Why You May Feel Slow and Choppy at a Match

Published on March 19, 2026
Duration: 16:37

This video addresses the common issue of feeling slow and choppy during shooting matches due to over-focusing on accuracy. Instructor Joel Park explains that this often stems from staring at the sights or pausing movement unnaturally. He provides practical dry-fire and live-fire drills to improve target transitions and maintain fluid movement, emphasizing target focus over sight focus and developing a natural walking cadence.

Quick Summary

Feeling slow and choppy in shooting matches often stems from over-focusing on accuracy, leading to staring at sights and pausing movement. To improve, practice maintaining target focus while walking, allowing your sight to float naturally to the target, and developing a fluid cadence between shooting and movement.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Listener Question: Slow & Choppy Movement
  2. 00:27Understanding 'Throttle Up/Down'
  3. 00:54Rules and Requirements for Shooting
  4. 01:21The Problem: Staring at Sights
  5. 01:35Dry Fire Exercise: Sight vs. Target Focus
  6. 02:54Why Staring at Sights Creates Problems
  7. 03:50Disconnect Between Upper and Lower Body
  8. 04:39Inefficiency of Pausing Movement
  9. 05:13Solution: Keep Moving While Shooting
  10. 05:45Example Drill: Walking and Shooting
  11. 06:18Drill: Track the Azone
  12. 06:40Drill: Mounted Movement
  13. 07:10What 'Shooting on the Move' Means
  14. 08:00Listener Question: Dry Fire Transitions
  15. 08:46Precision Over Speed in Transitions
  16. 09:33Visual Cue for Transitions
  17. 11:00Trigger Break Exit Cue
  18. 12:36Applying Concepts to Dry Fire
  19. 14:46Spot to Spot Transitions
  20. 15:00Common Transition Mistakes
  21. 16:08Dry Fire Practice Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I feel slow and choppy when shooting at a match?

Feeling slow and choppy often results from over-focusing on slowing down to ensure hits, which can mentally disrupt the ability to 'throttle up' and 'throttle down' between shooting and movement. This can lead to staring at sights and pausing footwork unnaturally.

How can I improve my target transitions during shooting?

Improve target transitions by focusing on visual cues. As the sight lifts after a shot, shift your gaze to the next target and allow the sight to float there naturally. Precision in sight placement is key, not just speed.

What's the best way to practice shooting on the move?

Practice shooting on the move by maintaining a continuous, natural walking cadence. Keep your feet moving gently and react to sight pictures as they appear on target, rather than pausing your movement to shoot.

How do I separate my shooting speed from my movement speed?

Mentally separate shooting and movement by establishing clear rules or steps for each. For shooting, focus on sight picture criteria. For movement, maintain a consistent walking cadence and let the shooting react to the opportunities presented by your movement.

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