Aiming strategy affects performance-related factors in biathlon standing shooting

This study focused on investigating differences in shooting performance and performance related factors between two different aiming strategies (HOLD, low radial velocity during the approach 0.4‐0.2 seconds before triggering, and TIMING, high radial velocity) in biathlon standing shooting. 23 biathletes fired 8x5 standing shots at rest (REST) and 2x5 shots during a race simulation (RACE). Shooting performance (hit point distance from the center of the target), aiming point trajectory and postural balance were measured from each shot. Shooting performance was similar both at REST (HOLD 33±5 mm vs TIMING 38±8 mm, p=0.111) and in RACE (40±11 mm vs 47±12 mm, p=0.194). Better shooting performance was related to smaller distance of the aiming point mean location (REST r=0.93, p