Accuracy vs. Speed

No, this isn’t a rehash of “speed is fine but accuracy is final.” I think by now everyone realizes that we want as much speed as we can get with as much accuracy as we need. Of course, there are diminishing returns and even some possible detrimental effects to going as fast as possible, but all things being equal (when are they ever?) I’ll take all the speed for $1000 Alex.

That said, should you learn to go fast, and then become accurate, as some people would have you train, or should you learn to be accurate, and then push your speed? The short answer is that both ways can work just fine. On the other hand, I meet way more people who are very fast but can’t hit much on demand, than really accurate people who can’t go faster. Bullseye shooters, a very small group at this point, are the exception.

I was taught to be accurate, and then to increase my speed. This matches every training you have ever experienced growing up. Learn to drive carefully and correctly and fluidity (speed) will come. Learn to write your letters well, and speed will come. Learn to type accurately, and you will get faster. I’m sure you can think of many other examples. The overarching premise is you can’t do something fast if you can’t do it slowly. If you do it too fast to begin with, it will be sloppy or incorrect, or dangerous. Math, reading, ice skating, Olympic Lifting, they all work this way.

Even shooters who advocate for speed first believe this in some areas. Trigger finger discipline. Reholstering. Drawing? Maybe, or at least as it relates to your trigger finger. So what’s the issue? The issue is that my experience shows me that it is easier to learn to go fast and retain the accuracy you have, rather than going fast and hoping your accuracy will catch up. If your only goal is 15 yards and in A zones, then maybe going fast won’t hurt you. If you want to really hit stuff though, like deer vitals at 75 yards with a handgun, you had better work your accuracy, and if you use correct techniques like the pressout, you will also be building your ability to go fast. Just don’t try to skip the accuracy part, or you may be surprised how hard it is to get under control later on.