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What is the 4×4 Drill?
Throttle control is a valuable skill as it forces you to shoot your sights instead of shooting a pre-determined cadence. The 4×4 Drill switches from a large available area down to a smaller target, and then reverses after the reload. Don’t rely on what you think the speed of the follow up shots should be, instead shoot as fast as your sights get lined up on target.
This drill was designed to simulate distance change ups on a single lane firing line using one USPSA target, but any torso style target can be substituted. If you are at a range that doesn’t allow multiple targets or movement, this is a great drill to run.
Drill Setup
- 1 Target at 4 yards
- Start position: loaded and holstered, wrists below belt
- 8 shots required
This drill was designed with a USPSA target in mind, but any similar torso shape target, like an IDPA target, would be an acceptable alternative.
Drill Steps
- At the beep draw and engage the target torso with two shots.
- Transition to the headbox and engage with two shots.
- Reload.
- Engage the headbox with two shots.
- Transition to the torso and engage with two shots.
Drill Modifications
- Borrow from the Bar Hop drill and step over a stick on the draw and step back again on the reload.
- If you’re at an indoor range that doesn’t allow drawing from a holster, start from the low ready.
- To save ammo in live fire, put a dummy round at the top of the magazine you’re reloading to.
Drill Tips
The key to shooting this drill is to “shoot your sights.” In dry fire, pull the trigger as fast as you see your sights on target. In live fire, pull the trigger as fast as you can see your sights on target. This means your trigger speed will vary based on the target.
Drill Diagnostics
This drill involves two different target difficulties – the splits on the body vs the headbox will be different. The key is to shoot as fast as you can see your sights on target – for live fire or dry fire. Don’t try and shoot a pre-determined cadence. As long as you see your sights in the acceptable area of accuracy, pull the trigger. In dry fire, this means you’ll be pulling the faster than you would in live fire, particularly on the headbox, and that’s fine. Just shoot your sights.
Drill Author
Brian Purkiss
Brian Purkiss is a USPSA Carry Optics Grandmaster and the founder of Locked Back Training.
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Drill Environment
More Drill Modifications
Modifications to focus on: Conceal Carry
- Add walls to lean around - More info »
- Move through a door - More info »
- Start drills with something in your hand - More info »
- Start from a seated position - More info »
- Turn the lights out and use a flashlight - More info »
- Use a variety of your daily wear clothing - More info »
