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DOT INDEX DRILL: DRY-FIRE

Updated: Nov 5

Aim small. Learn big.

The Dot Index Drill in dry-fire strips everything down to mechanics and visual discipline. No recoil. No excuses. Just you, your grip, and your ability to track between tiny targets with intent. This is where speed meets structure.


Why this drill matters:


Small dots magnify flaws that big targets hide. That’s the point. By isolating accuracy on miniature aiming points, you teach your eyes to track the front sight with absolute focus. It’s a diagnostic exercise that also refines fundamentals


It also uncovers common flaws:

  • Loose support-hand grip (muzzle movement): the non-trigger hand isn’t holding the frame firmly, allowing the muzzle to drift.

  • Tensing with the trigger press: whole-hand or forearm tightens during the press, moving the sight.

  • Trigger path not straight to the rear: finger drives the trigger sideways or arcs, producing lateral steering.


If you can run this drill clean at home, you will move faster and shoot smarter on the range.


Set it up:

  • Distance: 3 to 5 yards (wall or dry fire backdrop)

  • Target: Two 2-inch dots on the Fusion Target

  • Rounds: 0

  • Reps: 10

  • Start Position: Compressed ready



How to run the drill:

  1. With an unloaded firearm or training pistol, begin from a full presentation.

  2. Align your sights on the first dot, then press the trigger slowly and cleanly. Ensure the sights do not move during the press.

  3. Reset and transition to the next dot.

  4. Continue across all dots, treating each as a separate rep.

Shooting distance for 7 Yard Speed Drill graphic.


What you are actually training:

  • Sight steadiness through the press: building the discipline to keep the front sight absolutely still from prep to break.

  • Trigger isolation: developing a smooth, independent finger press free of sympathetic movement or grip shift.

  • Consistent grip and hand index: forming identical hand placement each rep to build automatic grip recall.

  • Visual patience and confirmation: learning to wait for the sight to settle before pressing — no speed, only stability.

  • Structured focus and repetition: cultivating the mental control to execute clean, deliberate reps that translate directly to live-fire precision.


Drill Tips

Watch the front sight. If the front sight shifts, the hit would be off in live fire.

The Dot Index Drill: Dry Fire is part of Week 7 in the Fusion Targets 12 Week Pistol Program. It helps shooters build consistent grip, trigger mechanics, and target focused transitions that carry over to live fire.


Ready to train with intent, even at home?



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