{"id":6221,"date":"2020-12-30T19:54:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T19:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=6221"},"modified":"2023-03-15T14:17:28","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:17:28","slug":"ball-and-dummy-drill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/ball-and-dummy-drill\/","title":{"rendered":"Ball and Dummy Drill – Overcoming Recoil Anticipation"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you shoot your handgun, do your shots fall consistently low and to the left? (Or if you\u2019re left-handed, does your lead hit low and right on the target?)<\/span><\/p>\n

The bad news? You\u2019re probably flinching in anticipation of the gun\u2019s recoil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news? There\u2019s a way to fix it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Anticipating Recoil<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anticipating recoil (or flinching) is a fairly common issue, especially for inexperienced shooters. However, plenty of seasoned shooters struggle with it as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Flinching is a subconscious reaction to the noise and recoil we know is coming when we press the trigger. Basically, our brains are flinching in an effort to minimize the danger and discomfort of having an explosion mere inches from our face. Flinching is a classic case of the natural human instinct for self-preservation. While that instinct was a major advantage for prehistoric survival, it is a major weakness on the shooting range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because this is a subconscious reaction, it can be difficult to eliminate. However, all is not lost. There is a drill that can help shooters overcome the negative aspects of recoil anticipation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why It\u2019s a Problem<\/span><\/h3>\n

Flinching can have some serious negative effects on our shooting abilities. When you anticipate recoil, you can inadvertently tighten your grip, push the gun forward, break or flip the wrist up or down, or snatch the trigger. Although these movements usually cause only a tiny amount of muzzle movement, they can have a major effect on where your lead impacts the target.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ball and Dummy Drill<\/span><\/h2>\n

Note: As I mentioned, there are a slew of different ways a shooter can flinch in anticipation of the gun\u2019s recoil. This drill focuses on diagnosing a general flinch, not pinpointing the specific type of flinching.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What it works:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Overcoming recoil anticipation<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Trigger control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This drill is an oldie but a goodie. Any time a drill remains popular over decades, you know it works, and that is certainly the case with the Ball and Dummy Drill. This one remains a standard tool in every instructor\u2019s box of tricks. It works wonders for overcoming problems associated with anticipating recoil, especially jerking the trigger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    You will need some snap caps or dummy rounds to do this drill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Have a shooting partner load your pistol magazine or revolver cylinder with an unknown sequence of live ammunition and dummies. (If you\u2019re shooting a revolver, you can simply leave several chambers empty for this exercise.)<\/span><\/p>\n

    You can also load your magazine with an alternating pattern (live, dummy, live, dummy, live, dummy, etc.).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Using a relatively close target (3 to 7 yards is plenty), aim and shoot. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Ideally, you\u2019ll have no idea whether you\u2019re pressing the trigger on a live round or a dummy (This is where having a partner comes in handy). The idea is to treat every press of the trigger as if you are shooting a live round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    When you get to the dummy, your handgun should remain perfectly still through the entire trigger press. If your sights move off target, you\u2019ve flinched or jerked the trigger in anticipation of the recoil that never occurred.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Here is what the Ball and Dummy Drill looks like in practice:<\/strong>
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