Redirecting Practice if You're Not Progressing Forward

Published on August 24, 2025
Duration: 9:59

This video addresses how to redirect firearms practice when experiencing a plateau in progress. The instructor, Joel Park, suggests reducing match frequency to increase live-fire training, introducing novel drills, and maintaining a mindset of perpetual dissatisfaction to drive incremental improvements. He emphasizes the importance of documenting progress through benchmarks and understanding that improvement can be granular and occur over longer periods.

Quick Summary

If your firearms practice isn't leading to progress, change your routine. Reduce matches to one per month, increase live-fire sessions, and introduce new drills. Focus on perpetual dissatisfaction with each repetition to drive incremental improvements and push your comfort boundaries. Periodically re-evaluate drills to track granular progress.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Listener Question: Plateaued Progress
  2. 00:42Evaluating Training Frequency: Matches vs. Live Fire
  3. 01:44Introducing New Drills and Changing Routines
  4. 02:23Dynamic Dry-Fire Practice
  5. 02:49Drill Recommendations: Drew Estole & Veilox
  6. 03:54The Mindset of Perpetual Dissatisfaction
  7. 04:57Live Fire: Cold Shooting and Baseline Assessment
  8. 05:39The Theme: Mix It Up and Get Uncomfortable
  9. 06:18Quality Over Quantity in Practice
  10. 07:19Recognizing Granular Progress Over Time
  11. 09:21Recap: Key Takeaways for Progress

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my firearms practice isn't leading to progress?

If you're not progressing, it's time to change your training. Reduce match frequency to one per month, increase live-fire sessions, and introduce new, unfamiliar drills. Focus on being perpetually dissatisfied with each repetition to drive incremental improvements and push your comfort boundaries.

How often should I practice shooting and what's the ideal balance?

A good balance involves consistent dry-fire daily, supplemented by at least two live-fire sessions per week. Reduce competitive matches to about one per month to prioritize skill development through focused practice rather than frequent competition.

How can I make my dry-fire practice more effective?

To make dry-fire effective, avoid routine. Continuously change target positions, simulate different distances, and alter target presentations. Always aim to pick apart each repetition, seeking small improvements and pushing your boundaries slightly with every attempt.

How do I know if I'm actually improving if progress is slow?

Track your progress by periodically re-evaluating performance on specific drills every few months. Document your results to see objective improvements in speed, accuracy, or technique, as progress can be granular and not always immediately apparent.

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