| Two things count when you're competing in | | | | make a difference. |
| cowboy fast draw competitions -- speed and | | | | That's one reason why actors in plays have dress |
| accuracy. Most people work on the accuracy first | | | | rehearsals -- because no matter how well you |
| and then start looking for ways to increase their | | | | know your lines, once the costume is on things |
| speed. In this article I'm going to point out three | | | | are different enough that it can throw even the |
| of the top mistakes people make when doing | | | | best. The same happens with cowboy fast draw |
| their fast draw training. | | | | -- if you're going to compete as a cowboy, you'd |
| Mistake #1. Not Practicing Enough. Sure, practicing | | | | better do at least some of your practicing as a |
| your quick draw is a give, but if you need to | | | | cowboy. |
| practice enough to get from Point A to Point B, | | | | Mistake #3. Just Guessing At How Fast You Are. |
| many people make the mistake of working until | | | | You wouldn't think of training for a foot race |
| they reach Point B and then assuming they're | | | | without using a stopwatch to see how well you're |
| good enough. But practice and competition are | | | | doing, so don't train for a quick draw competition |
| two different things and no matter how "cool | | | | without measuring your performance, either. You |
| under fire" you may be, nerves come into play | | | | can't gauge how well you're doing by how it |
| during the actual match. | | | | "feels." Fast draw is a "facts and figures" kind of |
| Instead of stopping when you're at Point B, keep | | | | sport and only a timer will be able to tell you what |
| practicing until you're at Point C, Point D, or | | | | kind of progress you're making. |
| beyond. The farther beyond the point where you | | | | If you can afford a professional target and timer |
| think you need to be, the more "room for error" | | | | that's probably the best bet, but even a less |
| you have available when you're competing. | | | | expensive timer can do the trick -- as long as it |
| Mistake #2. Not Practicing In Your Gear. While | | | | was designed for cowboy fast draw. Keep a |
| you're probably practicing with the same gun you'll | | | | record of each practice session so you can |
| use in competition, some people make the | | | | In summary, you'll do better in fast draw |
| mistake of practicing in street clothes rather than | | | | matches if you practice more than you think you |
| the cowboy clothes they'll use on match day. No | | | | need to, practice in your cowboy clothes, and use |
| matter how much you practice, different | | | | a timer to see your progress. |
| surroundings and yes, even different clothes can | | | | |