As a new shooter, you should have three objectives: Be safe, strive to be better and have fun. Shooting in competitions is a great way to accomplish each of these goals.
Target shooters are the friendliest people on the planet. They are always willing to help a new shooter with equipment, pointers and general advice. They only ask for one thing in return: that you are safe. Obey the basic rules of firearm safety and you will be welcomed to the group.
Mention the word competition, however, and new shooters get nervous. They just don’t think they can do it. A good thing to remember is that even three-time Olympic gold medalist Kim Rhode was a beginner once. Competitions allow you to compete against yourself. There’s no reason to worry about how you compare to others. Be the best you can be and work on getting better.
Competitions are a great place to meet other shooters. You’ll find lots of camaraderie, friendly banter and, if you’re lucky, chocolate chip cookies. Competitors encourage each other and celebrate one another’s accomplishments. They have fun being with other like-minded individuals enjoying time on the range.
So what are you waiting for? Find a range in your area hosting a competition. Tell them you are a new shooter and that you want to learn. Be prepared for the open-arms welcome you’ll receive. It’s addicting, and you will want to share it with others.
In this video Former Googler and Top Shot Season 4 Champion Chris Cheng welcomes newcomers to the shooting sports and introduces the series “Handgun 101 with Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng”. In this series Chris teaches the core fundamentals that brought him from self-taught amateur to Top Shot Champion. Are you an experienced shooter looking to introduce a newcomer to the shooting sports? Share these videos to give them a head start.
You may also be interested in:
https://www.letsgoshooting.org/2018/11/20/my-shooting-sports-story-corinne-mosher/
