Look Up

Improve target acquisition speed and natural index to shoot sooner.

What is the Look Up Drill?

Getting the sights precisely on target as soon as possible is the constant of practical pistol shooting. Defensive pistol shooters and competitive shooters alike share this goal.

This drill works on improving vision speed and solidifying an instinctive index. Vision speed helps you see where your sights are on target faster so you can shoot sooner. An instinctive index helps send the sights directly to where the eyes look without any hunting for the sights.

Both of these skills are critical to getting shots on target with speed and accuracy.

How to Setup

Drill Setup

  • 1 Target at 7 yards
  • Start position: Gun in hands, pointed down at about a 45 degree angle, with finger on the side of the frame. Head down, eyes looking at the floor underneath the gun so the target is outside of your field of view.
  • 2 shots required
How to Dry Fire

Drill Steps

  1. At the beep, snap the eyes to the center of the target.
  2. Engage the target with two shots.
How to Mod

Drill Modifications

  • Change up your body orientation in relation to the target between reps. This helps develop a good index no matter where the target is.
  • This is a great drill to use a snap cap for the second shot in live fire. The snap caps conserve ammo, get around “no rapid fire” range rules, and provide visual diagnostics on what happens for the second shot.
  • Instead of pulling the trigger, simply prep the trigger. That can further isolate skills down to only eye movement and sights movement.

Video Explanation


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Video demo and explanation of the Look Up drill

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Video demo and explanation of the Look Up drill

Drill Tips

Snap the eyes quickly and directly to a small point on the target. To look generally at the target, look at a small specific spot in the target. Move the eyes quickly as soon as the beep goes off.


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Drill Diagnostics

The key visuals for his drill is whether the eyes snap straight to the target and look at a small finite point. Strive to see the texture on the target, that will help indicate whether you’re looking generally at the target or at a small finite point on the target.


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Drill Author

Travis Tomasie

Travis is a multiple world and national IPSC and USPSA champion, Army Veteran and former member of the US Army Marksmanship Unit. He travels all over the US teaching and competing.

Travis Tomasie’s Website »

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Drill Environment

More Drill Modifications

Modifications to focus on: Conceal Carry

Modifications to focus on: General Modifications

Modifications to focus on: Movement

Modifications to focus on: Push Speed

  • Broaden what is considered “acceptable accuracy” - More info »
  • Decrease the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Increase the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Move targets closer - More info »
  • Put a black dot on the main point of aim on the target - More info »

Modifications to focus on: Tighten Accuracy

Modifications to focus on: Transitions

  • Decrease the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Don’t pull the trigger during transitions - More info »
  • Increase the distance laterally between targets - More info »
  • Transition from outside targets of an array and work inwards - More info »

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