"Three Effective Strategies for Stage Planning in Action Pistol"

I have been shooting USPSA and PCSL for about a year and a half so there are PLENTY of things I struggle with. That being said, I am fortunate enough to be be able to practice/compete with seasoned veterans that are light years ahead (and light years faster) than me. And if I pay attention, ask the right questions and absorb the advice that is given, I ultimately shave time off my runs. I am not sure how long I get to tell people that "I am new to this" but as of this post I have been involved in 21 events starting in October of 2022. This is a mixture of Steel Challenge, USPSA and now PCSL. Like everybody I have made mistakes that are easy not to repeat, like stepping up to shoot without loaded magazines. Pure embarrassment alone will keep me from doing that again. Here is how I have hopefully cured my Failure To Engage a Target issue.

Elaborate Stage from CCSSEF PCSL match. Notice which targets Kyle and Jeff made available from which shooting areas.

The problem that I think I have corrected is once per match I always seem to have a failure to engage on a target. The PCSL veterans around me advised me to use all the time possible to study the stage prior to my turn. Watch the shooters prior to me and how they go through the stage. I do this, I pay attention and I walk through the course and chat with comrades about strategy but I always seem to have one Failure to Engage per match.

The first solution that I have come up with that currently works for me is to count the places through out the stage where my feet stop moving and count the number of targets that I have to engage from those positions. For example: this stage was from the April PCSL match and the clever stage designer put a couple of traps in it. Four out of five of the targets on the left could be hit from the left most shooting station. Also, four out of five of the right side targets could be hit from the right side shooting station. The last remaining of those targets needs to be shot from a different shooting position and it can be difficult to remember that under the stress of a timer. This caused a lot of shooters to proceed prematurely to the next position, only to realize their mistake and have to retreat to engage a target they had passed by. If I know that I have to shoot four targets from the left rear position before proceeding and five targets from the far right position before proceeding and eight targets from the forward-center position to finish, then my brain can break it down to a level it can process easier under that stress level. And if I count the targets in those positions while I shoot them, I know I have to keep looking for another target to shoot until I hit that predetermined number. This is easier for me than thinking of the larger picture of "I have to shoot 17 targets on this stage". When the beep sounds, I cant count to 17, I can however count to 5.

Jeff Fifield with Matrix Arms Invictus

The second tip that has helped me shave time considerably is to find the ideal standing position in the designated shooting zones to eliminate as many targets as possible without having to move to another position. Moving your feet adds time to the clock and that takes points off the score. Often times when moving forward or backwards in a box, I might be able to pick up visibility on an additional target that I might not have had previously. Noting these ideal shooting position in the allotted walk through period has become crucial. Now instead of me hearing the timer beep and me just running through to shoot 17 targets, I now have a series of small plans that comes together to create a larger plan to complete the stage. Beep, run to first station, left foot plants on left rear corner of shooting box, four targets, two shots on each target, run to second position, right foot planted on right rear corner of shooting box, 5 targets, 2 shots on each, reload while running to final position ending with right foot on right side of shooting box. four paper targets, 2 on each and five steel. Unload and show clear.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been advised to watch how the shooters before me blast their way through the stage and yes, this is very important but what might actually be more important is to watch how the other shooters go through their stage planning. Prior to the first shooter the RSO gives a few minutes for stage planning. I advise during this time to stay close to the professionals. During this time I can walk the stage with them, mimic their moves, foot placements, reloading positions and target engagements. This is the best time to learn stage planning. Soak it up. Don't try to figure out how you are going to go through the stage, try to figure out how the best performers are going through the stage and then do that.

Everybody's brains work differently. It is actually amazing how much happens in a 20 second window of time. Shooters have to engage targets, know if they hit them and hopefully how accurately they hit them, while keeping track of ammo count and this doesn't even take into account all of the safety protocols (muzzle awareness, finger off trigger when moving, etc.) which are the most important factors. I'm sure that everybody comes up with different tricks, hacks and techniques that work for them and all of these fine details will become second nature with practice/experience. Next year I will probably reread this post and acknowledge that I actually do still do this but subconsciously.

At this point in time, when I remember to do this, this works for me. Now I just need to remember to do it.

If you made it this far, thank you for your time. If you are new to this, I hope it benefits you. If you are a seasoned veteran with tips, tricks or hacks to share, I am sure a lot of us could benefit from your wisdom.

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