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Schroedinger

@saltphoenix The hand in pocket is - I believe - the usual and correct pose. It provides balance and stability. While it looks casual, this is because we are so used to seeing films where people shoot two-handed and usually on the run.

They have to shoot single handed (AIUI, at least). They are controlled and relaxed. So they can shoot straight.

(I used to do archery. Being relaxed and steady is critical to shooting straight. I presume the same applies to gun shooting)

9 comments
Billiglarper

@SteveClough @saltphoenix

But not all have the hand in the pocket. Often it's just at the side.

He's also not the first to winning a medal in this pose, and without gear. Pang Wei won Bronze in 2021 in a similar fashion:
eurosport.de/sportschiessen/ol

There are many other shots from Dikec from previous events that did not go viral (with cap or overear protectors, without grey hair, without the hand in the pocket).

@SteveClough @saltphoenix

But not all have the hand in the pocket. Often it's just at the side.

He's also not the first to winning a medal in this pose, and without gear. Pang Wei won Bronze in 2021 in a similar fashion:
eurosport.de/sportschiessen/ol

Billiglarper

@SteveClough @saltphoenix

I'm thankful for the OP to provide context to the picture. And yes, media should include that in their reporting.

But the reason the image went viral in the first place is that Dikec goes against the sterotype of the olympic athlete: Young tryhards who use every advantage in gear they can get.

And no, Tarhan does not stand out as much as he does.

Schroedinger

@billiglarper @saltphoenix I think the hand often goes in the pocket if they are stressed - so that it doesn't move. While it looks casual, it does have a purpose.

I would be surprised if he didn't have any ear protection. He might have in-ear plugs this time.

The wrinkled shirt, obviously is unforgiveable, and should have seen him disqualified.

(Matthew)=> return 🏳‍🌈🇿🇦🎮💻📖

@SteveClough @saltphoenix IIRC archers have to "follow through" with their bows for maximum power while the kick on even a small pistol is greatly reduced with a two handed grip. I believe this specific event calls for a single handed grip, but as for why my best guess is that the air guns they use have such a small kick that a second hand wouldn't add more stability and this is more a test of pure markmanship than any weapon specific proficiency.

Schroedinger

@mdstevens0612 @saltphoenix It is more that the bow has to be held loosely not gripped. and you have to stay in position until after the arrow has gone - which is fractionally after the string is released, and the power of the shot goes through your arm.

(Matthew)=> return 🏳‍🌈🇿🇦🎮💻📖

@SteveClough @saltphoenix Gun shooting has more of a "gently squeeze" so the force of pulling the trigger doesn't move your aim, but you do have to be rigid enough that the kick doesn't send the gun flying towards your face. If there's a stock or heel then you have to be rigid enough so the force of the gun firing doesn't move your aim but loose enough so that your body can absorb the kick. Bows want to follow the arrow, guns violently explode away from the bullet. In my experience, anyway.

Kaspi

@mdstevens0612 Air pistols have basically no recoil. Holding it with two hands (or placing the gun on a support beam as is allowed in senior leagues over a certain age) significantly improves stability while shooting. But the Olympic discipline seen here requires a one-handed free-standing grip. It is totally normal to have the off-hand in a pocket or hooked into a belt to support tension in the body's core which improves overall stability and reduces sway. There is nothing special in his stance

Kaspi

@mdstevens0612 Ear-protection is not necessarily required. Air guns are not very loud (but in smaller rooms the popping noise may still produce loudness spikes from which one wants to protect) but the surroundings (e.g. the audience) are. So wearing any kind of noise protection here is just for concentration and follows personal preference.
Same with the glasses: most shooters in static precision shooting prefer to focus on their primary eye. Closing the other would lead to squinting and...

Kaspi

@mdstevens0612 ...a change in focus in the dominant eye. Therefore, they wear an occluder over the non-aiming eye instead to reduce distraction without the need to close that eye. However, not everyone needs that. One can train to just ignore the input from the other eye. Or if you don't see very well with it anyway, you can more easily focus on the dominant eye and thus don't need to block the other (that's the case for me).

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