Unstable surface balance training for 10m air pistol shooters : implications on balance and performance

Better balance has a strong correlation to better performance in 10m air pistol shooting. However, current balance trainings are not pistol shooting-specific as they are done in a dissimilar posture to shooting, and without a pistol. This potentially limits transfer of training effects from these trainings. Hence, a more pistol-shooting specific balance training is required. Unstable surface balance training (USBT) has been proven to be effective in improving balance for both healthy and rehabilitative populations. Since shooters can perform their usual shooting routine on an unstable surface safely with little supervision, USBT is potentially an effective shooting-specific training method. Ten participants, recruited from the Singapore National Youth Pistol Team went through a thrice weekly, six-week USBT intervention. Before their usual training session, they were required to dry fire for 30 min while standing on wobble cushions. One pre-test and one post-test was conducted before and after the intervention respectively. Participants’ centre of pressure (COP) parameters in both x and y axes, and shot scores were analysed to determine if USBT was beneficial to their balance and performance. Results show that all participants maintained consistency in their COP parameters and shooting scores, with some showing slight indications of improvement. This implies that they were assimilating changes from the USBT, but had not yet produced a visible outward improvement. So, USBT remains a viable tool warranting further investigation due to its promising results, and convenience in implementation.Bachelor of Science (Sport Science and Management