The shakes

[zooma]

Don't think it was coffee related, I don't drink that much. I was interested to see that it dissipated after a quick burst of muscle activity. Made me think it was physiological.

This is a good theory and has some authenticity to it that I have had similar results from.

At age 68 I am still reasonably fit and active but find it a lot harder to hold a pistol still than when I was in my 20 -30 years age group when was able to shoot pistol and air pistol quite well and with regular consistency. I now suffer from arthritus in my hands and other areas and have had a bad neck and back following a rugby injury when I was much younger and still playing regularly when at home in Bath. This has come back to haunt me in my older years (as the doctors at the time predicted it would) so I may not be in the best overall physical condition but I don't let it stop me doing anything that I want to do.

Recently have been doing some hard graft breaking out the pointing around 120 metres of Indian Stone and felling some trees along with other heavy hand work (only using hand tools because I like the satisfaction of achieving something with basic non-powered tools) and I have found that when I have had a hard day and take my Morini to the club I hold it more stable than I would normally be able do.

I have a similar result after I have been away mountain biking and this had led me to believe that exercise of almost any type can help my muscles (and nervous system?) to control a pistol better than I can without any recent exercise.

I have also made the mistake of going to the club immediately after I have been slogging away with a stone hammer all day - and that does not work - as I am still shaking and have not had time to recover, so everything has to be considered with a degree of common sense applied as well.

Stretching and shaking the arms immediately prior to shooting (in moderation) can definitely help as long as it is not overdone and a suitable recovery period is taken before gripping the match pistol again.

It works for me ( and Big Ears) so it may work for others too and there is nothing to be lost by giving it a try!