As we continue to prep for our next pistol match, we’re talking to Team Beretta’s Jessica Hook to find out her top three tips for competition shooting. Jessica is a 2-time USPSA PCC National Championship medalist and a 3-time Bay Area Rifle Championship Ladies Champion that is certified as a Master Class Shooter and NRA Pistol Instructor.

Jessica Hook has been competing in action shooting sports for eight years and is a ladies’ champion in various 3Gun, PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine), and Rifle/Carbine competitions. As a talented competitor, she has amassed numerous podium honors during her career, including a ladies’ second-place podium honor at the 2019 USPSA National Championship - PCC Division. Keep reading to find out Jessica’s tips whether it is your first or 100th pistol competition.

Tip Number One: Measure Dry Fire

Use a shot timer in your dry fire sessions. Give yourself a delayed start beep and a par-time to complete an action. For example, a static draw to the first shot (dry trigger pull). Track your personal records so you know where you are currently and from there you can create realistic progressive goals for yourself using your 92X RDO Full Size.

Tip Number Two: Review The Match Book Stage Briefs

When going to a major match, always check the matchbook for the start position and any other novel instructions on each stage. In dry fire, we rarely practice things like starting seated in a chair with hands-on knees or reloading all magazines from a table. Practicing the novel things before its game day can create body-to-gear awareness that could prevent consequences, like your posterior magazine catching onto the back of a folding chair or having your magazines angled in an unfavorable position on a table.

Tip Number Three: Stage Rehearsal Repetition

Once you’re on the stage and have created your stage plan, rehearse it in your mind over and over until you can close your eyes and perform it “blindfolded.” Don't forget your safety gear before you hit the stage. One of the biggest mistakes new shooters make is to think that they’ll remember what they were going to do once they get there and see it again. That magic buzzer has a way of erasing your memory and turning the stage into a labyrinth. So burn your stage plan deeper into your psyche where stress can’t reach it through rehearsal repetition.

As a new or experienced shooter, prepping for your first match doesn’t have to be intimidating with the pre-match preparation. Also, Beretta makes it easy for competition shooters of all experience levels to feel they are prepared for their first match of a new season with their eco-system of dynamic shooting gear that allows for comfort while you push yourself to the next level on and off the competition stage.