CONSTRUCTION OF THE KNEELING SHOOTING POSITION
1. Preparation:
Commence the kneeling position by placing the mat on the firing position
or point, the mat is placed at an angle facing or pointing 10 to 20 degrees to
the right of the target. The upper left
corner of the mat will then be pointing to the target center.
(a) Place the
spotting scope between the firing line and the left shoulder position while in
firing position. This will allow the
athlete to view the target while charging the rifle.
(b) Place the
ammo block to the right of the firing position between the right shoulder and
hips at a comfortable position within easy reach.
(c) All other
items required by the athlete can be placed to the right of the shooting
position but not in such a manner as to disrupt the athlete next to your
position.
·
NOTE
RULE: Do not place any items of
equipment on or forward of the firing line during live competitions.
2. Taking the position: KNEELING
GENERAL As a rule, the results of firing from the
kneeling position will be as perfect and stable as the prone position. However,
untrained athletes will find it very difficult at first while maintaining the
kneeling position during competition.
Aching occurs in the foot, leg, and buttocks, which sometimes result in
reduced concentration and less effective Quiet Zone-Aiming-Firing sequence.
Provided the position is constructed correctly, problems of this nature can be
corrected during training. With the
kneeling position in balance the neurophysicologcal system is used by the
unconscious entity, the Quiet Zone
will appear for a brief period as the lungs become balanced. This period is normally ½ to ¾ of a second
long and then leaves. After a period of
time the athlete will have restarted the shooting sequence as the Quiet Zone will not reappear until the
athlete has again restarted the shooting position. How can an athlete prepare for the kneeling position? Simple, take the kneeling position in front
the television without the rifle.
While the athlete
watches the TV program, the leg muscles will stretch and ease the discomfort to
the athlete. About a week of this and
the athlete will be ready to shoot the perfect bull’s-eye in the kneeling. Remember, the goal is to fire 60 one-shot
matches resulting in perfect bull’s-eye without a miss.
On the range, the
shooting athlete takes the position pointing 20 to 30 degrees to the right of
the target line. The rifle is balanced as in other positions just
at the front of the trigger guard. If
the hook or butt plate must be extended the necessary movement of the counter
weights must also be accomplished. Many
discussions have occurred over the years as to which is placed first, the left
foot or right foot with kneeling roll.
Upon making the turn to the right, the shooter places the left foot at
the firing line. Once the left foot is
placed the athlete will take position with the right foot and the kneeling
roll. The right knee is placed at a
20-30 degree angle to the right and from the left foot. For more information about the left knee,
please continue. (If the right knee is place to close to the left foot, the
position will become unbalanced. Such
an unbalanced will cause random results because the NPA is moving randomly
around the bull.
The
natural point of aim is tested by assuming the kneeling position and looking
through the thumb and index finger at the bull. The natural point of aim is seen as the black bull fills the
space between the thumb and index finger.
The left knee and leg will also be pointing at the bull down range.
·
The balance
of position and rifle fall into two differing lines of balance. The rifle balance starts at a central
balance point located at the front trigger guard and continues on a direct line
through the left elbow and left knee to a point just forward of the left heel
of the left foot.
·
The position
point of balance starts at a point of the neck and shoulders, continuing on a
direct line to the floor just in front of the right foot and kneeling roll .
The rifle balance line is a Sub-balance line of the main position
balance line. It may seem strange that
the position line should end in front of the kneeling roll. The reason is that the torso is leaning
forward so the line will also be at an angle.
SPINE The spine is slightly inclined forwards, so
the full weight of the body rests exactly on the three-point position “left
foot - right knee - right foot” and is balanced evenly. The shoulders hang loosely and relaxed in
their relationship to the backbone/spine, forming, as in the prone position,
the shoulders at right angles to the spine/backbone and rifle.
·
NOTE
FUNCTION: If the spine and shoulders are not at right angles to one another
during the position construction and shooting, considerable lateral instability
will have to be expected.
