The team's tour brochure. - National Rifle Association

Annoying observations of a spent forceby Colin Brook (GM, SM, SF)Being a spent force does bring it’s advantages: I am rarely bothered for autographs, mypostage costs for replying to fan mail is considerably less than it was and I have shed theattentions of the paparazzi.When the captain asked me if I could include a few coaching tipsfor the brochure, I scratched my head, pondered momentarily about my receding hairline andwondered if there was anything I could share with you. So:‘Black blob in middle, squeeze trigger’A simple concept, often hard to do, but if that black (or often grey) blob is not in the middleof your sights as the shot goes off, you probably won’t get the result you want.Working onthe shot release, via .22 shooting and maybe (though I have little experience of them)electronic computerised gubbins, is probably a warmer way of winter training.This takes meon to…‘A carefully aimed shot, on the correct wind, generally scores a bulls eye’This can be phrased in other ways.• A poorly aimed shot on the wrong wind, sometimes scores a bulls eye• A carefully aimed shot on the wrong wind rarely scores a bulls eye• A carefully aimed shot on the correct wind, pointing at next door’s target…It sounds obvious, but the carefully aimed shot part is the most important, you only getdecent feedback on wind calls if you fire good shots, or are lucky enough to coach annoyinglygood shooters. If you are struggling with wobbly releases you might try:a) With a practice target up and ready, get an obliging friend to squeeze the trigger for you,while you do the aiming bit.b) Get the same friend to load for you, sometimes with live rounds, sometimes not.This isthe classic way of detecting any anticipation of recoil.c) Maybe have a try with the said electronic gubbins mentioned above.I am a spent force, so you are at liberty to ignore me, but at your peril…