Increasing draw speed and improving reaction times

[CouchPotato]

The best way to speed up your draw speed and reaction time is to be aware of your surroundings. If you see trouble coming your way have your gun in your hand before it gets close to you.

Excellent advice... perhaps the best advice.

I have managed to successfully do that twice, and thankfully as a result, both times I've drawn, I didn't have to shoot.

Being unassailable starts with good situational awareness.

We all have blind spots in our day-to-day and I want to be quick just in case I need to be quick.

 

[AJ]

Smoothness begets speed.

Yes, it does. And smoothness comes from practice, practice and more practice.........Also live fire, dry fire helps, but live fire is the real teacher.

 

[Shibadog]

My best advice with few words. Work on smooth not speed. Speed is a byproduct.

This. And watch that safety, esp on appendix carry. Safety off while the weapon is still pointing at YOU isn’t good. Practice will develop skill, skill will give birth to speed. You are already “fast”- pushing the limit in search of the last couple thousandths of a second if you compromise safety is no good. Be careful! Remember, in a real situation, where you find yourself needing to draw your mind must process, analyze and make a decision before the command to “act” is sent. That process is likely the limiting factor more than the mechanical act of drawing itself. I practice or competition you are already planning the draw well before the timer goes off- in the real world the need will present without warning..

 

[Onomea]

My best advice with few words. Work on smooth not speed. Speed is a byproduct.

Smoothness begets speed.

I've seen this sensible advice expressed as "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast."

(As for me, I am not fast from the holster, but I think I am safe. I'm still working on basic marksmanship. First things first.)

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I'm with jbull and snidely on the smoothness part. Then comes setting your grip while still in your holster. Coming up to point is no time to be fooling with your grip.

But an equipment issue really does come first. The gun has to fit your hand. When your grip is set the weapon should be in alignment with your wrist/arm and point just like pointing your finger at an object on a wall. When you can instinctively point your chosen weapon your on the way toward a fast first shot.

Personally I can't shoot any Glock other than a 42. Smith J frames with the synthetic rubber two finger grips work and a Sig 365XL all have a natural point, for my hand.

Find what points for you and stick to it. I'm more concerned about grip alignment than caliber, weapon type or ammo loadout.

 

[Mark Pilcher]

Don't think about the stimulus, (the beep) think about your response to the stimulus. Fuely dragster drivers don't think about the green light, they think about what they'll do when the light goes green. Try it and report back. And send me a dollar.

 

[steelslaver]

The words of athe guy who taught me to run drilling rigs have always worked for me

Slow makes smooth, smooth makes fast

 

[AJ]

What they all are saying............but repetition is the key.........so Practice, Practice and more Practice....this is called rote training.

 

[jbull380]

Can't emphasize dry fire drills enough. Knock those rough edges off before you ever go to the range. Here is a quick video of a drill I do during lunch time at work. Just be sure to get all the loaded ammo out of the room.
I downloaded the PAR app onto my iPhone. Pretty simple app. It does not record shot times. It just allows you to set par times. Works great for dry fire drills. You can set random start times, set it to loop etc. it is free by the way and I haven't seen a pop up add yet.
The drill here is draw, aim, press, reload, charge and back on target in 3 seconds or less.
Trying Out the PAR App