How do I use Hit Factor to plan a stage?

runawaygun762 · Sep 7, 2014

I did a search but couldn't find anything that helps, but if there is already a topic posted with the answer to my question, please direct me to it and close this topic out.

I did a USPSA Classifier match today and while running the Nook, I noticed a shooter had more C hits than me but a higher hit factor. I know hit factor incorporates time, accuracy, and power factor differences for areas other than the A zone. Right now, my plan is to simply fire as fast as I can while getting all A's, barring any little issues. I shoot most things clean, but there are the occasional C or D hits when I feel like shooting fast. Or, as was the case last month, when one of my squad mates offered me a Twinkie if I made all head shots, I'll hit B's. He actually told me to hit B's but when you're as spectacularly awesome as I am, A's are going to accidentally happen sometimes. Anyway, now that the squirrel has left the room...

I am very capable of slowing down a bit and getting all A's with times that still put me in the upper quarter of the shooters at my club, and I am still working, as are we all, to shoot faster while keeping the A's, but I also know that many people can base their stage plan on allowances for some C's if it lets them go faster to make up time. How can I begin to learn that? With the exception of better equipment, a nicer trigger, and the continuing effort to shoot ever faster without missing, figuring out how to use hit factor in my stage plan is the one issue I would really like to figure out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

mike cyrwus · Sep 7, 2014

my plan is to simply fire as fast as I can while getting all A's

just do that.

IMO classifiers are something to classify your present skill level, not something to learn to shoot better. if you want to dink around with numbers, just look at some match results and compare yourself to others who

1) have similar point totals but slower or faster times.

2) have similar times but lower or higher point totals.

runawaygun762 · Sep 7, 2014

I should have clarified on the classifier. I wasn't planning to use them for training, this was just the first time I really started asking about how hit factor affects stage and match rankings. Classifiers, with the low round count and general lack of movement or stage planning required, are stages I plan to simply shoot fast and not miss. My question originated from a classifier match today, but was really intended as a request for assistance in learning about stage planning for longer or higher round count stages.

For instance, if I am looking at a 32 round stage with some targets partially obscured by hard cover or no shoots, or distant targets, and there are different ports or lots of movement, it would seem that some accuracy should be sacrificed for speed to do well on the stage, like maybe accepting A/C on a couple full targets in order to allow more time to get clean hits on a target partially obscured by a no-shoot to avoid that penalty. I know it's possible to what if something like this to death, but it's a game and I'm perfectly comfortable trying to learn how to play the game to my advantage.

Tuflehundon · Sep 7, 2014

This came up with some friends and I recently. I just switched to open and am not used to it yet. At the match we were shooting, my times were faster than my friends, but he had better hits. I was shooting barely below the A zone in the C. After a stage or 2 I adjusted and started doing better. After the match we looked at the results, and I still beat him due to my times.

Try pushing yourself a little at local matches. Go as fast as you can safely move, and still get hits. It'll show you were you are wasting time, and were you need to take your time. It'll also show you what you need to work on. I did this a year or so ago at the advice of an M shooter. I learned I was wasting a lot of time on the longer shots trying to be super precise, and I realized I wasn't even looking at my sights on the really close shots, I tended to look at the targtet instead. Been working on the issues, and have done better because of it. Still "burn through a stage" every once in a while.

technetium-99m · Sep 7, 2014

What division are you shooting?

Generally speaking with major PF it can in some cases be acceptable to trade C's for A's. Minor PF really hurts when you start hitting C's. The guy winning the match is going to shoot a bunch of points really quickly. You want to be that guy.

jtischauser · Sep 7, 2014

If the hit factor is over 7 shoot faster but nerve give up trying for all A's. If the hit factor is under 7 make sure you shoot all A's.

runawaygun762 · Sep 7, 2014

Okay, now the next retarded question, how do I know what a HF is for a stage before I shoot it? Do I just guesstimate how long it should take to shoot it, then take a SWAG on what the HF will be?

jtischauser · Sep 8, 2014

David Marlow said:
Okay, now the next retarded question, how do I know what a HF is for a stage before I shoot it? Do I just guesstimate how long it should take to shoot it, then take a SWAG on what the HF will be?

Most matches are in practiscore now. So you can look at scores at almost anytime or just walk thru the stage and guesstimate the stage time. If there are a lot of hosing up close it's usually gonna be a higher hit factor.

Adjusting the speed you shoot based on hit factor is an advanced technique. I'd say A class or better. Unless you're at that level the best strategy us to shoot for 95% of the available points as fast as you can get them.