First Official GPA Match — Speed Mode: ON. Accuracy: We'll Get There 😂

[Brandon Breeze]

Finally shot my first official Galactic Pistol Alliance (GPA) match yesterday!

I decided to try something a little different this time around: FULL SPEED MODE.

The idea is pretty simple. I want to push my speed beyond my current comfort zone, get used to operating at that pace, and then work on bringing the accuracy up to match it. Rather than constantly slowing down to protect my hits, I'm deliberately exposing the gap between how fast I want to shoot and how accurately I can currently shoot at that speed.

And boy, did Stage 4 deliver.

I managed a 12.89-second raw time, the fastest raw stage time of the entire match! Unfortunately, the penalties weren't exactly interested in celebrating with me.

But that's the experiment. I'm not pretending penalties don't matter, and I'm certainly not suggesting this is how I'd approach every match. For this particular "training session", I wanted to push the pace and see what happened.

Overall, I finished 8th at 75.93%, with a 175.05 final time versus 134.05 seconds of raw time. Some stages went better than others, which should make for an interesting breakdown in the upcoming full video.

I've put together a quick Short featuring Stage 4 as a teaser for the upcoming full match video.

Speed first. Accuracy catches up. At least, that's the plan!

What's everyone's take on this approach? Do you prefer to keep accuracy within your current comfort zone and gradually increase speed, or deliberately push beyond that comfort zone and clean things up afterward?

Always happy to hear constructive criticism!

 

[doggman61]

A few months after starting matches I went speed mode and quickly got frustrated with the hits and have been back and fourth ever since.
I have the accuracy now with some speed, just need to speed it up more to get above that %85 match standing.
Even the pros talk about trying to balance it in their own shooting.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

A few months after starting matches I went speed mode and quickly got frustrated with the hits and and have been back and fourth ever since.
I have the accuracy now with some speed, just need to speed it up more to get above that %85 match standing.
Even the pros talk about trying to balance it in their own shooting.

Yeah, gotta have a good mix of both for sure! I've found that for me, I won't just go faster eventually. I've started to be able to increase speed as a result of doing stuff like this, mostly in dry fire. But it was much better to be able to do it in a match setting compared to dry fire so see what actually happens. Doing this over the past couple months helped me move from getting match results from the 60's to consistent mid/high 70's and my last match was 80.17% (USPSA), so it's definitely working, just gotta keep pushing.

GPA your hits matter a bit more than in USPSA. For USPSA as long as you're hitting A & C's if you can raw time quick enough you can often outrun your hits (in a local match, not necessarily on classifiers or major matches). GPA you cannot as easily because the penalties can be incredibly stiff since it's time scoring. Obviously, we know the best shooters have both Speed & Accuracy mode dialed in since you can't be top of the top without both.

 

[Gawernator]

Galactic, dang lol

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Galactic, dang lol

It's like USPSA & IDPA had a baby. Mostly USPSA, but with time plus scoring and tactical priority etc.

 

[Gawernator]

It's like USPSA & IDPA had a baby. Mostly USPSA, but with time plus scoring and tactical priority etc.

@RustVendor which one is the boomer org again

 

[Brandon Breeze]

@RustVendor which one is the boomer org again

Most folks would say IDPA. The IDPA folks seem to be loving GPA since there are so many less rules. The GPA rule book is like 12 pages, so by the end of a match you will be fairly well versed. Both USPSA & IDPA suffer from an insane amount of rules, so there are often many debates over said rules at the matches.

 

[Gawernator]

Most folks would say IDPA. The IDPA folks seem to be loving GPA since there are so many less rules. The GPA rule book is like 12 pages, so by the end of a match you will be fairly well versed. Both USPSA & IDPA suffer from an insane amount of rules, so there are often many debates over said rules at the matches.

Is it near us?

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Is it near us?

Richmond or El Dorado Gun Club are both hosting GPA AFAIK. Both also host USPSA. EDGC hosts IDPA, Steel Challenge and probably more. So, not incredibly far, typically takes me about 45 min to get there (EDGC). Haven't been to Richmond since bay area traffic can be insane, especially on weekends.

 

[Gawernator]

Richmond or El Dorado Gun Club are both hosting GPA AFAIK. Both also host USPSA. EDGC hosts IDPA, Steel Challenge and probably more. So, not incredibly far, typically takes me about 45 min to get there (EDGC). Haven't been to Richmond since bay area traffic can be insane, especially on weekends.

So you're gonna teach me right? hahahaha

 

[Brandon Breeze]

So you're gonna teach me right? hahahaha

I'd be happy to give pointers and such, but to shoot a match, you'll have to take an intro class, otherwise no one will let you shoot a match.

EDGC and YSA (Yolo Sportsman's Association) both have intro classes. EDGC is about half the price, but is mostly on the range with no classroom setting. YSA has a few hours of classroom going over lots of detail, then dry fire, then range.

 

[Gawernator]

I'd be happy to give pointers and such, but to shoot a match, you'll have to take an intro class, otherwise no one will let you shoot a match.

EDGC and YSA (Yolo Sportsman's Association) both have intro classes. EDGC is about half the price, but is mostly on the range with no classroom setting. YSA has a few hours of classroom going over lots of detail, then dry fire, then range.

Do you get like a competition license or how do they know you're verified

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Do you get like a competition license or how do they know you're verified

I took my class at YSA, the head instructor gave me a signed business card. This got me into my first match. After that as long as you're not a dummy you'll be able to shoot matches at most clubs. There are some clubs that do not accept other clubs Intro Class, but most in our area will accept either YSA or EDGC classes. I don't recall what EDGC gives out.