finger off the trigger unless shooting, etc) then the worst thing that will happen is you get dinged on the points. Big deal. So I pretty much just grabbed him and said, let's do this. And we did. He did very well (better than myself I think). He took his time where I was trying to get the course done in a short time, mistake on my part. I did fix that in myself as the match went on.

Give it a try and enjoy! Glad you got my intent and post when you do like I did and maybe you will convince someone to give it a shot. (No pun intended...haha)

[negolien]

awesome story bud glad you had fun. One thing I always hear is slow is fast...

[regalado1]

Yeah, slow is fast...but like VictorFranko said, that's up until the "minderaser" aka buzzer goes off...haha.

[Voo]

awesome story bud glad you had fun. One thing I always hear is slow is fast...

haha.. It's a cliche saying that gets thrown around way too much.. also, the phrase is more along the lines of "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast"..

But seriously, going slow is just that, slowww.. typically, the trade off for less speed is where you typically improve your accuracy and if you have good mechanics, you're ingraining proper form but just because you're going slow doesn't mean you're doing it right either..

I prefer to tell people to go at a pace where they can maintain both good technique and good 'hits'.

[regalado1]

Thanks Voo.
That is a much more eloquent and probably better way to think about it too.

After all, it's mostly about the mechanics of it all, which is what makes the practice more important to, like you said, ingrain them into your routines. Repitition is key. Every time you do it, you gain comfortability, confidence, accuracy and speed over the long term. Again, as you said, IF you are practicing good mechanics.

[VictorFranko]

"Slow may be fast" but "I just can't miss fast enough"

[negolien]

LOL

haha.. It's a cliche saying that gets thrown around way too much.. also, the phrase is more along the lines of "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast"..

But seriously, going slow is just that, slowww.. typically, the trade off for less speed is where you typically improve your accuracy and if you have good mechanics, you're ingraining proper form but just because you're going slow doesn't mean you're doing it right either..

I prefer to tell people to go at a pace where they can maintain both good technique and good 'hits'.

Actually no it's not... it's safe and an effectave way to shoot as a begininer that's what they were preaching at the nationals anyway

[Bert Gamble]

What location is the prep class your taking?

It is in Roseville

[Fjold]

Good to see you starting out. I have to fix a knee before I can compete again.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.