Short Course
Episodes
Bonus: Update and Ben Stoeger Interview
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this brief recap and intro, I discuss a few events from tonight's USPSA Board meeting, and then play a recent interview I did with Ben Stoeger on h...
#140: Transparency
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about transparency and confidentiality within the board of USPSA, and the ongoing attempts to define by example where...
#139: New Year, New Board
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I make two big announcements, one of which is the Area 6 match for this year, and go over some of the events of the January ...
#138: December Special Meeting
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss the special board meeting held this week to remove the USPSA President.
#137: Carolina Classic (2024), Part 2
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I continue the discussion of aspects of both the 2024 Area 6 and Carolina Classic matches: one handed shooting in stages and...
#136: Carolina Classic (2024), Part 1
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss some aspects of both the 2024 Area 6 and Carolina Classic matches: staff reset and cash-only sponsorship, as well ...
#135: Area 6 (2024), Part 3
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I continue my discussion of the 2024 Area 6 Championship. I cover a number of decisions we made of how to run the match, and...
#134: Area 6 (2024), Part 2
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk some more about the 2024 Area 6 Championship. I discuss my shooting the match and how I ended up DQing, as well as sh...
#133: Area 6 (2024), Part 1
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the now-concluded 2024 Area 6 Championship hosted at Belton Gun Club. I talk through the schedule and some thin...
#132: 2023 Financials
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the happenings at the first July 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, and give my understanding of the now-re...
#131: Board Baby Steps
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I cover some of the things that are happening behind the scenes with the USPSA board that are reasons for optimism, even tho...
#130: Alabama Section (2024)
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss my trip to the Alabama Section match, and my larger project of trying to visit matches and interact with members from Area 6, as w...
#129: April Board Meeting (2024)
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss the two-part April meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors.
#128: March Board Meeting, Part 2 (2024)
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss the two-part March meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors, including the signs of progress being made, and the areas we are still...
#127: March Board Meeting, Part 1 (2024)
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss yesterday's meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors, including the vote not to livestream it, as well as my view on this being a s...
#126: February Board Meeting (2024)
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I recap the February 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, and discuss why 22-28 round stages offer really interesting opti...
#125: Worse or just different?
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss the current events in USPSA including the resignation of the Area 5 director and the surprise move to reincorporate in Alabama, as...
#124: Area 6 Match Announcement (2024)
17 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week I discuss the events around USPSA filing to register the "Hit Factor" trademark, the appointment of the interim Area 1 director, a...
#123: January Board Meeting (2024)
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I recap the January 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, which spanned two days an almost ten hours, including the removal...
#122: Playing By The Rules
21 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I elaborate on a post I made about my strategy of changing USPSA from the inside, as well as discuss the bylaws change I hav...
#121: First Week in Office
06 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the current state of the boycott over the removal of Scott as Area 3, some hints about the polygraph tests that...
#120: BOD Goes Scott Free
23 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I briefly review the December 2023 USPSA Board meeting, before discussing the vote to remove Area 3 Scott Arnburg under Byla...
#119: IPSC Nationals (2023)
16 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through my thoughts on the recent 2023 IPSC Nationals, and the ways the match both did and did not really convey what...
#118: November 2023 Board Meeting
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through the November 2023 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, which I attended as a guest ahead of my term as Area 6 Di...
#117: Stepping Stone Matches
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss the differences between level one matches that are run as a stepping stone to shooting bigger matches as compared ...
#116: Sponsorships
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I make some observations on the current structure of match sponsorships and discuss why the prevailing arrangement at most m...
#115: Polygraphs? Really?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss the board's decision in the most recent board meeting to subject each other to, I am not making this up, polygraph...
#114: (Re)introduction
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I give a brief overview of my time in competitive shooting since shooting my first match in 2009, and shooting my first USPS...
#113: Broadening USPSA
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the various types of shooting challenges that USPSA rules deem off limits, and discuss some ideas of ways we co...
Bonus: the Carolina Classic on the Casual Shooters Podcast
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My voice is still not fully recovered from whatever bug I caught, so this week I just want to point you to the recent episode that Stephanie Berry and...
#112: Elections & Retaliation
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I give an update on the outcome of the USPSA elections and talk about the contentious recent USPSA Board meeting. Links: <...
#111: Chrono at the Carolina Classic (2023)
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about how things went running chrono at the 2023 Carolina Classic.
#110: Carolina Classic (2023), Part 1
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about things that went well and lessons learned from this year's Carolina Classic match.
