Self-evaluation and improvement using drills

There are many drills out there and most of them have very good use. For example, El Presidente drill incorporates transition from targets, reloading, as well as turning around. FAST drill challenges shooters to switch from accuracy to speed after reload. The Test is all about shooting fundamentals.

One of things we can do, aside from practicing various skills, is to use the drills as a method to evaluate our shooting skills. Using a timer and an accuracy standard, we can see how good or bad we are.

Go out to range, set up a drill, and see how you can do. If you are able to maintain a standard, you can safely say that you are that good according to what the drill is supposed to be about.

If you cannot maintain a consistent standard, it is time to break it down to its components and work on it, then use the drill to see if you improved. Is it transition from target to target? reload? presentation? Those small components has to be refined  in order to improve overall performance.

Make sure you can meet the standard you set any time, any where. Making the standard once and missing it rest of other times is not meeting the standard. It is being able to meet the standard on-demand that matters.

It is very tempting to practice the drills until you get the result you want. But let's ask ourselves some question about such practice. Are we trying to get better at a particular drill or are we trying to improve our shooting skills?

It probably would be better in long run to work on components and use drills as a way to measure, than to repeatedly trying a drill and getting used to it.