Advanced
Pistol
Progressive Transition
Source: Common dry-fire training standard
3s
Par Time
5 yd
Distance
10
Reps
Progressive Transition is a diagnostic exercise that finds your personal transition speed limit. You start with three targets pressed edge-to-edge against each other. You set a par time for engaging them in sequence, then run the drill — and after every few reps, you move the outside two targets a little further apart from the center, without changing the par. You continue widening until you can no longer hit the par cleanly.
The point of the drill is not to set a record. It is to surface where your eyes outpace your gun, or vice versa. When you fail the par, the failure is information — either your gun is over-driving past the target (too much muscle in the transition), or your gun is dragging behind your eyes (too tight in the shoulders, or not committed). Identify which failure mode is yours and work on it specifically.
Be cautious. This drill, by design, pushes you to the breaking point — which is where bad habits get reinforced if you are not paying attention. The moment you stop calling honest sight pictures and start chasing the par at the expense of technique, stop the drill. Either reset the targets closer or end the session. The cost of a session of bad habits is higher than the cost of one session of slower work.
Range Setup
Setup
Three targets pressed edge-to-edge against each other on the wall at 5 yards. Pistol confirmed unloaded, low-ready. Shot timer with a par calibrated to your current transition speed. Be ready to physically move the outer targets between reps.
Scoring
At the par beep, all three targets must have a sight picture in sequence. Once you fail the par twice in a row at a given spacing, that is your current limit. Note the spacing and finish the rep set.
Tips
Stop when honest sight pictures stop. Pushing past that builds the habit of fake sight pictures, which is the worst possible outcome.
Progression
Track the maximum spacing at which you can hit your par. Over weeks, that distance should grow. If it does not, the limit is technical, not physical — work the underlying transition mechanics.