Shot placement within cardiac cycle in junior elite rifle shooters

ObjectivesThis study examined the timing of the trigger pull in relation to the cardiac cycle during skilled precision shooting.MethodsElectrocardiogram was recorded from 20 junior level competitive air-rifle shooters in two separate sessions. The testing was conducted at an indoor shooting range using an optoelectronic shooting system. The experimental task was to fire a shot in the standing position at a distance of 10 m from the target.ResultsThe results showed that the junior level shooters fired more often during the phase of 10–15% of the R wave-to-R wave (R–R) interval. With regards to the accuracy of performance, there was not any optimal location for triggering in the cardiac cycle. The length of R–R interval did not affect the relationship between shot placement within the cardiac cycle and shooting performance.ConclusionThe present results suggest that competitive shooters do not time their triggering randomly during the cardiac cycle. In contrast to the earlier empirical findings, however, the data suggest that the timing of the trigger pull in relation to the cardiac cycle is not a determinant of superior shooting performance in competitive shooters.