Best way to get someone to try IDPA

Kermit · December 12, 2002, 12:22 AM

I have 2 regular shooting buddies who have told me they would want to try IDPA. PRoblem is, they feel like they're not good enough to compete. I keep telling them it's all about having fun & hanging out for a few hours...still no go.
What is the best way to convince to take that step & check it out?

Navy joe · December 12, 2002, 04:08 AM

Have them come out and just watch a match. Invariably two things will happen.

1. The urge to actually shoot will be overpowering.

2. They will stand together behind the line and snicker at some of the retarded stuff a few of the shooters are sure to do. They will instantly proclaim "Hell, I can shoot better than that." All the better if the club has a couple of 85+ old-timers out shooting. BTW I think we owe the old guys that come out the utmost in respect, I know a few that shoot IPSC, it's a pleasure to RO them no matter how slow because I hope to be able to get out and shoot when I'm that old.

WESHOOT2 · December 12, 2002, 05:15 AM

I haven't been good enough for seven or eight years.

www.gmps.ws
FY33102
DVC

IDPA: just shot one so far, will be back for more (still won my class. Lucky, huh?)

Remind them they'll never be good enough if they don't start now.......................

kbear38S · December 12, 2002, 08:45 AM

Show the actual CDC data PROVING that shooting IPSC will get you killed in a real gunfight as is so frequently claimed by some gun writers and individuals with a vested interesed in the success of IDPA.

braindead0 · December 12, 2002, 12:13 PM

I setup mini IDPA scenarios at the range, and run friends through it..

Kermit · December 12, 2002, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the hints.

John Forsyth · December 12, 2002, 06:11 PM

Good question. One of my good friends here at the office and I shoot IDPA on a regular basis. We have several that have said they wanted to come out and shoot but never do. I wished I had a dime for every time I have heard "I need to practice some more before I shoot with your club." Who cares about the shooting, there are a lot of great people to meet at these matches. Some of the best people I know, I have met shooting competitively.

I'd probably like kbear38s if I ever met him. Most likely I would have to give him a procedural on general principal though.

Kermit · December 12, 2002, 08:32 PM

I keep asking them why they never join me and usually get the regular excuses. THen I ask, "You think you're gonna win?" That's the question that got me to compete...it just hasn't gotten them over the edge.

Jim Watson · December 12, 2002, 08:42 PM

When somebody says "I'd like to compete, but I'm not good enough." I really want to ask "Well, what are you doing to get ready?" But I figure that will just alienate them. Fear of embarassment is a powerful motive. People have died for it.

Gunner45 · December 13, 2002, 02:11 AM

Our local club runs Fun Shoots twice a month. IDPA COFs and scoring, but you can use any gun that can be safely drawn from a holster. We have people show up Ruger MKIIs and have a blast. Very low key, but still a ton of fun. Sort of a half match, usualy thee stages.

Gunner45

another okie · December 13, 2002, 01:16 PM

Make a VCR of you shooting a match and show it to them.

braindead0 · December 13, 2002, 01:44 PM

Or download my Blue Danube Shoot Not strictly IDPA, but it gets the idea across ;-)..

If they don't die laughing, they may think it looks like fun....

OTOH: perhaps the doll head might scare them though, never mind.

Trisha · December 17, 2002, 01:02 PM

To get friends interested?

I have them go through current public records of their state (the ones who do post) for crime statistics! Their eyes are opened when they read the cold numbers - and realize "they haven't been getting all their news from the evening news/newspapers!"

Too, IDPA shuns raceguns/spaceguns, so popular in IPSC. I love the blind stages that are ocasionally designed by survivors of out-and-out ****storms!

I don't compete for score in IDPA - I shoot a match to learn and practice, building the reflexes. Being it's broken down into skill levels, I enjoy working with the earnest amatuers far more than the steely-eyed competetors...

December 12, 2002, 12:22 AM	#1
Kermit Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2001 Location: California Posts: 3,020	Best way to get someone to try IDPA I have 2 regular shooting buddies who have told me they would want to try IDPA. PRoblem is, they feel like they're not good enough to compete. I keep telling them it's all about having fun & hanging out for a few hours...still no go. What is the best way to convince to take that step & check it out?

