Improving Target Shooting Skills

A veteran healthcare administrator, Paul Wasser is a resident of Mount Sinai, New York. Paul Wasser enjoys a number of activities when he isn’t working, including target shooting.

Target shooting is a sport that consists of equal amounts of mental and physical training and preparation. It takes a lot of patience and skill to be a talented target shooter, and there are many ways to improve accuracy.

Breathing is a crucial part of target shooting. It is important not to take too long to aim. A shooter must restrict breathing to keep the chest from expanding and contracting, as it will move the rifle. Learning to hold the breath for several seconds between inhale/exhale cycles in order to take the shot is an important skill.

Practicing stability is another essential component of better shot accuracy. This means that the shooter wants to utilize the bones, not the muscles, as support, which may mean learning to shoot in uncomfortable positions. Using bones for support will ensure that the gun can be held more naturally, as muscles contract, twitch, and generally move, as opposed to bones.

Mental distractions need to be kept at a minimum, and the ability to block out distractions comes with practice. It is essential that a shooter practices blocking out thoughts and mental images to focus solely on the target.