Spring gun revival (again.....)

[Herx77]

Reading these threads brings back warm memories of the 80's at Markyate.
In fact nothings new about springers it seems, just the repackaging of it.
However there seems to be a different path to 'Nirvana' that is growing. Whereas the 80's competitive springer ( mainly FT capable of long range accuracy of 55yds)was to all aspects a live gun and the developement today it seems is to emasculate them so they almost are a pcp clone shotwise,....weights, over size stocks and anything to retard or absorbe recoil without controlling the live firing cycle.
The 80's version was comparable to one straight out of the box today,compared to a fully tuned model,both it seems as accurate with differing amounts of skill input.
Interesting regarding the heart rate control needed in the 80's where we found it could be dropped, and speculation was rife whether we stopped it or shot between beats?
Don't know whether todays enlightened do this or feel a need to do so, certainly at Markyate ,Dave Welham, mark Commaccio, myself an Terry Doe did. Pcp's it seems do not need this level of control or molycoddling!
HERX77 .

[cooper_dan]

Interesting regarding the heart rate control needed in the 80's where we found it could be dropped, and speculation was rife whether we stopped it or shot between beats?
Don't know whether todays enlightened do this or feel a need to do so, certainly at Markyate ,Dave Welham, mark Commaccio, myself an Terry Doe did. Pcp's it seems do not need this level of control or molycoddling!
HERX77 .

I wouldn't call my self one of today's enlightened by a long stretch. But I've been putting a lot of work into working with my heart beat and heart rate. I spent months working on my prone hold and technique, and got to a point where now my heart beat is the most noticeable 'wobble'.

Haven't found the best solution for me just yet, but still working on it. My current plan is to up my fitness and lower my resting heart rate. I keep meaning to start a logbook of some kind to track my progress. Weapon of choice is a Concept 2 rowing machine we got off the bay. This is definitely not a quick fix but enjoying it so far.

I would be interested to hear what heart beat methods you springer shooters had back then?

[bozzer]

I would be interested to hear what heart beat methods you springer shooters had back then?

I'm not in the class of The Doe or other guys mentioned. I have been shooting springers since the 60's.

In my experience the psychology is ...

In most sports you will hear people talk about being in 'The Zone'. Sports therapists will talk about being in a state of 'Tone'. You don't want to be so laid back and care free that you aren't really concentrating on what you are doing. Also, you don't want to be so revved up and bouncing with adrenaline that you can't function with heart racing and muscles tense.

You are basically trying to control an anxiety or excitement response from your mind/brain. It's basically the Fight or Flight Response. If the mind is overstimulated then the body releases cortisol and adrenaline and the heart rate rises and the muscles tense ready for action. You don't want this.

A couple of things you can do is to try and free your mind from negative, sensitising thoughts. If you are shooting HFT or FT comps then try and maximise your time efficiency. After shooting one peg, get your stuff in your bag, and get off to the next peg as quickly as possible but in a calm way. Walk steadily and breath steadily. Don't stand doing an autopsy on the previous peg with your partners ... and then rushing off to the next peg and walking quickly so your heart rate rises. Forget that last peg. Take in any info that will be useful ... What did the wind do? ... What range did I estimate that at and was it correct and where is this next target in comparison? DO NOT dwell on a miss. Don't curse yourself for missing that last one. Don't think 'FFS I should have got that one ... I can't believe I missed that one ... I'm going to get a sh1te score today now'.

Get to the next lane in good time. Take a few slow breaths to slow down your heart rate from the brief walk. Have a look around you. Check out the scenery. Realise how lucky you are to be well enough to be out with your mates shooting a few targets in the fresh air. Crack a few funnies. Keep the banter going to help relax you.

When it's your turn to shoot then approach the peg and take another couple of slow relaxing breaths. Concentrate on your breathing and your technique. Make your technique very repeatable. DO NOT think 'I must get this one' or 'I just missed the last one ... I can't miss two on the trot' ... or 'If I miss another one I can't get a score of 50 plus'. It's just another target. The next target. It is unimportant if it goes down or not. All you have is your breathing and your technique. You will analyse the target for wind and range and you will pick an aim point. You will then concentrate on that aim point and release the shot to the best of your ability using repeatable technique. What happens next is nothing more to do with you.

All this will prevent your mind from going into Fight or Flight and pumping you full of heart rate increasing chemicals.

Your breathing affects your heart rate. Short shallow breathing will raise blood pressure and heart rate. Slower, deeper, abdominal, rhythmical breathing will lower blood pressure and slow heart rate. The in breath relates to the Sympathetic Nervous System, which is related to Fight or Flight and raising heart rate. The out breath is related to the Parasympathetic Nervous System, which is related to relaxation and diverts blood supply from the muscles and towards digestion. So just before you shoot you can take an easy deep breath in through the nose ... and then breath out slowly through your mouth, and let the out breath be slightly longer than the in breath. So breath in to a count of 4 and breathe out to the count of 5. As you breath out through your mouth think about all your muscles relaxing as you do so. Breathe out and let your body 'relax'.

Just enjoy.

[Phil Russell]

Heart rate ... very important and very good information above.
Personally, when standing at the peg staring at the target (if I can see it standing) I am always very pleased to feel that I do in fact have a heart rate. I get down, try to find the kill zone again, try to relax, often with a stone or bit of tree prodding me somewhere, finally sending the shot on its way. Heave a sigh of relief as the shot plates; heavier relief if the plate goes down. Sigh again and eventually get upright again and note with further relief that I do, in fact, still have a heart rate.
I fear not breathing could be a slippery slope so aim to maintain breathing at all times. So ... overall I am pleased with what I've got.

Seriously though .. good advice above.
Cheers, Phil

[Herx77]

I see Phil you have not yet reached the height of 'Nirvana' with heart control the ancient ones called...'De..ath'?
HERX77 .

[cooper_dan]

Bozzer - Really good post thank you. I have been reading a book about sports psychology recently, and wrote a short article which mirrors some of what you said (LINK HERE)
As soon as I stopped reflecting on previous shots, I was much more focused on the next lane, and as if by magic, my shooting improved

I shoot HFT with my springer and struggle with two things. Range finding, and competition nerves/over analysing missed shots.
Last weekend we had a training day which removed both of those. The ranges were written on cards so you could look if you wanted, and as it was a training day there was no pressure to do well.
As if by even more magic, I scored 96%. Way way above my usual score.

Phil, is that a tactic to make people around you very worried for your health, and put them off their game

[TonyL]

Again, some excellent, informative and funny posts there.

And I fully get the Zen thing and getting into the zone. Lovely, lovely feeling.

Not so sure about the "Tone Zone", though!