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Tips & Hints of the Week # 9 – Feet Position
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Andy Fink
Are you concerned about the placement of your feet when you get into your shooting position? If you don’t, you should. Feet placement are just as important as your body, arms, and hands. There are a number of reasons for this. First, if you are participating in action shooting sports you may have to move to another shooting position or turn your torso. You want to make sure your feet are positioned correctly so that you don’t have to take extra steps or make additional movements which take extra time. If your feet are out of position when you turn your torso then you may be tensing your muscles, or be in a shooting position that is not as comfortable as it should be. I have seen beginners shoot Steel Challenge in a stage where they do not have to move positions, yet, as soon as the timer goes off they reposition their feet. This takes an extra 1/2 to 1 second.
Cowboy action shooting, USPSA, IDPA, and 3-gun events require lots of movement; movement that is either lateral, forward, or both. How you move and where you place your feet for your shooting position and getting ready to move to your next shooting position can mean a difference of 2-3 seconds per stage.
Now, you may say that you participate in a shotgun shooting sport where there is no movement, or in a precision shooting sport. Feet position in these sports is just as important. How you place your feet will affect your balance and make a difference if you can lean forward into the butt of the shotgun and maintain your balance comfortably, or are tense and using muscles you shouldn’t be straining. There are the same concerns in precision shooting but even more so.
There are usually three or four positions in most precision shooting sports. Standing comfortably allowing the arm and elbow that is supporting the hand holding the rifle without tensing the muscles means positioning the feet correctly and maintaining a balance that is conducive to complete relaxation.
If you are in a prone position or kneeling position and the feet are out of position you will tense muscles that should be relaxed resulting in more movement during your shot.
Take a moment to think about and focus on your feet position next time you go shooting and see if your scores start to slowly improve.
Copyright & Published By: Junior Shooters and Junior Sports Magazines inc. September 2009
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