The backbone/spine must be
relaxed and yet not hunched. It should be slightly bent without the muscles
having to be flexed. This is
important, as the stability of the shooting position is dependent upon the
athlete’s construction of the perfect shooting position and receiving the
perfect bull’s-eye. The Quiet Zone appears as the lungs approach
perfect balance, air neither inhale or exhale.
The rifle is perfectly
sighted, lungs are in perfect balance, the Quiet
Zone arrives, trigger is pulled straight to the rear, validate the shooting
process and the perfect bull’s-eye.
The shooting athlete will note that upon the lungs reaching balance the
spine will compress and thereby stiffing the position.
LEFT
FOOT The left foot must be directly below the
rifle and at an angle of 5 to 8 degrees to the right of target. While in position the leg and foot are in
line with the knee, the elbow position upon the knee. In this way, the position of the leg is at its most stable. Here, as in standing, the kneeling position
requires a good pair of flat sole and ankle supporting shoes to wear during
shooting. They are for shooting only
and not walking.
A second pair of
shooting shoes will be used for training and may be scuffed and for walking
around the range if the athlete wants.
The match shoes must always be protected from damaged.
LEFT LEG The left leg must be vertical, or depending
upon the body size, inclined slightly forwards below the rifle. No sideways or lateral movement of the leg
is permitted. Again, a line is formed
with the foot, knee, and elbow in line with the balance point of the rifle.
RIGHT
FOOT The right foot must be straight, or with the
heel slightly turned outward, and resting on the tip. A kneeling roll supports the instep, the toe presses firmly on
the ground and the heel presses directly onto the bone of the right buttock
(bone-to-bone support). The sole of the
shoe must be firm, as it is only in this way that the body is supported at the
ground point of contact, and the weight of the body has three effective and
stable supporting points. As with the
left foot, a pair of shooting boots must be worn to reinforce the shooting
position.
KNEELING
ROLL Kneeling rolls must be secure. They must
not change during the competition, as this can affect the entire stability of
the position. The roll should be
filled with wood shavings, straw, sawdust, or rug.
·
NOTE
RULE: The kneeling roll size is 7
inches in diameter and 9.5 inches long.
1. The angle
of the foot and the sole of the shoe to the ground. If the roll is too
thick, it is subject to the entire body weight and
additionally the sole by itself does
not give the required support.
2. If the
roll is too thick, the sighting, if the body position is correct, will be
below the target,
and if the roll is too thin, the sight
will be above the target. The position
or body weight is placed upon the sole heel and not on the ankle.
3. The even weight distribution on three
supporting points. If the filling is
too thick, the left foot will he subjected to stress and will give to
impression of falling forward in the position.
It can
be seen from the three examples that the fit of the roll is very important. The correct diameter can be worked out from
the length of the limbs and the shoe size of the athletes.
·
NOTE
RULE: The left elbow will not protrude over 3 ½ inches beyond the left knee
while shooting from the kneeling position.
RIGHT LEG The position of the right leg in relation
to the left leg should form an angle of about 30 to 40 degrees. This angle may be difficult for some
athletes and it can be reduced. If the
angle of 40 degrees is exceeded, excessive weight is transferred to the front
and onto the left leg. Each athlete
must experiment and find out which is the ideal angle for the athlete.
BUTTOCKS As already indicated the bone-to-bone of the
right buttock should rest on the heel of the right shoe. This makes a stable connection between the
bone structure and the ground through the foot.
LEFT ARM The left elbow is placed in the hollow
between the kneecap and the femur. The
left forearm rest on the extension of the femur. The weight of the rifle is therefore transmitted directly to a
stable base, the thigh while continuing through the knee and onward to the
foot.
LEFT HAND The rifle stock rest on the ball of the
thumb. The fingers are completely
relaxed and do not touch the stock. All
flexing of the hand muscles is to be avoided, as it can affect the steadiness
of the position. The sling length and
the position requirements determine the position of the left hand under the
stock.
