Physical/Arm Strength for Shooting?

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BigMike

New member
How do you train to develop arm strength to become better at shooting? For me, it is PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE, pushups, and grip master, and squishing a tennis ball. If I am doing anything someone feels is wrong, or could be doing better, lemme know.

Mike
 
Join your local IPSC/USPSA shooting club, and observe how the winners shoot.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
How much arm strength do you need? There are master class shooters in junior high school. I even know a 14 year old girl who shoots Limited with a single stack 1911 and she is in the B class.
 
Another form of physical conditioning that might improve your shooting is regular cardiovascular exercise (jogging, biking, cross country skiing, etc.). The more oxygenated blood your body can deliver to the eyes and brain, the better you'll be able to see and concentrate on the sights.

How much arm strength you need depends upon what you're shooting, how you're holding it and how long you hold it. If you want to shoot Free Pistol with a 14" T/C Encore, you'd better be strong. ;)
 
No need for any special arm physical strength to shoot pistols. Good nerve system is #1, "shaking hands" factor is real bad for accuracy... The only general purpose physical training that helps to hold pistol steady is holding the pistol (or similar weight) in extended arm as long as you can...Kind of old fashion method, but it works. But, for very fast shooting, some other training is needed, and practice, of course...
 
I dryfire S&W revolvers every other day -- J, K and N frames, 90 repetitions each with each hand, allowing a minute for each series. Different muscles involved with each model. Do it for several months, and you'll be surprised at the muscle development in your forearms and hands. Good for the guns, too.
 
Squeezing a tennis ball or other such techniques to increase grip strength, for most folks, isn't necessary although it will give you nice looking forarms. Strength to lift the gun will come largely from your shoulders. Exercises for your anterior deltoids will help with that.

Strength is generally not as big an issue as endurance. i.e. you get tired. Just shooting alot will help take care of that. A general fitness program with resistance (weight training)and cardiac components should help. Relaxation techniques, especially visualization techniques, will certainly help with learning and game performance. Think of shooting as a sport.
 
Many months back I asked a similar question and got similar answers. Lifting weights helped, but with age steadiness has become an issue with me since I tend to shake a bit. The biggest factor seems to be mental, though. Concentration and not getting psyched out.

Dick
Want to send a message to Bush? Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/monk/petition.html and forward the link to every gun owner you know.
 
Shoulder raises, front and lateral. Start out light, 10-15 lbs with high reps and work up to 30 lbs. Then practice holding 20,30,40 lb weights for an extended period of time.

Trunk stability training is also an asset considering your lower back absorbs most of the recoil and is responsible for most "shooting fatigue". Do dumbell raises, Good Mornings, and reverse situps on a decline bench or parallel bars.


P.S., I should get paid for this... Maybe write a new book, "Strength training for competive Shooters, Golfers, and Bowlers". ;)
 
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