I too wanted to know more about IDPA and so I recently watched a match that they set up indoors at Scottsdale Gun Club.
I was suprised at how relaxed of an atmosphere it was. It wasn't like you would think with a bunch of people all dressed up in expensive gear and clothing and have the best guns, these were just regular shooters in who enjoy an IPDA match just for fun. The most extra I seen anyone buy is a concealed carry/tactical vest, but others just wore a regular jacket and some didn't wear a jacket or vest at all. There were around 20 competitors total.
Of course, this being an indoor course, it was probably more of a tighter course and not as difficult as an outdoor course where you really have to run to each station where you fire from.
The ranges were set up in 4 different stages. An example of how a stage would be set up in an indoor IDPA match would be the first station would the shooter standing behind a bench with their weapon laying on the table, when the buzzer starts, the shooter will pick up their weapon and shoot 2 shots each into 3 targets about 10-15 ft away and try to avoid a no shoot/hostage target then the shooter will move to the next station where they will kneel behind a barrel and shoot at 2 other targets set up at various distances and shoot 2 shots into each target in a tactical priority fashion and that ends that stage. So a total of 10 rounds fired and with a 10 rnd mag, you don't even have to reload.
Then the other stages were more complex with targets moving towards you, walls you have to stand behind or kneel down under, more no shoot/hostage targets you have to avoid and more targets where you have to reload at least once.
The targets are all close so if you are a fairly good shot it wouldn't be hard to hit the center of the targets. Where the shooters had to concentrate on is the how quickly they could aim, place their shots into the center of the target and move quickly to the next station to get the best time recorded.
Watching the competitors, many of them looked like the never shot IDPA before or only done it a few times as they were taking slow fired shots and walking to the next station rather than running over to it and were more or less just going through the motions and having fun rather than rushing through it like they were going for a cash prize or medal. I saw some shooters who seemed to go to matches alot and were more in a competitive mindset and then I saw others who were just beginners, but at the end they were all there to have fun and everyone there was friendly and answered questions to new competitors. There weren't any arrogant people there acting like they were the best.
Firearms used by these shooters were anything from a 1911s, Glocks, Berettas, SIGs, etc in 9mm, .40 and .45. They all used range ammo and nothing expensive or fancy reloads. I am not very sure of the exact IDPA rules, but it looked as if the shooters were separated in different handgun classes and if they were using hi-cap magazines or not.
Like I said, this was a smaller course in an indoor range so it is probably a bit less intense than an outdoor course and more setup for the novice or casual competitor and great for beginners.
I'm going to go and participate in my first match there the next time they have one. I first was somewhat intimidated by the thought of being in a competition, but after watching one I will feel quite comfortable going to my first match and for the first time just go through the course slowly and safe, have some fun and not worry about being in first place.
I was questioning if my Glock 23 or Beretta 92 were good enough for IDPA competition and after watching this match, either of them were just fine to use in the match as many competitors were using the same guns.