No, this is not about a television game show. It concerns the application of penalties in a match. Although our sport is fundamentally a freestyle activity, and most stages allow the shooter to choose his/her shooting solution, some shooter actions are affected by stage procedures listed in the Written Stage Briefing.
[Read more…] about Double JeopardyRules Insights
Activated Targets
For those of you who have perused the 2020 Competition Rules change log, you might have noticed the changes to section 9.9, ‘Scoring of Activated Targets’. The section used to be called ‘Scoring of Moving Targets’, but was changed to more accurately reflect all the activated target types seen in matches. Let’s look at the changes and how they affect the calls ROs make.
[Read more…] about Activated TargetsContact and Support – Revisited
Note: This post was originally published in July 2019 to explain the edits to 10.2.1 in the 2019 USPSA Competition Rules. 10.2.1 was revised again in the 2020 USPSA Competition Rules and this post has been updated to reflect the 2020 change.
No, we aren’t talking about tech support. We are talking about fault penalties because the recent changes for rule 10.2.1 have caused some confusion. What is part of the shooting area? What constitutes gaining support? That rule covers a lot, and can be confusing. So, let’s break it down.
[Read more…] about Contact and Support – RevisitedHeel of the butt of the what?
Another thing we get asked a lot about is rule 5.2.7.2. That is the rule that says a holster is illegal if the heel of the butt of the handgun is below the top of the belt.
[Read more…] about Heel of the butt of the what?You put one foot in, you put one foot out
Foot faults. When is it one foot fault penalty? When is it per shot penalties? There is still some confusion about this rule, so let’s chat about what the rules say about foot faults.
[Read more…] about You put one foot in, you put one foot outIf clear, hammer down, holster
A question came up at a Level III match earlier this year regarding when a competitor can continue shooting once the Range Officer has started to issue the “If Clear, Hammer Down, Holster” command.
[Read more…] about If clear, hammer down, holsterTension about Retention
The Competition Rules, 2019 edition, rule 5.2.5.3 states, in part “… If a retaining strap is permanently attached to a holster or magazine pouch, it must be applied or closed prior to issuance of the “Standby” command.”
[Read more…] about Tension about RetentionThe mysteries of Virginia Count
Love it or hate it, Virginia Count scoring is part of USPSA. Virginia Count (VC) scoring is another way to provide a different shooting challenge by limiting the number of shots at targets versus the Comstock scoring method where competitors can shoot at the targets as many times as they choose. Most people dislike VC simply because they don’t understand how it works, especially when a competitor shoots the stage wrong.
[Read more…] about The mysteries of Virginia Count