Here I am. I shoot whatever the stages are. Give me 90 seconds and tell me what to shoot. lol I would like to see more mover stages though. Used to be a lot more years back.
This is the way it should be right here...
Hostage or confirmation where you can loose points
You should never lose points in a match. A point earned should be kept.
There are lots of ways you can create consequences for hitting the wrong target. Every time a shooter does so, you can make them switch from strong side to weak side, and back again if they do it again. You can make them move positions every time they hit a hostage. There are plenty of things you can do to create consequences that still allow them a fair opportunity on the stage without taking their points away.
Reactive targets where a hit allows another target to be exposed.
We've tried it. Some require reset, and it opened the door to target malfunctions.
I really like dynamic stages. Defy the Distance had 2 blind stages with known distances and general target position, but no more. 3 Minutes for each stage, so 6 minutes total. Add's a little hustle and athleticism into the mix running between stages, and really makes you be mentally prepared. I loved it, I really enjoy anything with movement.
Another one that I enjoyed was matching the blocks. 5 Targets, you had to jump up from prone to a table and flip over blocks until you matched 2 together. Jump back down behind your rifle and fire 2 shots at that target, jump back up to table and match two more blocks, back behind rifle and 2 shots on that target. Really fun stage.
The conjoined blind stage was one of the worst stages I ever shot. A double feed on stage 9 left me trying to clear a malfunction after stage 9 time ended and stage 10 time started. I had to get a set of Leathermens out of my bag. I got two hits in two shots on 10 and time expired. I had a bad stage 9, equipment failure, totally on me. But under his design, it rolled into 10, giving me two atrocious stages. Not right. Not a stage plan that belongs in a National match.
It would have been better had you gotten 3 minutes per stage with a brief reset between the two. Reload your mag. Grab your gear, start the clock for stage 10.
I agree the blocks were fun. But those stages can be dicey as well. Glen made it right by making sure you only had to shoot a target once. So everyone got the same 5 targets. If they made you put your blocks back and you could possibly draw the furthest/hardest target more than once, it's now a stage without a level playing field. Another shooter by luck of the draw may get easier targets. That was a fun stage, equal playing field.
I see a lot of crazy stuff going on from Match Directors, and I'm not a fan. Some try to get too cute and think they are doing something fun and unique, when quite simply it just ends up being dumb and doesnt belong.
I dont want to shoot my precision rifle from a swinging plank supported by chains, nor a plank on styrofoam floating in a tub of water. Keep your stupid saddle out of the match and refrain from carnival ride stages. Every shooter should be faced with a realistic challenge that provides them a
fair opportunity to neutralize their targets. Provide them with a target and a reasonable position and put the onus on them to get the hits. Dont over complicate the clock, just give it a time. And dont hit the Open Division with stupid gear restrictions or tripod deployments on the clock or other stupid stuff. The other divisions are for shooting with limitations. Open division in every shooting sport out there is an anything goes division.
Just let folks shoot.
