Click Transition
Improve transitions by initiating the transition the moment the last shot on target breaks.
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What is the Click Transition Drill?
A common shooting error is to obtain three sight pictures when engaging a target with two shots. The sequence goes: sight picture, shot, sight picture, shot, sight picture. After that second shot has been fired, the bullet is already in the target, the additional sight picture is not needed. Any time spent staring down the sights on a completed target prevents you from transitioning to the next target.
So when we know we want to transition to the next target, it is important to transition the gun as soon as the last shot breaks. The Click Transition drill works on exactly that.
This skill isolation drill focuses completely on transitioning the gun as soon as the shot breaks.
Mastering this component of transitions makes a huge difference in overall transition speed.
This drill is VERY similar to the Follow the Eyes drill as well as the Lead with the Eyes drill All three drills are great to run in conjunction with each other, starting with Follow the Eyes, then Lead with the Eyes, then Click Transition.
Drill Setup
- 2 Targets at 7 yards with 5 yards between them
- Start position: Gun on target with finger just touching the trigger, but not pulling it
- 6 shots required, 3 per set
Drill Steps
- At the beep, pull the trigger on target
- As soon as the trigger breaks, transition the eyes to the next target
- Follow the eyes with the gun and engage with two shots
- Reset for the next string, point the gun at the target that was just engaged with two shots
- At the beep, pull the trigger on target
- As soon as the trigger breaks, transition the eyes to the next target
- Follow the eyes with the gun and engage with two shots
Drill Modifications
- To increase difficulty, borrow from the Trigger Control at Speed drill and start with the trigger on the side of the frame.
- Don’t transition the gun, just the head/eyes. When the gun goes click, transition the eyes and head to the next target while the gun stays still.
- Widen the lateral distance between targets.
- Move the targets farther from each other to work on precision of the transition.
- Move the targets closer together to work on the speed of the transition.
- Move the target far enough away so you can’t see it when you’re looking at the first target to improve vision speed and target acquisition.
Video Explanation
Drill Tips
An extremely easy way to accomplish transitions sooner is to transition as soon as the gun goes off. In live fire, that means while the gun is lifting in recoil, the eyes are moving to the next target, which pulls the gun after it. The key is to transition the eyes a fraction of a second after the gun goes off, not before the gun goes off. If the eyes transition to the next target too early, then you don’t see where the sights are on target when the shot is fired. If you transition the eyes too late, you’re spending time looking after a target after it has already been engaged. Transition the eyes the split second the trigger falls.
In dry fire, this means your eyes transition to the next target as soon as the gun goes “click.”
You should know how much the sights wobble (or don’t wobble) when the hammer or striker falls, but your eyes should be moving ahead before the wobbling stops.
In dry fire with non double action guns, the trigger doesn’t need to reciprocate for us to get valuable dry fire practice in. However with this drill, the feedback from the trigger clicking is important. Reset the trigger between each rep. We want to feel the trigger breaking the shot for each drill and hear the gun go click.
Drill Diagnostics
This is an extremely visually driven drill. It is incredibly important to pay attention to what you see, particularly at the moment the trigger is pulled. The better your eyes process what’s going on, the easier it is to call the shot and determine whether you’re transitioning too quick, or too slow.
Pay super close attention to the timing of the eyes and the click. Don’t move the eyes before the gun goes click and don’t keep staring at the target after the gun goes click. It is critical to see where the sights are on target the moment the trigger breaks.
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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 »