Developing Cadence

Cadence is important in: Slow, Timed, and Rapid fire. Developing a cadence is very difficult because there are influences beyond your control to base the cadence on. For example, range commands are given by a different person at each event. The person calling the range commands will have a different cadence between commands and it differs from person to person. This can throw off your first shot timing as well as the timing for the rest of the string. You cannot control the cadence of the range commands, you must learn to accept the variances you will experience.

For slow fire, I try to maintain a cadence as best I as I can. I count slowly up to either 12 or 15 and then raise the gun to attempt the shot. As I find slow fire particularly exhausting, sometimes I have to wait a while longer between shots to catch my breath again. In either case (counting or breathing), I try to establish a cadence that works on that particular day and go with it. It seems to put me in "Robot mode" so that the many other tasks associated with making the shot are automatic and I don't have to think about them. Routines are good, if you stick with them you don't forget things.

Some shooters prefer only one cadence for Timed and Rapid fire, and it has to be rapid fire in order for this to work. I suspect they feel that it minimizes the effort they have to put into the string of fire. You don't have to think about it, you just always fire a shot every two seconds. It works for many shooters and I too have done that. However, I am generally a slow shooter, it takes me a while to get the gun to settle after recoil. In rapid fire there are times when I have to rush which usually results in jerking the trigger.

When training or practicing, I mostly focus on rapid fire, but I also spend time performing timed fire. I like to take advantage of everything I can to shoot a higher score. In tournaments and even on league night, I start the timed fire string with the mindset of 4 seconds per shot, however, in most cases, I end up shooting in about 12 - 14 seconds. I suspect the 12-14 second range is my natural cadence so I don't fight that and it works for me.

Developing a cadence is important as it automates another part of the shot process. Think for a moment how hard it would be to focus on the shot if you also had to count off time 1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi - 3 Mississippi - 4 Mississippi - PULL TRIGGER! You have too many other very critical tasks to accomplish in those few seconds to be focusing on timing. Automate the timing process by developing a cadence and the only way I know you can do that is with practice with live ammo. You could try to "pretend" you are shooting in a dry fire exercise, but the dynamics of the gun recoiling and managing that recoil are the real area of focus. You have to learn to manage that recoil and get back on target to get your next shot off. The time it takes to get back on target is what controls your cadence in timed and rapid fire.