I’ve been going to the range weekly. Been getting pretty good at bullseye shooting, rapid doubles, target acquisition, etc. across all my platforms. Yesterday my targets looked like I was using a shotgun instead of pistols. All over the place. After some introspection, I think I was overthinking things like grip and breathing. This ever happen to anyone else, what do you think was your cause, and how did you correct?
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I had one range day like that. And the range marshal suggested that I change my trigger finger slightly on the trigger. As it turns out, I was probably putting too much finger through the trigger guard which was causing me to slightly jerk the pistol off target whenever I pulled.
Just one idea for you. I’m sure there will be others.
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In my experience, you’re describing a classic case of over-thinking. I’ve had those days at the range and, for me, the answer is to pack up and go home. Sometimes I’ll skip the next ‘scheduled’ range day; maybe just clean the guns and organize gear. I’ve also found it helpful to hit the range on a “whim”. No planning, no program to follow or milestones to achieve. Just go, talk to some folks, and plink away at some steel; hit-or-miss scoring and no judging or pressure.
Sometimes you just need to have a little fun with it.
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Good point. I think I can add overthinking trigger work to my list. I think I was also ‘pushing’ in anticipation of recoil. Just generally forgot the fundamentals.
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That’s what I should have done right away. Instead, I just kept at it and only got more frustrated. The whim idea is good, it’s just that my range is 45 minutes away.
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I always have fun. Just sometimes more than others.
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I do the same thing sometimes. What makes ‘fundamental’ techniques fundamental is that they (ideally) become second nature, requiring no thought.
So was my range, back when I started doing this. Luckily I now have a nice range only 20 minutes away. I’ve been known to run by there with a pistol and two or three mags while I’m already out running errands. Zip in, fire the mags at the dueling tree, then go on with my day.
Works for me; YMMV.
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I think I posted pretty much the same thing a while back. No real explanation, probably a helping of over thinking toped with a rich topping of frustration. But still, I’ll go with “A Bad Day At The Range Is Better Than A Good Day At Work”… or something like that
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I got this, @Mike164. Maybe don’t drink before going to the range… Ok, we are living beings, and it really comes down to this. One of my trainers once said you can be the best in the world, just not every day. It is why people compete; you can be the best in the world, but your body will not let you win every day.
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I didn’t like to ‘rolled’ trigger shoe on CZ’s so installed Theta trigger kits in both which gave a wider flat shoe which gave me better consistent pad placement, when I went out this afternoon I noticed some of my shots were off so I swapped out my backstrap to a larger one, now my pad and hits are better grouped.
This is exactly the way it should be, unless you are with your brother and money is involved per target it’s. 
I notice that I get this on my first couple of shots when I haven’t been out for a month or two, it goes away pretty quick when I get target focused.
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I dry fire a couple of times before charging a round to warm up my fundamentals without the recoil. Usually works, just not this time apparently.
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Climate change 
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One thing I occasionally do is to dry fire at the target, paying attention to whether the sights jump slightly off target at the end of the trigger pull. If this happens, I readjust my grip and/or trigger finger placement and repeat until I find a hold or trigger finger placement that doesn’t yank the sights off of bulls-eye.
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Everyone has bad days. Without asking any medical questions were you properly hydrated? I’ve had a day when I was transitioning targets and everything was landing as it should have, then I began missing and being inconsistent. It was early dusk and my eye went to being left eye dominant not right eye. I squinted with my left eye which corrected this problem. I’ll note that this has only occurred once but I haven’t forgotten the incident.
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Another good point. I keep a bottle of water in my range bag. I should try drinking it sometime.
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When using those big 'ol ear muff sound protective headsets, and the aftermath pain in the ears which comes with that - does chewing gum during our range time really help prevent said pain?