A simple way to overcome the 25-yard line anxiety

If your accuracy beyond the 15-yard line is not where it needs to be, spend some time getting those skills up to a higher standard

October 19, 2021 04:37 PM •

Many officers feel overwhelmed at 25 yards even when their mandatory qualification includes it. Maybe the reason they feel overwhelmed at this distance is that they receive so little training there.

A simple way to overcome the 25-yard line anxiety is to use a steel target silhouette and work a simple step drill back to 50 yards or more.

Make three hits on target, then take a large step back.

Make three more hits on target, then take another large step back.

Repeat until you get back to 50 yards or more.

Next, go back to the 25-yard line and shoot. Suddenly, the 25-yard line looks much closer and getting accurate hits is much easier.

Click here to read more about why training at distance still matters, part of an ongoing series for Police1 registered members.

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Todd Fletcher

Todd Fletcher is the owner and lead instructor for Combative Firearms Training, LLC providing training for law enforcement firearms instructors from coast to coast. He has over 25 years of training experience as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. He retired after more than 25 years as a full-time police officer and over 31 years of law enforcement experience.

Todd is a member of the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), and was selected as the 2022 ILEETA Trainer-of-the-Year. He is also a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI) and won the 2023 IALEFI Top Gun Award. He can be reached at Todd@CombativeFirearms.com.