 We should teach shooting in four distinct parts: what is important(safety and manual of arms), how to hit the target (accuracy and precision), how much time it takes (speed and efficiency), and what is meaningful (novel or complex context). Unfortunately, many shooters only receive the first two lessons—or choose to ignore the last two—focusing on safety and accuracy while avoiding the tension between time and information. I know the "siren call" of accuracy well: the tighter the group, the better the shooting. However, chasing a tiny group often ignores time pressure and changing environments.There are many reasons to train accuracy to a high level. First, it refines fundamentals—posture, grip, trigger speed, vision, and process—allowing a shooter to know they can hit a target when given sufficient time. Second, it is easily measurable via a tight group at the center of a target. Lastly, there is an abundance of standards and tests that are easy to administer. Accuracy should be trained to a high level, but it must be balanced against speed and integrated into a realistic context. When a shooter over trains accuracy, they face several compromises. First, they tend to ignore the cost of time, taking too long to steady the sights and be decisive. I teach a movement-based "sight movie" (influenced by Gabe White) where the context defines the visual requirement "Flash, Float, and Focus" (Max Michel) matched with a corresponding trigger speed "Quickly, Carefully, and Precisely" (Tom Givens). If the sights are entering the target, shoot; if they are leaving, correct and shoot; if the environment changes, assess if you should continue to shoot, correct, or stop.  Second, over training accuracy teaches perfectionism, which is essentially procrastination. Since we are incapable of perfection, we must decisively shoot with "good enough" information. Anything more is wasted time that creates tension and fatigue. Finally, it fosters failure avoidance. In a sterile environment, the shooter performs well, but when time pressure and novelty are added, they may struggle to shoot quickly, and/or apply corrective measures when missing. The balance of "time versus information" is always a compromise of "good enough" and "soon enough." Context can change completely from moment to moment. Some situations require a shooter to trust their intuition and pattern recognition to shoot predicatively, such as a Bill Drill or a fast-charging threat. Other contexts require reactive shooting—action plus reaction equals response—where misses are unacceptable, and every shot must be "called" in advance, or if you miss the correction must performed immediately. Finally, a shooter may need to shoot deliberately, where the risk of a miss is extreme, such as a hostage-rescue shot or a 50-yard precision engagement with a pistol. Shooters need a context-driven approach that weighs novelty against risk and reward. By utilizing three speeds of visual processing and trigger control, a shooter learns to be decisive with the least amount of effort. The allure of "accuracy mode" is tempting because its rewards are immediate and easy to see, but it is only one-third of the equation (Accuracy/Precision, Speed/Efficiency, and Performance). Once a shooter over trains accuracy at the expense of speed and context, it is a hard cycle to break.  If you trust your accuracy, you don't need to micromanage your aiming. By letting go, shooting becomes contextually driven—allowing you to be both fast and accurate.
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 The timer is an excellent tool for gathering metrics, but it can also create several training problems. Unintended consequences exist in all drills and skill tests, and I have fallen prey to them myself, which is the problem we all face with blind spots in training.
To mitigate their influence, shooters should recognize both the benefits and the traps of timed training. Benefits of using a timer: First, it helps the shooter understand the relationship between the time needed to process sufficient information in a given context and the level of tension required to perform without forced errors or wasteful movement. Because the brain cannot accurately measure time during high-speed processing, the timer serves as an objective efficiency meter. Most shooters judge speed subjectively—based on how fast it felt relative to how hard they tried. True speed, however, is maximum efficiency with minimum effort; it may not feel fast when properly coordinated, but the timer reveals the right level of effort. Second, timers enable precise measurement of standards, such as the Bill Drill, down to hundredths of a second. This has made high-level training far more accessible and has driven widespread improvement in shooting skills. Finally, the timer allows shooters to objectively track progress, stagnation, or decline over time. The traps of timer use: The primary danger is that the timer becomes the defining metric—such as draw-to-first-shot time. Chasing hundredths of a second may not be worth the investment at a certain skill level. One reason is that “speed mode” training often requires relaxing accuracy standards to build the coordination needed to go faster. I coach roughly 1,000 shooters per year, and during practice on easy targets, I frequently see sub-second draws in speed mode, but in performance mode (with real accuracy demands), it tends to add 0.15–0.25 seconds as the shooter balances speed and precision. Try firing at least two shots confirmed visually for a more realistic draw speed. Another issue is that constant timer training emphasizes task completion over visual cues. Instead of the sights serving as the “go” signal, the shooter may try to finish the draw to beat the timer, instead letting vision drive the start signal . This disconnects shooting from proper visual inputs. Add in other contextual factors—shot calling (did I hit the target, or do I need a makeup?), novel or unknown stimuli (movement or a drawn weapon), changes in target size, movement, or distance, start signals (what provides enough visual information to begin), and stop signals (foreground and background changes)—and any shift in context will increase time. This raises the key question: Does your “speed mode” draw hold up in a real match or personal-protection scenario? As Brian Enos warned in Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals, do not define your shooting by the timer; instead, let your vision guide your shooting relative to the context. Ultimately, the timer provides insights into speed shooting by helping balance technical control with the abandonment of conscious thought. Conclusion Use a timer, but remember: your current skill level is what you’ve earned through consistent practice—not your occasional best time. Shoot interesting and challenging courses of fire to maintain high attention and a sense of urgency driven by vision rather than the beep. Use the timer diagnostically—to identify where draws, transitions, reloads, and movement can improve—so you understand exactly how much time and information you need to succeed. Brian Hill |
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