When it comes to shooting tips for new shooters, it’s important to strike a balance between being helpful and not overwhelming them with too much information. That’s why I like to focus on just a few key basics for new shooters. There’s plenty of time for refining technique later on.
First and foremost, it’s important for new shooters to lean forward at the waist, so that their collarbone is in front of their belt buckle. This helps them better control the gun and prevent the natural tendency to tilt backwards and away from the gun.
Next, I emphasize a safe and stable grip. I make sure the firing hand has a strong grip on the pistol and the support hand presses against the exposed area on the grip, with fingers wrapping around the firing hand’s fingers. This helps the shooter better control the gun and mitigate the negative effects of recoil. It’s also important to keep an eye on the thumbs and make sure the support hand thumb doesn’t cross behind the slide when shooting a pistol.
Lastly, I encourage new shooters to aim at the target and execute a slow, smooth trigger press. I tell them to forget about timing the perfect shot and instead focus on a full 2-3 second trigger press. This approach leads to more successful shots and reduces the negative impact of yanking and jerking the trigger.
My goal is to make the shooting experience enjoyable and successful for new shooters. By removing the fear and negative assumptions, we can encourage more people to give shooting a try and help grow the sport.