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What is the Lead with the Eyes Drill?
Arguably the most important step in fast transitions is to move the eyes to the next target as fast and as precise as possible. Where the eyes go, the gun will follow.
This drill is very useful for boosting vision speed and accuracy, which in turn boosts transition speed and accuracy.
At it’s basic level, the Lead the Eyes drill simply involves moving the eyes to the next target as soon as the final shot on target breaks.
This drill is VERY similar to the Follow the Eyes drill as well as the Click Transition 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, 5 yards between them.
- Start position: Sights on the right target, finger touching the trigger, but not pulling the trigger back.
- 0 Shots required
Drill Steps
- At the beep, snap your eyes to the next target. As the eyes move to the next target, transition the gun to the next target.
- As the gun is transitioning, prep the trigger before the sights arrive at the next target.
- End with your sights perfectly aligned on the next target with the trigger prepped, but not fired.
- Reset for the second string. Keep the gun on the left target.
- At the beep, snap your eyes to the next target. As the eyes move to the next target, transition the gun to the next target.
- As the gun is transitioning, prep the trigger before the sights arrive at the next target.
- End with your sights perfectly aligned on the next target with the trigger prepped, but not fired.
Drill Modifications
- Don’t transition the gun. Break the shot and immediately move the eyes to the next target.
- Set the targets further apart, so the targets are just on the edge of your peripheral vision. This forces the head to turn, helping improve very wide transitions.
- Set the targets directly to your right and your left, “along the 180,” forcing you to practically turn around to engage the other target.
- Take two shots on the first target before transitioning. Many shooters don’t know where their second shots go – especially when they transition off target. It’s important to know where both shots went. Using a snap cap on the second shot can help conserve ammo and aid you in training the eyes to see where the second shot went.
- Put the second target behind a vision barrier that requires you to take a step to see around.
Video Explanation
Drill Tips
An excellent progression of this drill is to run it several times prepping the trigger. Then to run it several times by engaging the second target with two shots instead of prepping the trigger.
It is very important to run this drill in both directions. Don’t be lazy and only run it in one direction because you’re good at that transition direction. Many shooters will put in lots of reps transitioning in their preferred transition direction, like from left to right. We don’t want to be one trick ponies, we want to be well rounded shooters. Well rounded shooters can transition from left to right and right to left at the same speed.
Drill Diagnostics
The eyes should move straight to the aiming point on the next target. You shouldn’t look generally at the target, you should look at a small fixed point on the target. Your eyes shouldn’t be moving around looking for the target – they should move straight to the target, fixate on the target, and stay looking only at the target until the sights show up on the target.
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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 »