With Winning in Mind - Inside MDT

Editor's Note: The article has been updated to reflect the main character's knowledge and guidance from Lanny Basham's book "With Winning in Mind."

If you could look at a graph that depicts a shooter's progression, a transition is defined by an abrupt upward turn in that shooter's progress. The point at which that transition occurs is never an accident. It's a decision-driven change in performance. In Justin's case, it wasn't a decision to merely practice but what and how to practice. His whole life had been about shooting and hunting. Few competitors have worn out as many barrels or shot as many rounds as him. So, after reading Lanny Basham's book "With Winning in Mind," Justin changed his training regiment.

Like many "middle-of-the-upper-pack" shooters reviewing match scores, Justin's epiphany came when he realized how little separated him from the top of the podium. If he'd straighten out the rough parts—on purpose—his results would be much different. So, he searched for his obvious flaws.

Justin had challenges in certain positions and was aware he was consciously throwing away points because those positions were extremely difficult for him. Most of those positions were below the knees but above the prone position; some were actual kneeling-height positions. With the pain and almost immobility of one knee, Justin would just "wing it" when it came to certain positions. Sometimes, he scored well regardless because he could hit something from almost anywhere, but sometimes, it was a "well, I dropped five on that one ..."

Being able to build a stable position is essential to winning a PRS competition.

Tired of throwing away points, Justin purposefully created a way to get into those positions. This included standing, kneeling, and the dreaded positions between prone and kneeling. It was important to build a position at each height, so he worked at physically finding what worked and what did not. None of these discoveries needed to be extensively live-fired to prove whether they worked.

The success started when Justin built positions around his injuries instead of how others operate. Remember, one knee doesn't fully articulate and is in constant pain. He would have to acquire positions his way, starting from scratch. Justin documented his positions as he discovered them. Once Justin knew how to build a useful position based on his unique limitations and confidently wrestled the wobble out of the equation, he began live-fire practice.

For live fire testing, Justin used his 30-second clock drill, shooting his .22 at a 2.5-inch target 100 yards from three positions in 30 seconds: begin with the magazine in, rifle, and bag in hand. Move to the starting position on command, build a position, shoot, move, build, shoot, and repeat.

As this practice in position building and shooting small targets was being drilled, Justin also paid close attention to his footwork. Footwork is paramount to saving time. Much of his success was attributed to his footwork analysis and modification. Then Francis Colon and Chad Heckler released a short video of Francis coaching Chad through a speed drill on the Skills Barricade. It saved Chad considerable time, and once he tried it, Justin called me excited, stating, "I saved 4 seconds!"

As our conversation continued, I learned that Justin didn't save 4 seconds on the Skills Barricade footwork drill demonstrated by Francis and Chad. He saved 4 seconds on his 30-second three-position move drill, which requires him to move much farther (10 feet) than the movements required on the barricade! The effect of that exercise saved him 12 seconds, or more, on a 90-second stage during a match. This was huge!

In their short footwork video, Francis explains how to pick up a rifle to move positions. Justin discovered that by himself when he realized he had his rifle and bag in the wrong hands when building a position. He is right-handed and approaches the position with his rifle in his left hand. It always left him fumbling and crossing hands at the barricade as he inadvertently swapped hands with equipment before he was settled.

Dry fire practice is a great way to shake out gear and work on economy of motion.

Now he starts at the line with his rifle in his right hand and bag in the left—another time saver. Here is a list that Justin sent in that describes in his own words what he follows at PRS matches:

JUSTIN'S PRS SHOOTING SEQUENCE

1. Read through the matchbook and COF carefully. Simplify the target sequence and movements. Make mag changes if needed.
2. Arrive at the stage, assess, and determine the COF. Set up a tripod and binos if applicable. Don't get caught up with what others are saying!!! Ask questions if needed. Go slow.
3. Using a ballistic calculator, determine the DOPE for the stage. Write it on your wristband and close the cover. Set the scope for the first target.
4. If applicable, have data in the phone/kestrel before the match and adjust the day off for the weather.
5. Spot other shooters if not first. Pickup brass for others. Time. Score. Use this time to practice how you will run the stage mentally. Think it through. Determine how targets are reading based on where others are impacting.
6. Once "in the whole," it's game time. Positive thoughts.
7. On deck. Focus: there are no changes to your plan at this point. Mentally prepare for the stage. Check that the scope is set for target 1. Check that the DOPE card is visible. Parallax is set.
8. Shooter ready. Run stage, staying mentally in the moment. Confident trigger crush. Smooth bolt operation. If possible, watch for impacts/misses. If it is not possible to see, shoot, and move on. Hit or miss, move on. ONE SHOT AT A TIME, ONE POSITION AT A TIME. Simple movements. Positive and deliberate movement. The less, the better.
9. Stage over. Remove the magazine, open the bolt, and insert an empty chamber indicator. Take the gun off the line and make it safe. Install the scope dust cover. Collect brass and secure. Stage debriefs, note score. Load the mag for the next stage. Erase DOPE, you're your wristband. Return the scope to zero.

When Justin made the mental adjustments to his practice regimen and successfully implemented them at home, he discovered something about his mindset on the way to his next match. He knew he could win. After correcting, discovering, validating, and practicing what he'd learned, he knew there was only one guy who could beat him, and it was himself.

At the end of that match, Justin was the winner and was mentally exhausted. Since then, Justin has made a habit of winning. If he isn't first, he's second and knows why. An actionable mindset made the difference. Euphoria is a legal drug found at the top of the podium—it's worth the trip!

MORE MATCH TIPS AND PREPARATION TECHNIQUES

• Economy of Motion
• A Pro's Approach to Complicated Stages
• Mastering the Mental Game of PRS: An Easy Way to Achieve a Higher Score
• Combat Readiness Regaining Mental Balance
• Eye Dominance and Handedness: Maximizing Speed and Efficiency
• Race to the Top
• Breaking the Perfect Shot
• A Shooter's Checklist: Delivering the Perfect Shot

More information about Lanny Basham can be found here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Les Voth was born in Canada and spent his youth hunting on his father's farm. In 1991, he settled in North Dakota and started a family. Les Started his long-range shooting journey in 2016 and has been active in the shooting scene as both an RO and a competitor.