DOT INDEX DRILL: LIVE-FIRE
- Fusion Targets
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 5
Small target. Big payoff.
Dot Index teaches surgical precision by demanding perfect sight alignment on small targets. Every round must land exactly where intended, revealing even subtle errors in trigger control and grip consistency. It’s simple, humbling, and highly effective.
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, when you can hit a 1-inch circle on command, an A-zone feels enormous.
It also reveals critical breakdowns:
Trigger slap / lateral finger push: finger drives sideways instead of straight back. Cue: slow the press and focus on a straight-back path.
Anticipation / flinch: breaking early because of expected recoil. Cue: practice slower reps and use a pause-then-press mental trigger.
Grip instability / collapsing web: grip pressure changes through the press so the sight wanders. Cue: index the grip each rep and clamp consistently.
Set it up:
Distance: 3 to 5 yards
Target: Precision dots on the Fusion Target™
Rounds: 12
Reps: 2
Start Position: Compressed ready
How to run the drill:
Begin from a full presentation.
Align your sights on the first dot, then press the trigger slowly and cleanly. Ensure the sights do not move during the press.
Transition to the next dot and fire 1 round.
Continue across all dots.
Track hits and misses. Hold yourself to a zero-miss standard whenever possible
What you are actually training:
True trigger control: refining the press so the trigger moves straight to the rear without disturbing the sights, even under live recoil.
Micro-level sight awareness: learning to recognize minute sight shifts that signal tension, flinch, or poor grip pressure.
Grip consistency through recoil: maintaining equal pressure and wrist stability so each shot tracks identically, dot to dot.
Patience under precision: slowing the shot process until you can call every round with confidence before breaking it.
Process accountability: treating every shot as a test of mechanics, not outcome — accuracy is the feedback, not the goal.
Drill Tips
If your hits are off center, you’re moving the gun before your eyes settle. Fix that first.
The Dot Index Drill: Live-Fire appears in Week 5 of the Fusion Targets 12 Week Pistol Program. It builds precision and pace into your transitions and forces you to stay visually locked on small targets under pressure.
Want to build control where it counts?
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