Training Tip Tuesday: Speed Modulation in Training

If you’re a frequent reader here, you may remember us mentioning something like “be careful of what you enshrine in training… it becomes skill” or “what is the teach?’” Both of these refer to one of the pitfalls of repetition. Whatever it is we are doing, is what we will “record” as skill. If that thing is bad, well congratulations, you’ve become very good at doing it badly.

Think of repetition as slow setting epoxy: once you have everything in place and know that it won’t move, only then should we apply it (the epoxy), right?  

So, why do most of us apply the “glue” while we are still getting the parts in order?

In terms of training, the “parts” are the movements or micro tasks that have to be pulled together in some form of concert to deliver our expected outcome. We frequently use the draw stroke as a good example of this. Consider the number of movements (tasks) that have to come together to make this simple thing happen. We don’t need to count them, we can probably all agree there are more than a few.

As we have written here before, we must collect these tasks, put them in order, and then search for the efficiencies and inefficiencies. We call this “creating your process” and we do it before (broadly) exposing the desired skill to repetition. We want it to be perfect before we break out the epoxy.

So, let’s talk about during repetition. We’ve seen more than a few trains come off the rails during this stage. More often than not, the shooter was going faster than their ability to keep the process together before the glue “set.” It’s an easy mistake to make. The first control we feel can be intoxicating.

As instructors, what we do when this happens, is slow everyone down. We’ll tell the line to do the next drill at 50% speed – and mean it. It’s instantly apparent who “owns” their process and who doesn’t. Shooters that have practiced the wrong thing quickly… look like they are in the middle of a creative process when they slow things down (because they are). Shooters that know what they are doing look exceedingly smooth when they slow further because they (literally) know what they are doing.

Don’t wait for an instructor to do this for you. While you are training, whittle your process down to what’s most efficient, then program places in the session where you slow yourself down. Do it methodically and thoughtfully.

It will remind you of what you are doing and how you are doing it. Speed has a way of rounding corners to its end, which may or may not serve your goal. You’ll see these things when you purposefully cut your speed by half or more.

We also do this when something goes awry in the process. Slow down so that you can identify the problem. If you don’t, you are expecting the mechanics to diagnose the problem as the racecar passes the pits at speed (without telemetry).

So, as you are building the skill that you’ve decided on, watch for opportunities to cut your speed by a specific amount. Have the discipline to make yourself do it. Whatever it is that you are doing shouldn’t look or feel appreciably different than what you are doing “at speed.” What you’ll gain is a great deal more control of your process and some insight into where it may be breaking down.

As always, Train smart. We’re with you.

Author Bio

Duane “Buck” Buckner

After spending 25 years in the USCG, Duane “Buck” Buckner is now the U.S. Director of Training for Aimpoint. The Aimpoint Training Division conducts training courses for military and law enforcement agencies up to the Federal level as well as for the prepared civilian. Buck is widely known for his emphasis on brain psychology as it relates to combat and survival.

EXPLORE BUCK'S GEAR