Shooting Cack Handed

[Problem]

Left out

I was lucky enough to get some good advice early on; everything I did with one hand, I needed to do with the other. This extended to paintball eventually.

It's not so much one hand versus the other, but one side of you versus the other. Someone mentioned stance and posture and its true. But it really isn't difficult (unless you need to hit your target ... some team captains have no clue). Everything you do on the range, solo drilling, group drilling and scrimmaging should include your left side and your right side at some point. If you snap out the right side, take a second to put your posture and hold together (switching hands on the grip) and then snap out the left. Do it often enough and you'll learn.

Now I've seen Russian Legion and other respected teams holding their marker's "wrong"-handed; using the outside hand to hold their foregrip with their wrists overlying each other crossed up. (Take a marker, grip it to fire, then swing it so that it's pointing all the way to your right without moving your torso and you'll see what I mean.) They seem to maintain a small enough profile.

Where it really comes in handy is on the move; crossing your wrists or trying to shoot across your body while moving in is very difficult, so I'd say practice shooting with both hands more for the moving shots.

Larry

 

[rob_evanson]

Sadly I won't be doing Kennys, because I would have only just come back from Campaign and then it's the wifes birthday that weekend, so I don't think it would be a good idea.

 

[blis]

Ive been trying to improve my right handed shooting too... so far all its really good for is keepin an opponent down... as far as actually hitting a target... a-whole-nother story, so far.
But it does seem to come in handy as far as confusing a few people sometimes

 

[garycarrot]

Cack handed

We have tryed playing practice games, with your opposite hand.
Holding and firing with your wrong hand.
Made for a funny practice, felt "wrong" and could not hit the bunker, never mind a body!!
Got better, the longer we practiced, but didnt stick with it.
Now i just try an move the marker from my right shoulder, to my left, adjusting my body stance, to give the smallest profile.

Only guy who did well, was a guy who could play left or right already. He shot everyone!!!!!!

 

[Zanester]

I recommend practicing shooting left handed with a bb gun or a .22 because they are designed to be more comfortable while shooting and because they are a lot cheaper to shoot. It's kind of like learning to hit a baseball left handed, you just get a ball and tea and practice hitting into a net until it begins to feel comfortable and you start to become effective. You don't start off learning to hit left handed by trying to hit someone's best stuff, that comes after you get the basics down hitting off a tea. Most markers are not really designed for target shooting, its after you get the basics down for shooting that you start to become accurate. I have shot with rifles from my left sholder enough that I actually feel more comfortable shooting left handed. Just break out your old bb gun until it feels comfortable and you got down the basics (right foot forward, left sholder back, etc.) then go back to your marker to get down your accuracy with paintballs..

Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Shuck]

guys, guys, guys!!! Some of you are saying some good stuff. Firstly let me say, what I am about to write is based on my own experiences, and I am no way saying this is the gospel in how to do it. Let me start by saying that Warp Feeds are not the way to go. When people come out of the 'wrong' side of the bunker with a warp feed they are exposing much more of their profile than someone who can fire correctly with that had. I have seen players use them, and I am not impressed with them at all! The Warp Feed basically means that you can play, all be it not as effectively, without the necessary skills.

Being an ambidextrous shooter is a skill that every player needs. I have found the only way to learn is to practice, practice, practice. I found that at the end of a days play, I still had some air and paint left. I would go the the chrono range and just practice shooting with my left hand. Firing long strings of paint, snap-shooting and generally getting used to the feel of my marker in my left hand (I am right handed). At training sessions we would play 3 on 4's (3 defenders) and have the back men playing on their weaker hands, crossing it up. This gave us practice in a pressure situation, and made us hold these positions, and play tight in them too.

One other tactic that I have used is to sit infront of the TV with your marker, and practice snap-shooting at the TV (without paint obviously )whenever a certain character came on. This improved my reactions with my left hand, and also made me feel comfortable shooting. After a bit of practice, you will gradually see the improvements and eventually you will be as accurate and fast with your 'off hand' as you are with your good hand. It does take time though and no-one said it was going to be easy, but once you have mastered the skill, you will be a better, tighter baller. Good luck everyone...............power to the 'off hand'

 

[John_Wilson]

TV

Can you recommend any chars? maybe they should make a spong paintball so that you can shoot in the house without your mother shouting random abuse? ( its not that random but hey)

What about things like gas bottles etc where do they go? I tried this and I looks like I have the gas bottle on a remote attached to a barge pole!!

need to be small. any suggestions?

Ta

 

[Shuck]

TV

Originally posted by John_Wilson
Can you recommend any chars?

I usually like to shoot at annoying old ladies in soaps, like that Betty chick in Emmerdale. Its usually on when I sit down for my Meal on a night.

With regards to bottles, I have found that if they are directly on the gun (i.e no drop forwards or remotes) you get the best feel, and weighting. If you go on a remote, the weight is taken off the gun, and this will add to the kick from the gun when you fire. When I started and had my spyder on remote, the kick meant that I could not hit a barn door. It may be better with a Shocker as the gun itself is a bit heavier, but I would recommend that you keep the CO2 bottle on the gun.

Sponge paintballs, now there is an idea

 

[HERMITT]

With all due respect....

Shuck, spyder or not you couldnt hit the side of a barn door anyways!! Seriously though, what he said is true. a mate of mine had only played one tourney when he picked up on the need to shoot with either hand, so he went away and practiced and now hes in one of the leading teams. He may ave a natural ability but this was enhanced by practicing as often as he could, even snap shooting his mum!

It may take a while but you'll et ther and when you do it'll be worth it!

 

[Shuck]

With all due respect....

Originally posted by HERMITT
Shuck, spyder or not you couldnt hit the side of a barn door anyways!!

Thanks Hermitt, with friends like this, who needs enemies??? Will you be playing the last S2002 event this weekend? Have you sorted out a lift yet?