Log Book Entries

Hello Folks,

What data do you record in your log book?

Thanks, Tom

I record each of my shots in order, on a 50 and 25 yard simulated target data sheet.
Total score per yard line. Weapon and ammo type.
Compare day to day to see what I’m performing best with.

Number of rounds fired, malfunctions if any, and date of spring change.

Dates, times, vehicle inspection notes, mileage, tag numbers, load manifest.

Date, time, Departure airport, Landing Airport, Aircraft Type Make Model, number of hours flown, instrument time/approaches (if flown), general comments. 

When I shoot bullseye it’s place, score and remarks.

I keep a small notebook in my range bag and occasionally write in it. Maybe it's a "journal", rather than a log book? After a particularly good target or session, I'll write down details about my technique that was successful. For example, "2019-10-30, CZ, focus grip pressure front-to-back only, with no side pressure; 3 consecutive slow-fire targets above 90"; or "2021-09-22, AP60 with Morini, trigger press is a huge part of it. Aim for a continuous pull, always increasing pressure after initial sight alignment. 5 targets in mid-90s".

I'll revisit these notes on occasion (before a match?), to remind myself of various elements of my shot process, and that I am capable of shooting high scores.

The rabbit hole of “what data to record” is a deep one. What I can say about data recording is it’s not how much you record, it’s about how you use the data you recorded. What information is most important? That’s going to be up to you and what you’re trying to track and understand. 

Personally, I record how many rounds fired wether it’s practice or match. I have to. Ammunition has to be accounted for, and it helps the gunsmiths track what usage the gun has seen. I also record my score from matches. I snap pictures of the score cards and copy them into a champions choice book for my own records so I can look back and see what my season’s performances have looked like. I make note of what place I came in, the date, the range location, firing point, and which relay. During practice - rather after practice - I’ll make a journal entry talking about what I worked on, what I learned, what I saw, what I felt in the shot, and any questions I might have or answers I’ve learned to past questions. 

I try to keep a running note or notes about sight adjustments in lighting conditions, and how I have to adjust my sights at different ranges I’ve shot at. But all that isn’t on my mind during the shot. This is just data recorded mostly after shooting. Very few notations are made while shooting. 

But again it’s all about how you use this data. It should aid you in what decisions you make on how and what to train, and help you prepare for the next shooting session wether it’s a match or practice.

I would suggest that there be more emphasis on writing down your shot process, then goal(s) for each session / match, focus point for each training exercise / string.  Then record your feelings of how well you met your shot process (consistency), ability to maintain focus on the focus point for each exercise, then the overview of the performance for the foregoing after the session / match.  

For matches / training matches, set your goal(s) for things like adherence to shot process, consistency of focus, time to shot break, etc. Not goals like points, scores or averages (you can do that later); but track how well you stuck to your process, what distracted you, what got you back on track, etc.  Scores / conditions are last and only serve as guideposts or parameters to capture what was going on during the match (hot, sunny,  high wind, rain, etc.) so you can later reflect on what you need to be prepared for in the future.

For me the log is not as much about scores or averages or how many 8's or 9's were shot, but about how well the shot process was followed, what worked well and especially how many 10's and X's were shot and what was done when those happened.  (Don't track what you don't want to do. - Which is probably the most negative thing I've ever written in my journal.  But I did put it in early on as something paraphrased from Ed Hall.)

Anyway, the thing is that the log, journal or whatever should be a guide to getting better, tracking what works, what needs improvement and the process of trying things to improve.  No one ever got better doing the same thing over and over unless they were already doing exactly what needed to be done.  And I don't think may people start at that point.

CR
HM, DP#1232, DR#9, D22#76, P100X14, MayleighX2
Orton, Wyman, Oglethorpe, Elihu Root, & Gold Cup 

Not really one to journal, and if I did I probably wouldn't go back to read it. I typically record three different categories Equipment, General performance, and match scores.

Equipment is fairly self explanatory, I keep track of round counts and when maintenance and cleaning is preformed. This is probably the simplest most straight foreword aspect to keep track of and helps assure my equipment is 100% for a match. 

General Performance and scores are a bit more difficult to apply. A downside of recording scores, if you are shooting a match in pristine perfect conditions it does not as easily compare to a match shot in poor conditions. From a development standpoint the score at the end of a match doesn't tell you what you did well and what you need to work on.

For a general performance perspective I note things that I notice throughout the shooting session/match in which I have deviated from my shot process. For example, grip, if I determined I had a grip issue, I note something along the lines of "work on proper grip".  I try keep the notes brief and positive. I then apply these brief notes to my preparation for the next match and strive for incremental improvement.

Thank you for the thoughtful, helpful responses.