RIGHT ARM/SHOULDER It is the right arm, and thereby the right
hand, that has the ultimate responsibility for firing and for ensuring a proper
shoulder contact. The shoulder contact
must be made without muscles being flexed.
The necessary pressure on shoulder is brought about by the weight of a
completely relaxed right arm; the right hand holds securely onto the stock
pistol grip with two middle fingers.
The majority of the mistakes occur in the kneeling position because the
shoulder is too high or the shoulders are not at right angles with the rifle
and generally result in a cramped position.
The reason for this is to be found in shoulder position adjustment
during the construction of the shooting position. The rifle butt or butt hook (if used) is placed into the shoulder
pocket of the right or left shoulder.
Care must be taken in Big-bore that the rifle butt is not located on or
in contact with the collarbone going to the neck. The Butt-hook is placed in such a way that the hook lies next to
the ribcage and not tightly under the armpit.
RIGHT HAND The thumb of the right hand, without
pressure being applied, rest on the rifle stock.
The index finger is on the trigger, has no contact
with the stock. The rifle is only drawn
into the shoulder by the middle two fingers.
The right wrist is extended and acts as a direct extension of the lower
arm. The hand grasps the grip of the
stock and the trigger finger pulls directly backwards. As in the other positions, the two inner
fingers are pulled against the grip to firm the wrist during the firing
sequence. Lastly, the trigger hand and
arm is in a straight line, which includes the wrist.
The thumb and index finger forms an L with the
trigger finger parallel with the rifle stock and ready to engage the trigger.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF BODY The weight of the body and the
rifle is distributed evenly between the three bearing points `left foot, right
knee, right foot tip or instep with roll’. Because of the space between these
points, the main weight lies within and at the rear of the triangle. In this way, the position has maximum
stability.
We acknowledge that every athlete varies a
little. This is not a problem, as the
athlete must adjust the rifle until the sighting path is clear through the rear
sights. The athlete must remember the
rifle movement (cant if any) cannot exceed 1 degree without the movement
changing the sights and sight zero.
Normally, a cant is not required if the position is
correctly established and the stock is correctly sized to the shooting athlete.
Because of the nature of the kneeling position rifle orientation occurs
naturally, however, if the sight does not fall on the target bull naturally,
the whole shooting position must be reconstructed. A straight line from the right shoulder or upper right arm through
the left hand, left elbow and left knee to the target.
SLING Place the sling in the high
sling position on the upper left arm.
Attach the sling to the rifle allowing adequate length for a proper
sling fit. Tighten the sling until the
rifle is supported totally by the sling without the use of arm muscle
tension. Move the forehand stop
against the left hand and secure the forehand stop-locking nut to the rifle
stock rail. Check the natural point of
aim and make any adjustments necessary.
Shooting across the position is caused by sling that is too tight and
incorrect position setup. The ideal
shooting direction is across yet out of the chest position. The athlete will fine the distance from
shoulder to rifle is about 5 to 8 inches. The shooting athlete must shoot out
of the position not across the position.
COMMENTS ON MOUNTING AND PRESENTATION OF THE RIFLE
IN THE STANDING POSITION
Suggested additional guidelines for
construction of the shooting position.
Every muscle of the body uses a very slight degree
of muscle tension to help the body structure remain in a balanced position.
This also allows you to make finer adjustments in your unconscious and
neuromuscle control. By over-tensing or locking your muscles, you will tire
quickly and start to tremble, reducing your hold. As such, muscle tension is
slight and very close to relaxed. On
the other hand muscle tensions prevents the unconscious mental entity from
making the necessary changes for sight alignment and achievement if the perfect
Bull’s-eye. Note that muscular tension is not used to force your rifle on to
the target. Your position should be constructed in such a manner that will
allow the natural point of aim arrive directly on target sight alignment for a
perfect bull-eye.
