Distance Changeup Drill: A Pistol Drill for Distance Shifts and Accuracy

The Distance Changeup Drill teaches one of the most overlooked shooting skills: adjusting speed and cadence based on distance. Most shooters have a “default rhythm” they fall into regardless of the shot. This drill forces you to break that habit and consciously shift your pace based on how far you are from the threat.

Think of it as a tempo control drill—perfect for dialing in your ability to throttle between rapid shots and precision fire under pressure.

Materials Needed:

  • Pistol or rifle
  • 6 rounds per run
  • One silhouette-style target (USPSA, IDPA, or printable torso target)
  • Shot timer or stopwatch
  • 3 distances marked at 3, 7, and 15 yards
  • Eye/ear protection

Setup Instructions:

  1. Place a single target downrange
  2. Mark three shooting positions at 3, 7, and 15 yards directly in line with the target
  3. Shooter begins at the 3-yard line

Drill Instructions:

  1. Start at 3 yards, gun holstered or at low ready
  2. On the buzzer, fire 2 rounds from 3 yards
  3. Move to 7 yards, fire 2 rounds
  4. Move to 15 yards, fire final 2 rounds
  5. Emphasis is on controlled cadence—quicker up close, slower at distance

Scoring / Pass Criteria:

  • All 6 shots must land in the A-zone or high center mass
  • Par time: 7 seconds or less (advanced: 6 seconds or less)
  • Clean hits matter more than raw speed—don’t outrun your accuracy

Coaching Tips / Variations (Optional):

  • Reverse the order (start at 15 yards, end at 3 yards) for a closing-the-gap feel
  • Add barricades at each position to simulate cover usage
  • Record splits at each distance to analyze your tempo control
  • Try with reduced-size targets to add stress

Recommended Target Download – Use a printable high center mass silhouette or a standard USPSA-style target. Scoring zones will help you track where your cadence breaks down. Check out our free targets at MidAtlanticMunition’s free target library.

Shooters who can’t modulate their speed suffer in both competition and real-life scenarios. Run the Distance Changeup Drill and master your throttle control. Challenge your buddies to beat your time, share your results, tag @midatlanticmunition on the gram, check out more drills here, and if you need ammo that’s as awesome as your shooting, check out our handgun ammo collection.