#109: Current Events
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the release of the 2022 Audited Financial Report, leaked financials showing cost breakdowns from Nationals, an ...
#108: Runoff Begins
02 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast I talk about the recent debate I did with Kyle Stephens and Dave Riddle of the Casual Shooter Podcast, as well as the recent ...
Preview: Training Group Live debate with Kyle Stephens
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No regular episode this week. Instead, this is a preview of the more than 2 hour debate I had with Kyle Stephens on the Training Group Live podcast wh...
#107: Training Cycles
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about how I break down my training for each major match into early, middle, and late cycle training and what types of...
#106: The Great Duebacle
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I cover the recent announcement about USPSA membership dues going up effective immediately and the board's response to walk ...
#105: Elections Begin
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss the 2023 elections getting underway, including how the runoffs will work, and why I voted for Luigi Li for Preside...
#104: Outlaw Lessons, Part 2
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I continue the discussion from last week about lessons learned from the past two years of running a monthly outlaw match a l...
#103: Outlaw Lessons, Part 1
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss lessons learned from the past two years of running a monthly outlaw match a local indoor range. Links: <pre>...
#102: Locap Recap, Part 2
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I finish my stage-by-stage coverage of the 2023 Blue Grass Locap Classic, finishing with stages 7-11. Links: <pre>- B...
#101: Locap Recap, Part 1
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast I talk through my strategy and lessons learned from stages 1 through 5 of the Blue Grass Locap match, with a brief USPSA boar...
#100: Blue Grass Locap
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the excellent Blue Grass Locap Classic, and talk about all the features that made it an outstanding match. Link...
Bonus: Updates plus Casual Shooter Podcast Interview
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A few quick updates on the YML/Mel Rodero situation, a discussion of my use of the word "rumor" last week, and a snippet from my interview with Dave R...
#99: Booting the President (Again)
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about removing the RO certification of the sitting President of USPSA, Yee-Min Lin, effectively bypassing Bylaw 7.7 a...
#98: Adding Context
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I add some context around my thoughts on rolling back Production rules to the 2017 era, as well as the range commands I used...
#97: Ban The Bens (A History)
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the background, events, and outcome of 2018 incident that came to known as Ban the Bens. My blog post with tim...
#96: South Carolina Section
01 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The week on the podcast, I talk through my thoughts and impressions of how the 2023 South Carolina Section Championship match went. (Spoiler: it was r...
#95: Mastery Versus Novelty
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss approaching questions from a novelty-focused versus mastery-focused perspective, and discuss a few case studies, i...
Bonus: Interview with Manny Talks Shooting
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My interview with Alex Mansfield of Manny Talks Shooting aired today, so I wanted anyone that subscribes to this feed to be aware of that, in case you...
#94: Matches Filling Up
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the 2021 rules changes to Production and Carry Optics, and discuss the fact that the temporary lull in match at...
#93: Rule Changes
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I cover all the rules in the March 2023 changes that you might run into at a match, as well as cover the interview that Scot...
#92: In-Person Board Meeting
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I review the recent happenings in USPSA, including the Area 3 runoff election results, the ratified rules changes, and the m...
#91: Eric Grauffel class
11 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk at length about the Eric Grauffel class I had the opportunity to take, some of the things I learned, and how I'm begi...
#90: Panamerican Extreme Open
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through everything I can think of related to the 2023 Panamerican Extreme Open match I shot this past week in Florida...
#89: More Values
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I discuss a few more issues that I think benefit from applying a values-focused approach: single action guns in Carry Optics...
#88: Major Match Schedule
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through the five major matches I'm planning to shoot this year, why I'm interested in them, and why I won't be shooti...
#87: Proposed Rule Changes
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through the proposed rule changes dropped right before Christmas and my thoughts on whether each one is taking the sp...
#86: Overhauling Production
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, in light of the pending discussion of Production at the January in-person Board meeting, I present the outline of where I th...
#85: World Shoot XIX
10 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I give an update on my Area 6 Director run and the World Pistol Shootout rules, discuss shooting local matches in "Productio...
#84: Reinventing USPSA?
03 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I use the ruleset for an outlaw major match as lens to examine the things that USPSA rules get right and wrong.
#83: Why Practical Shooting Matters
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about five different ways that practical shooting can, does, and should play a larger role in society, and why it's i...
#82: Values
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I provide some corrections and updates regarding the bans handed down last week, and then discuss the importance of understa...
#81: Final Bans Announced
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I review the outcome of the five members suspended back in July, and discuss the issues with how little has been disclosed a...
#80: Chrono at the Carolina Classic 2022
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about things that went well and lessons learned from running chrono and equipment check at the Carolina Classic this ...