December 12, 2002, 04:08 AM	#2
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	Have them come out and just watch a match. Invariably two things will happen. 1. The urge to actually shoot will be overpowering. 2. They will stand together behind the line and snicker at some of the retarded stuff a few of the shooters are sure to do. They will instantly proclaim "Hell, I can shoot better than that." All the better if the club has a couple of 85+ old-timers out shooting. BTW I think we owe the old guys that come out the utmost in respect, I know a few that shoot IPSC, it's a pleasure to RO them no matter how slow because I hope to be able to get out and shoot when I'm that old. __________________ FY47012

December 12, 2002, 05:15 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	JUST ME I haven't been good enough for seven or eight years. www.gmps.ws FY33102 DVC IDPA: just shot one so far, will be back for more (still won my class. Lucky, huh?) Remind them they'll never be good enough if they don't start now....................... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 12, 2002, 12:13 PM	#5
braindead0 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Canton, Oh Posts: 896	I setup mini IDPA scenarios at the range, and run friends through it.. __________________ DoD# 2223 Meum scapha volitare plenum anguillae

December 12, 2002, 06:11 PM	#7
John Forsyth Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 378	Good question. One of my good friends here at the office and I shoot IDPA on a regular basis. We have several that have said they wanted to come out and shoot but never do. I wished I had a dime for every time I have heard "I need to practice some more before I shoot with your club." Who cares about the shooting, there are a lot of great people to meet at these matches. Some of the best people I know, I have met shooting competitively. I'd probably like kbear38s if I ever met him. Most likely I would have to give him a procedural on general principal though. __________________ John

December 12, 2002, 08:45 AM	#4
kbear38S Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2000 Posts: 154	Show the actual CDC data PROVING that shooting IPSC will get you killed in a real gunfight as is so frequently claimed by some gun writers and individuals with a vested interesed in the success of IDPA.

December 12, 2002, 03:42 PM	#6
Kermit Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2001 Location: California Posts: 3,020	Thanks for the hints.

December 12, 2002, 08:32 PM	#8
Kermit Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2001 Location: California Posts: 3,020	I keep asking them why they never join me and usually get the regular excuses. THen I ask, "You think you're gonna win?" That's the question that got me to compete...it just hasn't gotten them over the edge.

December 12, 2002, 08:42 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	When somebody says "I'd like to compete, but I'm not good enough." I really want to ask "Well, what are you doing to get ready?" But I figure that will just alienate them. Fear of embarassment is a powerful motive. People have died for it.

December 13, 2002, 02:11 AM	#10
Gunner45 Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: Orem, Ut Posts: 118	Our local club runs Fun Shoots twice a month. IDPA COFs and scoring, but you can use any gun that can be safely drawn from a holster. We have people show up Ruger MKIIs and have a blast. Very low key, but still a ton of fun. Sort of a half match, usualy thee stages. Gunner45

December 13, 2002, 01:16 PM	#11
another okie Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2001 Posts: 273	Make a VCR of you shooting a match and show it to them.

December 13, 2002, 01:44 PM	#12
braindead0 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Canton, Oh Posts: 896	Or download my Blue Danube Shoot Not strictly IDPA, but it gets the idea across ;-).. If they don't die laughing, they may think it looks like fun.... OTOH: perhaps the doll head might scare them though, never mind. __________________ DoD# 2223 Meum scapha volitare plenum anguillae

December 17, 2002, 01:02 PM	#13
Trisha Member Join Date: December 6, 2002 Location: Rocky Mountains, Colorado Posts: 34	To get friends interested? I have them go through current public records of their state (the ones who do post) for crime statistics! Their eyes are opened when they read the cold numbers - and realize "they haven't been getting all their news from the evening news/newspapers!" Too, IDPA shuns raceguns/spaceguns, so popular in IPSC. I love the blind stages that are ocasionally designed by survivors of out-and-out ****storms! I don't compete for score in IDPA - I shoot a match to learn and practice, building the reflexes. Being it's broken down into skill levels, I enjoy working with the earnest amatuers far more than the steely-eyed competetors... __________________ . . . and cello sonatas fill the air. . . "The blessing lies not in living, merely, but in living well!"