In this issue:

Effects of women's sport rifle?
RE: copying the offhand position
Previous issues of the UIT list

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Hi, Michael.

A question for the list today:  In the most recent issue of NRA's
Shooting Sports USA, there was an article about the possible impact
of the new Women's Sport Rifle on air rifle scores.  NCAA coaches
were speculating on whether women adopting the sport rifle would
lose proficiency in air rifle, since the sport rifle is heavier and
has accessories not permitted in air rifle competition.  There was
some concern that there would not be as much of a transfer effect
between events, or even a negative effect if the shooter trained with
both weapons.

I would like to know the feeling of shooters who already fire both
events.  Do you feel that there is a positive or negative transfer effect
when firing both rifles?  Do you specialize in one event, and shoot the
other "just for fun?"  Is the definitive result of seeing a shot print on
paper (in air rifle) more valuable as a training aid than merely 
dry-firing with the free rifle?  I will appreciate any comments.

Tom

[Ed. note - I think it's BS myself.  I have seen no evidence that air rifle
averages for men and women are any different.  There is often a fairly even
split of air rifle All-Americans.  Thus, it appears men are not hampered by
the free rifle so I don't see why women should be.  I think air rifle
performance transfers more to smallbore than vice-versa.]

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Lets talk position here, ie, the offhand position.  I cannot believe that
you people are actually trying to base your position on someone else!  That
is their position, and works for them, who said that it ALWAYS worked for
everybody.  If there was some universal offhand position that allowed every
shooter to shoot an 100 every target, then there would be no shooting sport.
This is what makes this sport so great; everybody is different.  The stuff
about open, closed, wide, narrow positons is left up to the shooter to find
and work with.  The classic position; front foot slightly forward of the
rear to tighten up the lower back (this can change from shooter to shooter,
but the feet shoud never be parallel, it causes you to sway tremendously)
and the legs roughly shoulder width apart is the fundamental way on where to
determine where to go to next. If it be moving your legs farther apart,
closer together, leaning back more, standing up straigter, or pushing your
weight more toward a single foot rather than balcend is FINE.  Many shooters
try a new postion and they say "its working" for that day.  Mental aspects
come into play many times by this is new position and it is going to work.
You need to look at what you are doing for some time.  If it does not work,
try something else.  Offhand is by far the hardest of the three positions.
Guys, not girls, the reason that you are throwing your hips out is because
of the male anatomy.  We want that stable elbow rest, so the hips are thrown
out to achieve that.[no offense meant toward women :)] Noone ever said that
it was wrong to do this.  
        All that I am trying to say is experiment with your position, but
not think about it.  You should be focusing somehow on a perfect shot
execution, not a ten.  If this means that you have to work for it, than do
it.  The outcome of a solid head performance beats a position performance.
Rely on your head!
        For those of you interested, it NCAA Rifle Championships
Qualification Time  2-8  thru 2-20 1997!!!

David Fowler
University of Kentucky Rifle Team

[Ed. note - NCAA's are at Murray State U. this year.  6-8 March.]

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A few have asked about past issues.  I am hoping to create either a FAQ or
an archive of what is discussed on the list, but it will still be another
month from now.  The Memorial University club was going to do this also but
I can't find it if they have.  Perhaps Mr. Piercey will shed some light on this.

Michael Ray

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End of UIT Mailing List #20

Michael Ray - Systems Engineer
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. Rifle Coach
The Olympic Shooting Page - http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1190/