10 yd
Distance
3
Rounds
4
Reps
12
Total Rounds
The Checkmark Drill learns its name from the movement path: a short lateral shuffle followed by a hard cut into a diagonal sprint, tracing the shape of a checkmark across the range. The drill challenges your ability to change direction explosively while keeping the gun oriented downrange, then decelerate and deliver accurate fire at the end of the sprint. Application runs from competitive stage movement to working from the open toward a second shooting position or cover.
Set two IPSC targets 5 yd (5 m) apart. Place one cone 10 yd (10 m) downrange from the first target — that’s Cone 3. Place two more cones 5 yd (5 m) uprange from Cone 3 and parallel to the targets, 5 yd (5 m) apart — those are Cone 1 and Cone 2. The diagonal from Cone 2 to Cone 3 runs roughly 7 yd (7 m). Begin in low ready at Cone 1, the cone furthest from Target 1. On the signal, shuffle or crossover laterally to Cone 2. You have the option to engage Target 2 with one round here. Immediately cut and sprint diagonally to Cone 3. Drop the hips, chop the feet to decelerate, present, and put two rounds on Target 1.
Score the rep on the quality of the direction change and the accuracy of the final engagement. If the cut from the shuffle into the sprint feels sluggish, shorten and sharpen the transition steps — explosive in and out of the turn. If Target 1 catches scattered hits because you fired before your feet planted, focus on being sooner into the stop rather than faster. Run it from both sides for balanced footwork — left start and right start.
Range Setup
Setup
2 IPSC targets, 5 yd (5 m) apart.
3 cones.
Cone 3: 10 yd (10 m) downrange from Target 1.
Cone 1 and Cone 2: 5 yd (5 m) uprange from Cone 3, parallel to the targets, 5 yd (5 m) apart.
Diagonal from Cone 2 to Cone 3: approximately 7 yd (7 m).
Pistol loaded, in low ready at Cone 1 (furthest from Target 1).
Run the drill from both sides — left start and right start.
Scoring
1 round on T2 (optional, at Cone 2 after the lateral shuffle) + 2 rounds on T1 (after the diagonal sprint and deceleration at Cone 3) = 3 rounds per rep.
All rounds in the scoring zone = clean pass.
Any round outside the scoring zone or any miss = failed rep.
T1 rounds must be fired after the feet settle — shooting through the stop is a fail.
Scoring: Hit Factor (HF) = points ÷ time. USPSA target zones: A = 5, C = 3, D = 1, Miss = −10. Higher HF = better performance.
Tips
Keep your transition steps short and explosive to change direction quickly, then drop the hips and chop the feet to decelerate before breaking the shots on T1.
Progression
Tighten the standard to A-zone only on both targets.
Add a par time once all hits land in the scoring zone consistently.
Increase the sprint distance by pushing Cone 1 and Cone 2 further uprange.
Start from the holster or concealment instead of low ready.
Add a no-shoot beside T1 to force visual discipline after the sprint.
Increase T1 round count to 4 for a longer deceleration engagement.
Swap to rifle at the same distances.