Accelerator
Maintain visual patience engaging multiple targets at varying distances.
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What is the Accelerator Drill?
It is important to not only be able to transition quickly, but to maintain visual patience and treat each target individually. A 7 yard target is engaged differently than a 25 yard target.
Many shooters will engage a mixed distance array with a predetermined cadence, shooting them all about the same. That’s a horrible strategy as it will generate overly slow shooting or overly fast shooting – all around an incorrect way to engage a mixed array of targets.
Accelerator is all about engaging each target with the proper visual patience that it needs.
Clearing the target array in live fire at about six seconds is a good time. All As within six seconds is really good, and within five times is really good.
Originally designed as live fire drill, Accelerator can be a valuable dry fire drill as well.
Drill Setup
- 3 targets, the first at 7 yards, the second at 15 yards, the third at 25 yards, with one yard between targets.
- Start position: gun loaded and holstered, wrists below belt.
- 24 rounds required, 12 per string.
Putting a full size target, a half size target, and a one third size target at 7 yards isn’t the exact “correct” distances for the drill, but it can be a viable modification if there isn’t a full 25 yards available for the drill.
Drill Steps
- At the beep, draw and engage the close target, the middle target, and the far target.
- Reload.
- Engage the close target, the middle target, and the far target.
- Reset for the next string.
- At the beep, draw and engage the far target, the middle target, and the close target.
- Reload.
- Engage the far target, the middle target, and the close target.
Drill Modifications
- Run far to near and near to far in the same string.
- Increase the distance between targets. Some people push the par target all the way out to 50 yards!
- Increase the distance laterally between targets.
- Use partial targets – targets that give you trouble in competition are perfect for using in this drill.
Drill Tips
Don’t stick to your preferred direction because you’re good at it. That holds true for all handgun training for that matter. Be sure to run the Accelerator drill both directions – far to near and near to far. We can’t always pick a preferred target array engagement order, so we need to be able to handle any direction.
Give each individual target the respect it deserves. Maintain proper visual patience and confirm sights on target. The splits between each three targets should be different, because they’re at drastically different distances.
Drill Diagnostics
Ideally, the far to near and the near to far strings should have about the same time. 6 seconds is an ideal live fire goal time for Accelerator. Dry fire par times should be even shorter.
Watch out for drifting hits on the transitions. It’s common for shooters to get hits on the outer edge of the targets because they begin transitioning off the target before the last shot is fired or take the shot too early while transitioning into the target.
Drill Author
Ben Stoeger
Ben Stoeger is an IPSC World Champion and multiple time USPSA National Champion. He travels all over the United States and the world shooting matches and teaching classes
Accelerator Drill on Ben Stoeger’s website.
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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 »