Tactical Pointers, Shooting Pointers

Shooting in Wind Conditions – 3 Training Drills (Part 3)

Živa Dvoršak

Jul 4, 2025

Shooting in the wind is no complicated science. In fact, the real problem is that most shooters simply don’t practice it often enough – if at all. As a result, when windy conditions show up in competition, they get caught off-guard, start doubting their process, and often slip into panic mode.

But windy conditions don’t have to be a mystery. With proper training, strong habits, and a few adaptable strategies, you can learn to manage the wind confidently – and even enjoy the challenge it brings.

This is the final part of our three-part series on Shooting in Wind Conditions. In Part 1, we focused on building strong routines and developing awareness before and during competition. In , we explored three different approaches to handling wind during a match. In this final part, we’ll focus on what makes those strategies truly work: consistent training. Understanding the theory is important – but nothing replaces practical preparation. These drills will help you strengthen your rhythm, improve your decision-making, and develop the timing and confidence needed to perform when the flags start flying.

Drill 1: Add a New Step to Your Shot Routine: Check the Flags First

After you fire a shot, looking at the screen to check your score immediately is natural.
But in the wind, you must train yourself to check the flags first. The flags will tell you what the wind was doing at the exact moment you shot – and whether the outcome was the result of the wind or your technique. If you skip this step, you lose crucial information, and mistakes become harder to understand (which leads to doubt and confusion).

So, during training, after every shot, quickly check the flags before checking your score. Make it a habit until it becomes automatic.

This might not sound like a typical exercise – but until you deliberately shift your attention to this in practice, it won’t become second nature. Like any other part of your shot routine, it takes conscious repetition to build into a true habit. And yes, you can (and should) train this even when it’s not windy – because the habit is what counts. The earlier you develop this step, the more reliable and confident your post-shot decisions will become.

Drill 2: Random Rhythm Training with Music

Wind conditions rarely allow you to shoot with a steady rhythm – you’ll need to adjust your pace depending on the gusts, lulls, or changes in direction. To train your flexibility and timing, practice with an unpredictable rhythm.

Set up a simple system with your coach or training partner: play music through a speaker and allow yourself to shoot only while the music is playing. When the coach stops the music, you must stop your shot and wait. This forces you to constantly adjust your rhythm, just as you would in a match where the wind dictates when you can shoot when you need to pause, and when you can move ahead. By practising with this random rhythm, you build better control, patience, and the ability to stay focused under pressure.

Drill 3: 2-in-1: Clicking and Shading

Shading – aiming off-centre to compensate for wind – requires real confidence, and the only way to develop that confidence is through practice. This exercise helps you get to know your sights better, train fine control over your aim, and get comfortable with shifting your point of impact based on wind conditions.

Start by clicking your sights to a point where your group naturally lands in the 9.5 ring in a chosen direction – choose between left, right, up left or down right. Then, aim in the opposite direction to return the shot to the centre.

It’s important to remember: always adjust your sights out and aim to shoot 10s – never train yourself to aim off with the goal of shooting a 9.5. You want to learn to adjust your aim to hit perfect shots, not train yourself to compensate for a less-than-perfect result. Additionally, when shading, it’s important to first bring your rifle to the middle, then check the wind and decide on direction. Only then can you aim in the chosen direction –left or right (or up left or down right). Always start from the centre and adjust your point of aim accordingly.

Shooting in the wind doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With solid routines, a clear understanding of the wind, and the right mindset, you can take control of your shooting, even under unpredictable conditions. Practising these three approaches and exercises will give you the flexibility and confidence you need to perform well in windy situations.

Remember, your shot process always comes first – and with the proper preparation, you can make wind a manageable factor, not an obstacle.

Stay calm, stay focused, and keep practising – every shot counts.

Key Takeaway

When shooting in the wind, the most important thing is to stay decisive. After observing the flags and assessing the wind, you decide which direction to aim in – and then go for it. This decisiveness is key to reducing mistakes. Even though mistakes will happen, staying in rhythm and trusting your shot process allows you to learn from them.

However, if you second-guess yourself, hesitate, or try to adjust after you’ve already made your decision, that’s when doubt creeps in, leading to more mistakes. Always remember: once you decide, commit to it. This is how you stay in control and minimize the impact of the wind on your performance.

And perhaps most importantly: keep whatever findings you discover in the course of your practice written down! Make your own archive of wind conditions for years to come using Shooting Notes.

Wind will always be part of the sport – but it doesn’t have to be something you fear. With the right habits, clear strategies, and well-practiced exercises, you can learn to read it, work with it, and keep your shot process solid no matter what’s flying past your barrel. Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember: confidence in the wind is built one decision at a time.

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