Todd Jarrett Wins \\World Shoot X - uspsa

they were somehow unethical).Jay later goes on to accept responsibilityfor the flaw in hisdesign and calls upon the ethicalgamesman to assist the designerin looking for holes in astage design. I can truly empathizewith Jay as I have hadsimilar experiences with someof my stages as well.It seems that, more oftenthan not, the "gamesman" issomehow looked upon by someas one step below the "cheater."There is a big difference betweenthe two. The gamesmangains his advantage ethicallyby knowing the rules; thecheater gains his advantage bybreaking the rules. "Ethical" isdefined in the American HeritageDictionary as, "In accordancewith the accepted principlesof right and wrong thatgovern the conduct of a profession."What is it that governsour conduct in this sport? Therule book! There is nothing unethicalabout using the rulebook to one's advantage.I believe that a thoroughknowledge of the rule book is anessential prerequisite for goodsolid course design. A coursedesigner must become intimatewith the rule book and actuallyencourage shooters to game outhis or her stage.By encouraging shooters togame out your stages, you forcethem to know the rules. Most ofthe "gamesmen" I know arewell versed in the rule book,and those who complain aboutthem are usually not. We, asstage designers, cannot affordto underestimate any shooterwho might show up at a match.We have some very bright, intelligentand creative people involvedin this sport and manyof them have committed therule book to memory. Let's notgive the gamesman a bum rapbecause he has spent the timestudying the rule book and acts"in accordance with the acceptedprinciples of right andwrong...". I owe a debt of gratitudeto everyone who has evergamed out one of my courses.They taught me lessons I mightnot have learned any otherway. They have made me a bettercourse designer as well as abetter shooter.The rule book refers to"course designers" as the "architectsof our sport" (2.01), notthe sculptors or artists of oursport. Architecture, unlike art,has its premise, functionality.It can be fancy or plain, but itmust function or serve a purpose.When it ceases to functionas intended, it's back to thedrawing board. A course designcan be considered a successwhen it provides a challenge toboth martial artists as well asthe gamesmen and complieswith all of the principles ofcourse design, as outlined inthe rule book. When you've accomplishedthis you knowyou've got a winner. Every oncein a while, stage designers givebirth to one of those gems.Mark Cicero, A-2I338• WAIT A MINUTE, JEFFI wish to take considered,but not hot, issue with Jeff Nelson'sarticle, "R.I.P. VirginiaCount and Timed Fire." (DecemberIn Touch)Yes, life is Comstock, butpractical pistol shooting is notlife. Now, even more so than inthe beginning, it is a sport. Noone I know of with any sensewould stand toe to toe with 4,8, 10, or 20 "bad guys" with onlya pistol to defend themselves(certain competition scenariosnotwithstanding).That said, remember DVC?Speed, power and accuracy?These very basics of our sportare embodied in both VirginiaCount and Timed Fire. Mr. Nel-IOC-GRIPNO MORE MISSED PROWS!.After months of hard use in the field. our satisfied customers agree"This is the best competition grip I have seen' says Tim Forshey,Winner of the 1996 Stockmasters Invitational. "You Will Love this Grip!"A one time application ensures the most secure grip. Even beats checkering.Available only through Firearms Advisory Service, 12629 N Tatum Blvd, Suite 164Phruel tix, AZ 85032 (602) 953-1092 10-5 LIST MCNisa/ArnExtcheck$24 95 on your removable grips. Our grips:$39 95 (1911) $74.95 (Para)Great on Glocks,STI,AR15,Shotguns! Call for info & quotesMarch/April 1997 Page 73