#79: Carolina Classic 2022 Lessons Learned
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I go over how I shot the 2022 Carolina Classic, as well as review things that went well and lessons learned from how the mat...
#78: Running for Area 6 Director
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about my decision to run for Area 6 Director, and why I think it's important that we stay and try to turn the existin...
#77: Banning Members
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Board of USPSA is now banning members for criticizing them. I don't have any good news, but I talk for 28 minutes anyway.
#76: Tyler Turner on Participation vs Development
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I had Tyler Turner on to continue the discussion from last time about what the goals of the sport should be: shooters develo...
#75: Mason Lane on Participation vs Development
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mason Lane joins me for a discussion of what the priorities of USPSA should be and how we should think about boosting participation in the sport versu...
What Nationals Could Be
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the audio version of this blog post: https://berryshooting.com/?p=9193 .
#73: 2020 Carolina Classic, Part 2
17 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about this year's NC match from the staff perspective. I discuss everything that went well and is worth emulating, i...
#72: 2020 Carolina Classic, Part 1
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about this year's NC Section championship, focusing on my season leading up to the match and my performance during th...
Bonus: Hit Factor Math
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a rip of a YouTube livestream that I did talking about a particular stage at the 2020. If you want to see the video of the stage in qu...
#71: Saying Nice Things About IDPA
19 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I say nice things about IDPA and discuss some things that I think they get right: things like simpler rules, more social cul...
#70: SC Section 2020
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the recent 2020 South Carolina Section match. I discuss whether it's better to leave stages in or throw them ou...
#69: Improving Local Matches
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the April 19th GoShoot USPSA match, and some things that I think they do differently that are worth emulating.
Bonus - Match Talkthrough - Carolina Guns & Gear, May 2020
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a change of pace this week, I'm uploading the audio from a livestream I did of a recent USPSA match that I shot. If you can, I recommend just skipp...
#68: No Such Thing As A Perfect Match
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the idea that there is no such thing as a perfect match. First, as a competitor: you'll never have a match with...
#67: Offseason
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about shooting my first match in two months, and how moderate expectations led to a good performance. I also go into ...
#66: 2019 Production Nationals
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the 2019 Production Nationals in Frostproof, Florida. I talk through my thoughts about the match compared to pr...
#65: 2019 Carolina Classic
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk in depth about the 2019 North Carolina section match, the work that went into it, the things they did differently, an...
#64: Rigid and Fragile
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about taking a break and what it taught me about having flexible vs rigid scheduling and expectations. The blog post...
Taking a Break
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hey folks, Ben here. I just wanted to put the word out that I'm taking a break from Short Course for a while. I'm not sure exactly how long. Since I...
#63: Ego In Competition
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the ways that ego can get in the way of developing yourself as a shooter.
#62: Why I Compete
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about what keeps me in the sport and the lessons that have transferred from competition over in to my life off the ra...
#61: Shooting Through A Match
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through my recent experience shooting through an 8-stage club match in two hours.
#60: Do Not Try To Go Faster
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I talk about my experience with making speed gains, and why they usually don't come just by trying harder or trying to go faster.
#59: Event Driven Shooting
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I talk about how I visualize through stages, the exact details I visualize in, and discuss why the speed of my visualization isn't all that...
#58: Half Of What You Know is Wrong
19 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about having breakthroughs when you realize that something you took for granted turned out to be wrong, or at least o...
#57: Myths About Being A GM
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about misconceptions that people have about being a GM or shooting matches as a GM, and why it's not really all that ...
#56: South Carolina Section Match
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about how the South Carolina Section Match went and the lessons I'm taking away from it going forward. My video for ...
#55: South Carolina Section Prep
29 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about my mindset and preparation going in to the 2019 SC Section match this Saturday, including how I'm setting my ex...
#54: Match Recap
22 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week I recap the stages I shot at a few local matches and try to draw some lessons learned from them.
#53: Lightning Round
15 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I catch up on a few different things I've been thinking about. I talk about USPSA not printing paper rulebooks anymore, sett...
#52: Mastery
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about the book Mastery by George Leonard. I talk about some of the reasons I'm always in the process of re-reading it...
#51: Mental Game
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk about mindset changes going forward into this season to take stages more seriously and shoot closer to my theoretical...
#50: Shooting in a Slump
22 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I talk through the problems I've been having trying to get this year of shooting started and speculate about the underlying ...
#49: SWGC February 2019, Part 2
15 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, I finish discussing a club match stage-by-stage and talk about the things that went well and the lessons learned from each o...