Skill, not stuff 2026 challenge

[swavescatter]

I'm in. I was mulling over upgrading to the new Mathews Arc bow, but I'm going to make myself kill a bull with my V3X first. Will also force me to learn the fundamentals of tuning my own bow (luckily I bought all the bow press stuff last year).

Though I might need some arrows/fletching/field points.

 

[goalie]

Though I might need some arrows/fletching/field points.

As pointed out earlier in this thread: arrows=ammo

 

[TXCO]

Love it. I want to take the challenge!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[goalie]

I pulled out my shooting mat from my highpower days. Once the LS Wild bags get here, it's time for some shooting in the snow.

The range close to home has some steel at 100 in different sizes that will be nice for positional practice. I'll be bringing paint.

 

[go_deep]

Go take some walks and try tracking animals, any animal.

 

[DB29]

So, with Black Friday in the rear view mirror, and 2026 on the horizon, has anyone else hit the point where, if you're honest with yourself, it's time to stop thinking about newer, better "stuff" and focus on practice.

I'm going to attempt something my golf buddies and I try (and usually fail at by June) every year: an "I'm not buying anything new" challenge.

Instead of no new clubs (although I'm doing that as well) I'm going to try and buy nothing other than ammo/components from now until next Black Friday.

So, if, like me, you used Black Friday to get everything you need, join in and see who can make it the longest. Print out some targets, load some ammo, and improve yourself, not your gear.

FWIW, I decided to go all-in on the 5.56/223 trainer, and set up a Ruger American Ranch gen2 with flush fit Duramags, a SWFA 3-9x HD, Scope Bumper caps, and some LS Wild lightweight shooting bags. I'm going to spend most of my time shooting anywhere but the bench, and hopefully see significant improvement throughout the year.

So, if you want to try, get your shooting "stuff" by the end of December, and (hopefully) get your skill next year!!!!

I like this a lot!! But…. Buying new gear is one of the best parts of hunting… most of the rest of it sucks and is hard if you aren’t just driving your SxS up an down closed roads all day…

I see you applying this to golf and hunting but but not hockey?? I’ll grab my 1995 all aluminum Easton with a flat blade that I keep on the bench for special occasions and take the 2 minutes Tommy Hawking your goalie stick if I know you can’t buy new ones all season..

I all seriousness, I agree. I ordered almost everything I need to put together a poor man’s MRC Marshall in .270, and a few other things… now it is just shooting that and the .223 all winter, summer and spring.

 

[Rockpicker]

I think I still have a Sherwood 5030 somewhere.

 

[goalie]

I see you applying this to golf and hunting but but not hockey?? I’ll grab my 1995 all aluminum Easton with a flat blade that I keep on the bench for special occasions and take the 2 minutes Tommy Hawking your goalie stick if I know you can’t buy new ones all season..

I stopped playing when I turned 48. I had nowhere to go but down with gear, and, unlike shooting, I was good.

 

[DB29]

I stopped playing when I turned 48. I had nowhere to go but down with gear, and, unlike shooting, I was good. View attachment 981073View attachment 981074View attachment 981075

Looks like you would have no problem stopping me even without your stick… I suck at shooting guns and pucks… but I’m crazy good at buying gear. If you can’t be good, look good doing it!

 

[goalie]

It's kinda funny the hockey was brought up, as it's something I thought about a bunch the last few years. When I played competitively I didn't change my gear often at all. I got stuff custom made to my specs, and played. When it was close to wearing out, I ordered the next set.

I'll never have just one rifle, but it isn't lost on me that I never routinely changed my gear in the one thing I was actually really good at. The focus was on the playing: speed, vision, flexibility, being on-angle and square to the puck.

I would have still been good with a bag of stuff from play it again sports as long as I had one of my pro level masks due to the guys I played with having shots hard enough to be dangerous to a goalie in a rec-level mask, and good skates that fit with a 1/2" radius edge.

Because, while gear does matter, skill always matters more, and most people never reach the level where gear is why they're not "winning"

 

[grainhog]

I’m an archery guy and a coach, guys will drop thousands on gear and scoff at spending $300 on lessons!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Know any coaches in Missoula mt?