Mastering the Command Drill to Enhance Your Defensive Shooting Skills

When your draw speed from concealment stops improving, it’s easy to fall into the trap of rushing through the fundamentals. The Command Drill offers a fresh way to use your par timer, focusing on awareness and precision rather than just beating the clock. This method, introduced by Rick Crowley of Achilles Heel Tactical, helped many shooters break through plateaus by emphasizing grip, sight alignment, and trigger control. Here’s how you can apply the Command Drill to sharpen your defensive shooting skills.

Understanding the Command Drill Concept

Most shooters use a par timer as a stopwatch to beat a set time, such as drawing and firing within 1.5 seconds. This approach encourages speed but often sacrifices the quality of each step in the shooting process. The Command Drill flips this idea by using the par timer to build awareness.

Instead of rushing to fire on the beep, you set a par time slightly longer than your goal—say 2.0 seconds instead of 1.5. On the first beep, you draw and establish a solid grip and sight picture without firing. Then, on the second beep, you fire the shot. This method captures your reaction time, which ideally should be 0.25 seconds or less, making the total time about 2.25 seconds.

This approach reveals important details about your technique:

• Did your sights move during the trigger press?

• Was your grip fully established before firing?

• Were you visually ready, or did you rush the shot?

  
  

Because you’re not racing the first beep, you can focus on visual discipline and trigger execution while still measuring your performance.

How to Perform the Command Drill

Follow these steps to get started with the Command Drill:

1. Set your par timer to a time slightly longer than your current draw and fire time.

2. On the first beep, draw your firearm, establish a firm grip, and acquire your sight picture. Do not fire.

3. On the second beep, press the trigger and fire the shot.

4. Record your total time and note any issues with grip, sight alignment, or trigger control.

5. Repeat the drill until you can perform ten clean, consistent repetitions at the set time.

6. Reduce the par time by 0.1 to 0.2 seconds and repeat the process.

7. Stop reducing the time when your reaction time worsens or you start missing the second beep.

   
   

This step-by-step process helps you build muscle memory and confidence without sacrificing accuracy.

Benefits of the Command Drill for Defensive Shooting

The Command Drill offers several advantages over traditional speed drills:

• Improved grip integrity: Taking time to establish your grip reduces recoil impact and improves follow-up shots.

• Better sight tracking: Focusing on sight alignment before firing helps maintain accuracy under pressure.

• Controlled trigger press: Separating the draw and trigger press reduces flinching and jerking the trigger.

• Increased awareness: The drill highlights weaknesses in your draw and firing sequence, allowing targeted improvements.

• Smooth transition to live fire: Practicing this drill dry before live fire builds confidence and consistency.

  
  

By focusing on quality over speed, you develop the discipline needed for real defensive situations where accuracy and control matter most.

Applying the Command Drill in Live Fire Training

Once you master the drill in dry fire, transition to live fire to test your skills under recoil and real feedback. The recoil will reveal if your grip is solid and if your sights stay on target during the trigger press. Use the same par timer settings and follow the same two-beep sequence.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Start with a larger par time to maintain control.

• Focus on smooth, deliberate movements.

• Analyze each shot for sight movement or flinching.

• Adjust your grip or trigger technique based on feedback.

  
  

Live fire practice with the Command Drill builds shot accountability and reinforces good habits that carry over to defensive scenarios.

Tips for Success with the Command Drill

• Use a quality par timer with a clear beep sound.

• Practice in a safe, controlled environment.

• Record your times and progress for motivation.

• Don’t rush to reduce par times; focus on consistency.

• Combine the drill with other fundamental training like reloads and malfunction drills.

  
  

Final Thoughts

The Command Drill is a powerful tool for anyone serious about improving their defensive shooting. It shifts the focus from racing the clock to mastering the fundamentals of grip, sight alignment, and trigger control. By building awareness and discipline, this drill helps shooters break through plateaus and perform with confidence under pressure.