Advice to new Competitors

Don't go buy a bunch of stuff before your first IDPA or USPSA match | Triangle Tactical:

Oh, internet. You so special. I’ve seen a bunch of people recommending new shooters who are interested, but haven’t shot their first match yet go buy a bunch of gear before they’re first match. What a lie. Just go shoot your first match, you probably have a “good enough” holster, and if not I bet you can borrow one.

Good advice, and I entirely support the premise.

I've been training new USPSA shooters for 6 -7 years, and I've seen a lot of shooters who were initially enthusiastic about competition ... but soon tired of it.

A REAL-LIFE CASE IN POINT:

Mr. and Mrs. "X" came to te class and seemed to do just fine, except that Mrs. X couldn't seem to keep her finger off the trigger when reloading during a match.  She came back for a 'refresher' class, then went to a match and still was Disqualified at the next match.  They never came back. Pity; they both had potential but were discouraged.

 In the meantime, they spent about $1,000 on new equipment; belts, holsters, etc.

Often people go through the class just to compare their skills with others; other people value the training for safety purposes (although my home club offers other classes to develop those skills).

But these people had sometimes spent hundreds of dollars on equipment which was specifically designed and marketed for competition purposes, even though they would have done as well with the generic gear they had at the first class.

At least 50% of the people who take the training never even attend the FIRST match, let alone work past a DQ and keep coming back until they have demonstrated the level of proficiency which they wish to attain.

I ALWAYS caution New Shooters to NOT spend money on new equipment until they have experienced at LEAST one match. Their perceptions may change as they get more experience.

EXPECTATIONS NOT MET:



Back when I WAS keeping statistical records, I noted that many people who successfully completed the classroom instructions (and live-fire exercises) never did compete in a match.

Those who shot one match:10% were DQ'd during the match.  Ninety % of them never came back.

DILETTANTES VS COMPETITORS:

Of those who shot more than two matches (best guess: 30%) I estimate that most have become regular competitors, and enjoy the sport monthly.  That's about 20% of the people I teach, who actually become members of USPSA, and continue to enjoy the sport.

That 20% of about 600 students works out to 120 new shooters who regularly compete.

SUMMARY:
Which brings us back to the original thesis: "Don't go buy a bunch of stuff" before you know you are interested in continuing to compete in the sport.

Training is ... difficult.  And often embarrassing, when you don't live up to your personal expectations.  People are easily discouraged, especially when they are evaluated on their gun-handling ability (which is a lot like being evaluated on being a 'good driver" ... it's an EGO thing.)

If you try, and don't live up to your expectations .. more training can help.  But it's hard to ask for more training.

In the meantime, if you've bought a $100 belt, and a $250 holster, and three magazine carriers at $50 each and three new magazines at the same price ... it's difficult to dump a six or nine hundred dollar investment in gear (not to mention the pistol and the ammunition and reloading gear) because you realized after a few matches that competition is just not right for you.

If you're new at the sport, don't try to 'buy' your way into excellence.  Either you have the skills, or you can develop them .. or it's just not worth the effort to salve your ego.

Do NOT "buy a bunch of stuff" until you're read to move to the next level of competition.  The best thing you can do is allow yourself to be hampered by your equipment.

If you're a new shooter, you should live by this.  Eventually, the people you meet at matches will tell you:  "You'ld be a much better shooter if you had a better holster" or magazine carrier, or whatever.

Then you can spend the money on better equipment, and (as the rest of us were) you will be surprised to discover that the new equipment doesn't automatically make you a better competitor.

But you will LOOK good!