ACPL Northwest Arkansas Championship IDPA

[milkmanjoe]

Originally Posted by DrHenley

Not trying to insult Joe. Just telling you what it sounded like. I conceded the point that it is not training. IDPA is, in my opinion, a very good way of developing muscle memory for the operation of your weapon.

I had a heck of a time remembering to take the safety off when I first started IDPA. Something I never had an issue with before, and I've been shooting all my life. Same with getting the mag all the way in when doing a tactical reload.

training and practice are different things, but both important.

I believe it is the amount of practice(quality, proper practice) that develops the muscle memory. When I lived up by Titusville there was a local outdoor range where they had these competitions once a month. I went and watched a few times, and declined a few times when asked to enter. I practically lived at the range as my kids were at school so I could shoot daily. I did ask a few competitors why they shot these games, and the most common reply was something like..."to keep their skills up"....wording close to that. But I rarely saw any of them at the range, so I would question myself as to what skills they were keeping up by shooting a few minutes a month on a timed, known course. My answer to myself was it was really a good social event, it was fun, and that was about it. If there were weekly shoots and maybe bi monthly practices with oversight I could see skills being honed, but the frequency just wasn't there to actually develop anything of use in a street encounter. So while I am not against IDPA or any other shooting get togethers, I only see them developing skills for that particular course of action.

My sons spent hours upon hours in our yard hitting baseballs into the net. Before school, after school, before sleeptime, they would slam ball after ball. They were a little above average hitters on their team.

I took the net down and instead took them to the ball park nightly. I pitched to them and they pitched to each other, simulating a real game encounter at the plate. Seth lead the league in Home Runs and RBIs with his brother Joseph close behind.

Same sport, two different styles of preparation, completely different results.