Getting Your Timing Back After a Break

The first thing we lose when we take any kind of time off is timing. As we preach, everything is routine, everything is sequence-oriented - and it all revolves around timing. So, when anybody takes any time off of anything, no matter what you do, you need to go back to the basics.

Whenever I ramp back up before we go shoot at Nationals, the first thing I start with is the basic three-bullet drill, and get that grinded in. Then when we go out and we start practicing. We don't automatically go to the hard stuff. We want to start with the very basic stuff.

For me, it's a left-to-right target which isn’t fast at all – a big belly bird. I get the gun out in front so I can watch it come to me and stabilize the shot. I’m more oriented to process, rather than result.

This is important when you're trying to get timing back: making sure the shot's stable and making sure the speed's right. You’ve also got to tell yourself to slow down, especially when you're coming off a long break and trying to get tuned back up or ramp back up for tournament season. It all goes back to basics.

You're only going to be as good as your move and mount. If the speed is matched and when you go out and you start practicing and getting your trigger time in, it’s not the quantity of shots, it's the quality of shots. It's like Dad always says – “a shot without a plan is just wasted.”