David let out an exasperated sigh as he peeled off his eye and ear protection.
We had just wrapped up another long training session at the private range we were using, and he was really trying to improve the speed of his follow-up shots while maintaining his shooting accuracy.
He was talking with some Navy SEAL “shooting buddies” of mine and I heard him complaining…
“I don’t understand it.” David complained, replaying his last grouping in his mind. “I shot way better by the end of last week but it’s like I’m starting from scratch, all over again. Why can’t I get better?”
Of course there’s always the usual advice, “You just need to train more.”
But the truth is, it’s not always about training “more” or “harder” – and that’s when I stepped in to share with him…
The Weird 60-Second “Brain Drill” I Do Before Every Gun-Training Session To See Instant Improvements Every Time…
Ok, this is going to sound a little weird to you at first…
But hang with me because there’s actually some pretty simple science to back this up…
What David didn’t realize was that his problem wasn’t necessarily in his “technique”, but rather that it was in how he was setting up his training sessions to begin with.
You see, “learning” a new skill (ANY skill) requires the brain to be activated in certain ways – and in certain areas – that helps you store this new information in a way that you don’t have to “think” about using them later on.
This is why I began using “brain-based training techniques” in all of my instruction and learning, in what I now term, “Neuro-Tactical Programming”.
There are a lot of factors that can be used to synergistically fuse together the neural wiring in your brain to learn faster and literally “program” new skills into your brain, like a computer.
One of those methods uses a secret that’s thousands of years old and is starting to take the firearms training industry by storm as more and more shooters find out about it…
… and it only takes 60 short seconds before you begin your training to see instant benefits from it!
The secret? Baoding balls.
Here’s The “No B.S.” Science Behind How This Ancient Tool Can Help You Learn Any Shooting Skill Faster Than Ever Before…
If you haven’t seen baoding balls before, they’re small metal (or gemstone) balls about the size of a golf ball that have been used in China for over 2,000 years for amazing health benefits simply by manipulating them in various ways in your hands.
But that’s not all they’re good for…
You see, when you roll or rotate one or two balls in your hands, you’re actually stimulating nerve endings in the hands that connect to specific areas of your brain.
As you repeatedly manipulate the balls, blood flow increases to those neural pathways, “priming” different areas of your brain for receiving and retaining new information.
For example…
When manipulating a baoding ball (or balls) in your left hand, the right side of your brain that’s associated with creativity, visualization, and imagination becomes activated.
Studies show that when you engage this area of the brain before training, you can envision yourself perfectly executing techniques.
This mental rehearsal translates into faster real-world improvements.
Likewise, using baoding balls with your right hand stimulates your left-brain which controls logic, analytics, and language processing – all key elements for following verbal shooting instructions and analyzing your stance, grip and sight picture.
In fact, I and other shooters have personally found that just manipulating baoding balls for 60 seconds (30-seconds in each hand) right before I begin my training session, my brain and my body are in a heightened state of awareness that maximizes our time spent at the range (or at home when doing “dry-fire” training).
In other words, an “activated” brain (in both left-and right-hemispheres) is more alert… thinks clearer… makes faster decisions… responds quicker to outside stimuli, and processes, stores, and retains new skills long after your trip to the range!
Here’s How To Use These “Brain-Based” Little Wonders With Your Own Training…
Using baoding balls to compliment your training is simple:
- Sit or stand upright in a calm, focused position. Breathe deeply.
- Place a ball (or preferably, two balls) first in your left hand and slowly rotate using gentle, smooth motions of your fingers and wrist (Tip: Go slowly. The quality of the motions is key here!). This will activate your “right brain” and you should visualize yourself performing the skill you want to master perfectly in every way.
(Bonus Tip: To include other elements of our “Neuro-Tactical Programming” training model, visualize yourself in a realistic attack – as vividly as possible – where you would “need” the skill you’re trying to learn. For example, maybe you’re practicing “low-light shooting skills” and it’s using your flashlight against an ambush attack in a dark parking lot you’re prepping for.)
- After 30-60 seconds, switch to manipulating them in your right hand. This will activate your “left brain” and build off of your visualization, priming the part of your brain that’s ready for you to teach it the physical act of each technique you’re training for.
- All you need is just this one- or two-minute “prep session” right before your dry-fire or live range practice.
- As you get more proficient, try different rhythmic patterns to push your brain to develop even stronger neural connections with your training.
The bottom line here is that the more sensory feedback you give your brain, the faster it will absorb new shooting skills.
Not only that, but the increased neural activity and blood circulation they generate enhances your mind’s and body’s ability to…
…execute intricate hand-eye coordination…
… track moving targets…
… and make the micro-adjustments required for firearms mastery!
But don’t just take my word for it.
I get comments all the time from real users about the shooting improvements they’ve experienced thanks to adding baoding balls to their training.
Why not put these claims to the test yourself?
Commit to rolling baoding balls for just 60-seconds or so before your next training sessions and I guarantee you’ll notice improvements in your draw speed, accuracy, target tracking, and more!
Pretty cool. I’ll have to try that.