You may your check natural point of aim upon
assuming your position and achieving completely relaxed position. Close your
eyes; breathe 2 or 3 times and then exhaust your lungs until you reach perfect
balance. Perfect lung balance is
reached upon your receipt by kinesthetic response acknowledging the lungs are
perfectly balanced. i.e. lack of need
to inhale or exhale further. When you re-open your eyes, you should have
remained exactly on target while viewing the perfect bull-eye through the
sights. If you have to use muscular tension to "muscle" the rifle on
to the target, you are susceptible to muscle spasms or tremors affecting your
shots. This is the value of a natural point of aim always resulting in the
achievement of the Perfect Bull-Eye (PBE).
Your head should be erect as possible. To do so,
bring the rifle to the face by placing the rifle butt high on the shoulder.
Raise the top of the stock above the shoulder and neck to a height where the
eye and rear sight are exactly at the same level. Never move the head away from
the erect or straight up and down position, towards the rifle: always bring the
rifle to the head.
Note:
One important fact is if you cant the rifle; make the identical angle of
cant each time you take up your position. By varying the cant's angle, your
shots will randomly deviate all over the target. Also, remember to take into
account that canting your rifle will have an impact on sight adjustment. For
instance, when adjusting windage, you will also adjust elevation and vice
versa. To assist you in duplicating your cant, you might want to consider using
a bubble spirit level to measure the angle. But, generally you will not cant
your rifle in any shooting position.
NOTE: Do not cant your rifle, as this will cause a
lot of problems for all shooters attempting to do it. Will admit that it is required at times depending upon type of
rifle and stock you may be using.
Eye relief is the distance from the eye to the
rear aperture. This distance will be approximately 5-15 cm (2-6 inches.)
Resting the eye against the sight may result in wear of the sight or concurrent
damage to the eye because of recoil, or in developing a flinch in response to
recoil. Regardless, never rest your eye against the rear sight or the rubber
extender.
Changing the position of the butt plate or hook
against the shoulder or changing the cheek pressure on the stock can result in
a large change in zero (point of impact or natural point of aim.) Typically
such changes affect recoil, which will determine the amount and direction of
the rifle's jump. You must place and hold the rifle in exactly the same way
each time you shoot, in order to duplicate your position's recoil
pattern. What does the recoil tell
you…? The front sight jumping straight
up and down will inform you if any incorrect position misplacement or tensions
exist during the shooting technique.
If the sight jumps to the right or left at recoil it is informing you
that some aspect of the position is incorrect and you have to break the circuit
and restart again from scratch.
Follow through on each shot. This is to say,
maintain your position and concentration after the shot is released, such that
you do not shift prior to the bullet exiting the barrel. For very slow pellet or bullet velocity and
with a shooting athlete working in the conscious mode, this statement is true
but for the shooting athlete that uses the mental technique, the timing is so
fast that the bullet or pellet is out of the barrel and gone before you can
take up the follow through positioning.
Furthermore, for those that use conscious solid
follow through on each shot, they do not consciously move before the shot
actually breaks. In the case of the mental shooters, the follow through occurs
in the ¾ of a second commencing at automatic trigger release. In this case the bullet or pellet has
departed the barrel prior to expiration of the ¾ of a second timing.
For mental shooting athletes, the spotting scope
is unnecessary as you use the mental
pictorial representation of the perfect bull-eye. Included with the pictorial representation is found the
associated procedures attached and used by the unconscious mental entity for
all sighting and shooting sequences.
The goal is to shoot the perfect one-shot match, which always results in
the perfect bull-eye.
NOTE: All shooting athletes Goal is: Every one-shot-match is accomplished with meticulous perfection and always ending or resulting with the perfect bull’s-eye….!
To win the gold,
the shooting athlete will eliminate all personal errors in shooting
technique! The winning of any
competition is accomplished solely on which competitor has committed the least
amount of errors of technique…!
COMPETITIVE
SHOOTING IS 98% MENTAL, 2 % PHYSICAL AND 100% SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE.
RANGE PICTORIALS.
STANDING POSITION - RIFLE.
PRONE POSITION - RIFLE.
Return to HOME page.
The
One-Shot match was won not by a superior score, but by the athlete’s own
superior mental performance.