What this answer really means
At first glance, this answer can feel confusing—maybe even discouraging.
Aren’t we supposed to care about bad shots? Shouldn’t good shots feel great?
Yes—but not in the way most shooters expect.
In the early stages of development, emotions are tightly linked to results.
A bad shot feels personal. A good shot feels like proof. Every ten brings relief, every eight brings tension.
As your level increases, something changes.
Emotional stability is a performance skill
Experienced shooters don’t feel less—they feel more accurately.
A bad shot no longer triggers frustration, because it’s recognized as information:
- Was the trigger disturbed?
- Was the timing late?
- Did attention drift?
Likewise, a good shot doesn’t cause excitement, because excitement pulls attention away from the next task. The shot is acknowledged, then released.
This emotional neutrality is not indifference.
It’s control.
When emotions settle, decision-making improves. Shot routines stabilize. Recovery between shots becomes faster and more reliable.
Progress is measured by reactions, not results
Scores fluctuate. Conditions change. Matches are unpredictable.
Your reactions, however, are consistent indicators of progress:
- You reset faster after a mistake
- You trust your process without reassurance
- You stay present after a good shot instead of chasing it
- You evaluate shots calmly, without judgment
These changes often appear weeks or months before score improvements become visible.
That’s why many athletes feel “stuck” just before a breakthrough—they are improving internally, even if the targets don’t show it yet.
Why coaches look for this first
From a coaching perspective, emotional regulation is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.
Technical improvements are fragile if they depend on confidence or mood.
Mental stability allows technique to express itself under pressure.
When a shooter stops riding emotional highs and lows, the performance becomes:
- More repeatable
- More resistant to stress
- More transferable from training to competition
This is why elite shooters often appear calm to the point of boredom. They are not detached—they are anchored.
A simple self-check after training or matches
Ask yourself:
- Did I respond, or did I react?
- Did I analyze shots, or judge them?
- Did one shot influence the next?
If the answers are becoming calmer and clearer over time, you are improving—even if the score sheet disagrees today.
Final thought
Improvement in shooting is rarely loud.
It shows up quietly, in shorter emotional spikes, steadier attention, and a growing trust in the process.
When bad shots lose their power and good shots lose their drama, you’re no longer chasing performance—you’re building it.
References
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Ragnar Skanåker – Master Competitive Pistol Shooting
Emphasizes process focus, emotional neutrality, and evaluation over emotional reaction during training and competition. -
JP O’Connor – On the Firing Line (selected articles)
Discusses recovery from bad shots, non-reactive mindset, and the importance of separating performance from outcome. -
Emil Duchanov – The Perfect Shot as a Correlation of Qualities, Skill Set and Mental Formulas (ISSF Coach Academy)
Highlights emotional control and objective observation as key markers of advanced performance. -
Frank L. Gardner & Zella E. Moore – The Psychology of Enhancing Human Performance (MAC Approach)
Provides the theoretical foundation for acceptance, emotional regulation, and task-focused attention in high-pressure performance. -
Raymond Prior – Bullseye Mind
Reinforces the idea that progress is reflected in calmer reactions, improved self-talk, and reduced emotional volatility.