Tips for curing a flinch

**parishioner** · 09-17-09, 14:27

This is slightly embarrassing but I want to get better and I need some help regarding flinching. Its not a problem for me when I slow fire but when I shoot rapidly or consecutive shots, I find myself tensing up and it is taking me off target. What are some things I could do to overcome this? Is this something that disappears over time?

I wouldn't say I'm a novice pistol shooter but I'm not really at the intermediate stage either.

Thanks

**Jay Cunningham** · 09-17-09, 14:28

A ball and dummy drill is a great way to help overcome flinch.

**spamsammich** · 09-17-09, 14:38

Originally Posted by The_Katar

A ball and dummy drill is a great way to help overcome flinch.

Yep, grab a handfull of snapcaps and mix them up in your ammo pile, then have a buddy load your mags for you. concentrate on smooth, consistent trigger pull, and sight picture.

This, combined with lots of dry fire as GSJ describes has worked wonders for me so far.

**rob_s** · 09-17-09, 15:25

Originally Posted by The_Katar

A ball and dummy drill is a great way to help overcome flinch.

Being prone to a massive finch myself, I'll disagree.

Ball and dummy is great for diagnosing a flinch, or to get someone to understand that they are flinching, but does little to cure it.

Dryfire works much better in my experience.

**Jay Cunningham** · 09-17-09, 16:13

Originally Posted by rob_s

Being prone to a massive finch myself, I'll disagree.

Ball and dummy is great for diagnosing a flinch, or to get someone to understand that they are flinching, but does little to cure it.

Dryfire works much better in my experience.

Ball and Dummy incorporates dry-fire, at least how LAV teaches it. Every time you flinch you perform five perfect dry-fires and then resume the drill.

Whenever I recommend a drill, you can basically add the prefix "In addition to dry-fire everyday, you can also..."

**Gutshot John** · 09-17-09, 14:31

SAFE dry-fire practice (like a ball and dummy drill) worked pretty well for me though you don't necessarily need a spent round if you watch your sights closely.

Every day fire about 100 trigger pulls (using proper focus, technique and presentation) Focus on smooth trigger pull, you'll gradually de-condition the response, artificially fooling your brain not to expect the shot and therefore not flinch.

Live rounds at this point seem to be reinforcing your flinch instead of getting you over it.

**DBake** · 09-17-09, 14:39

You will never get rig of the flinch, it is natural to do it. You can only mininize it by practicing the tichniques above.

**rob_s** · 09-17-09, 15:27

Originally Posted by jman4427

This is slightly embarrassing but I want to get better and I need some help regarding flinching. Its not a problem for me when I slow fire but when I shoot rapidly or consecutive shots, I find myself tensing up and it is taking me off target. What are some things I could do to overcome this? Is this something that disappears over time?

I wouldn't say I'm a novice pistol shooter but I'm not really at the intermediate stage either.

Thanks

Are you sure it's a flinch and not a trigger control issue? Flinching is anticipating recoil and tensing or pushing the gun. Is your POI relative to your POA?

**parishioner** · 09-17-09, 15:36

Originally Posted by rob_s

Are you sure it's a flinch and not a trigger control issue? Flinching is anticipating recoil and tensing or pushing the gun. Is your POI relative to your POA?

I mean I'm pretty sure its a flinch. When shooting rapidly I'll lean slightly forward as I tense and I'll shoot low.