If you’re regularly missing folks that you’re aiming at on the field then there’s one easy answer to your problems: you need to use the scope. All of the laser tag guns on our field have a real red-dot scope. All you need to do to hit someone is look through the scope, put the dot on your opponent, and press the trigger. Now, that said, there are a few small tricks you can use to really drive your accuracy up.
First, let’s talk about your shooting stance for just a minute. Now, you’ll be moving while you play, so we’re going to ignore a “proper” stance for everything below the waist for now; besides, there’s no recoil, so most of those principles have a much smaller effect on play than they otherwise would. Similarly, as long as your off-hand is at least half of the gun’s length away from your trigger hand you should be able to hold the gun plenty stable for accurate firing.
The first thing that most people do to interfere with their shooting is that they’ll hold the gun in the wrong direction. This is best fixed in person on the field, but you want to hold the gun so it goes across your body at an angle, rather than straight in front. This will give you the ability to bring the gun comfortably up to your line of sight, rather than dipping your head down to the gun. Part of the key to this is learning how to place the gun properly in the “shoulder pocket” rather than on the shoulder itself or on the collarbone. This is a quick, 20-second fix on the field.
Second, don’t press your eye socket up to the back of the scope. To begin with it’s uncomfortable, but it also causes you to close your other eye (keep both open at all times) and if you ever run into a branch or a tree you’ll give yourself a really great black eye. Leave yourself space; this is called eye relief.
There’s one last thing that you could be doing to mess up your shots, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the scope. When you press the trigger make sure that you aren’t simultaneously moving the dot. Each trigger press should leave the red dot in exactly the same place as it was before the press. Similarly, make sure you aren’t simulating recoil for yourself by bobbing your hands.
Accuracy with the laser tag guns is remarkably easy, but if you’re having a tricky time it’s worth asking us for help. The answer to your problem probably only takes a few seconds to fix.
Mike demonstrates proper use of the scope: two eyes open, eye relief, straight and comfortable posture with an upright neck and head, and proper positioning of the stock in the shoulder pocket. One thing he could be doing better: see how his cheek is in contact with the back of the gun? That would HURT if he ran into something! Don’t just have eye relief from the scope, try to have face relief from the gun, too!