Jm_obrien
Well-Known Fanatic
Are there any tips or tricks that you guys can share when planning your stage run?
how to effectively plan a stage
- Thread starter Jm_obrien
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Robaire Pullicar
arch-nemesis
The main thing I try to focus on is what area I'm going to engage targets from and plan my reloads during transitions! I'm fairly new to competitive shooting so I'm sure others have more input.
Matt1911
Cyrwus Jr.
Whichever division you're shooting makes a big difference on how one person would shoot it as opposed to another.
Revolver, production, and single stack guys have to plan their reloads differently than those shooting limited or open so the way they break apart each stage is often times far different.
Try to squad with some guys that usually place in the top 5 and are in the same division as you and watch them ghost each stage to get an idea of how they plan it out.
Ghost the stages yourself too as often as you can because the way you do it the first time may not be the way you ultimately plan to do it after running through it a couple times. You may find better ways than you thought at first, or you may see someone else do it differently and decide that's the way to go.
Revolver, production, and single stack guys have to plan their reloads differently than those shooting limited or open so the way they break apart each stage is often times far different.
Try to squad with some guys that usually place in the top 5 and are in the same division as you and watch them ghost each stage to get an idea of how they plan it out.
Ghost the stages yourself too as often as you can because the way you do it the first time may not be the way you ultimately plan to do it after running through it a couple times. You may find better ways than you thought at first, or you may see someone else do it differently and decide that's the way to go.
Burk Cornelius
Regular guy
Good advice from Matt. I will add though, try not to change your stage plan as you watch the guy right before you make his run. Changing it that late rarely works out (for me). After you have your plan and you are committed to it, stick with it.
Not that you can't change your mind, just don't do it as the RO says "shooter ready"
Not that you can't change your mind, just don't do it as the RO says "shooter ready"
45recoil
likes to party
Dont always do what others do. You may be able to pick up different areas to engage different arrays but ultimately know your ability. A seasoned shooter can hit a steel plate at 15 yards in one position and you may not be able to thus causing you to go to battle with it. Also, dont try to follow their shot cadence...shoot as fast as u can see a acceptable sight picture. Come up with a plan and stick to it, run it in your mind several times, do a few runs slowly to get it set in and then at least run 2-3 walkthroughs at the same speed youll run it once the buzzer goes off. This helped me tremendously! Invision yourself making the hits, not just pulling the trigger. Plan when to reload as well and if moving to another position reload in between. Not ideal to do standing reloads.
When i started out i planned a stage to get the easiest hits, i.e. engage targets closer than some of the better shooters that had developed their skills to make difficult shots. As i got better i was abe to make the more difficult shots i was unable to at first.
Recap:
Develope a plan
Mental walkthroughs:slow at first and then a few real speed ones
Plan reloads
Have fun, learn and be safe
When i started out i planned a stage to get the easiest hits, i.e. engage targets closer than some of the better shooters that had developed their skills to make difficult shots. As i got better i was abe to make the more difficult shots i was unable to at first.
Recap:
Develope a plan
Mental walkthroughs:slow at first and then a few real speed ones
Plan reloads
Have fun, learn and be safe
Burk Cornelius
Regular guy
Another way that also works is to do what I call "Constanza It" Go immediately after Matt or Jared and do the exact opposite of them. I mean everything, the order you engage targets, left to right movement, EVERYTHING!
Good luck
Good luck
Bob Sanders
Well-Known Fanatic
What is this stage planning? Have lots of bullets and shoot everything you see!
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jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
I always talk to as many people as I can on my squad or anyone that will listen during the prematch walk they and ask how they are going to shoot it. It's fun to discuss it with others and sometimes or often times that helps come up with an even better plan than I alone could have come up with.
In IPSC there's always a prematch, show up the day before, watch the organizers shoot the stages,take pics, film the stage being shot, take everything back to the hotel room, tent or whatever, plan as much as you can and make finishing touches when you have the stage available for walkthrough.
jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
At the IPSC Pan American shotgun match we weren't allowed to walk the course of fire. It was rough especially with the stages where there were hidden targets in the woods. I'm glad uspsa and 3-gun don't force you to do that.
I've never had that happen to me, 3 to 5 minute walkthroughs is the norm up here, and the rules specifically say:
3.2.4 After the written stage briefing has been read to competitors, and questions arising therefrom have been
answered, competitors should be permitted to conduct an orderly inspection ("walkthrough") of the course of
fire. The duration of time for the inspection must be stipulated by the Range Officer, and it should be the
same for all competitors. If the course of fire includes moving targets or similar items, these should be
demonstrated to all competitors for the same duration and frequency.
3.2.4 After the written stage briefing has been read to competitors, and questions arising therefrom have been
answered, competitors should be permitted to conduct an orderly inspection ("walkthrough") of the course of
fire. The duration of time for the inspection must be stipulated by the Range Officer, and it should be the
same for all competitors. If the course of fire includes moving targets or similar items, these should be
demonstrated to all competitors for the same duration and frequency.
jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
Yeah we got 5 minutes after the stage briefing but here in the US we usually get to walk all over the stages and make our entire match plan the day before. We were not allowed to see most of the stages at the shotgun match because they were hidden in the woods and you couldn't really look at them well from afar.
Aha, that's forbidden in IPSC, you may walk around and take notes and so on, but definitely not inside the stage. I think it might even be a DQ offense.
It's a real nightmare sometimes when you have a super complicated long course with targets visible from several positions to memorize in just 5 minutes which ones to shot from where
It's a real nightmare sometimes when you have a super complicated long course with targets visible from several positions to memorize in just 5 minutes which ones to shot from where
jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
I understand why that rule is there but It is definitely one of the many IPSC rules that I'll never like because it makes the game less fun for the sake of being fair.slemmo said:
