Episode 57 - Professional Shooters

Rick, Steve and Caleb attempts to discuss the somewhat controversial topic concerning professional / non-professional shooters. What does it mean to be a professional shooter? Why do so many shooters wear NASCAR-like shirts? Are they pros?

Discuss!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ep57full
• episode 57
• uspsa
• idpa
• shooting
• sports
• professional
• pro
• elite
• sponsored
• shooters

[EmanP223]

My friends and I got some because they are cool to wear when it's hot outside and we would rather keep a specific shooting shirt so that our normal clothes didn't get dirty/ruined and when we got to major matchs the RO's can see our names on them. Our friend had a gunsmithing business so we put his logo on there as free advertising for him and everyone always thought we were sponsored by them and asked all types of questions. I want to be low key and not attract any attention. It's a PITA.

[powerfactorshow]

@EmanP223 Eman - Isn't the whole point of shirts, with names and logos, to attract attention? If a sponsor were to pay you to wear their name on your shirt, they wouldn't want you to be too low-profile.

Rick

[luv2rideWV]

Regarding the jersey issue, does it mean that the guy wearing the pro football jersey is a professional athlete? No, it means that guy is a fan of the sport and the team. Also, thanks for making a great show.

[powerfactorshow]

@luv2rideWV When I was a kid, the only place you could get a Disneyland shirt or hat was at Disneyland; everyone with the logowear had actually been there, and done that. Now, anyone with a credit card can get a Disneyland shirt; which is better, a wider audience, or exclusivity? If you've never been to Disneyland, why would you want the shirt? Should I care whether or not you've been to Disneyland?

Rick

[pries81]

its seems as though some comments are turning toward being able to differentiate between pros and ams at a reg. match. why does that matter I wonder. Its also important to realize that companies will sponsor many different levels of shooters including those B and C class shooters. It comes down to putting the work in at the range, EARNING those sponsorships, and then keeping them. Like the saying goes, buy the first million and the second is free.

[powerfactorshow]

@pries81 When a person puts in the work at the range, and wants to compete with the big dogs, they can decide if they want to do so.- Rick

[powerfactorshow]

@TheMaksable Mak - There are a lot of people who are able to attract a sponsor or sponsors, and who are in no way "professional shooters". It's good for shooters, and good for the sponsors to get their name out to the range where others can see it. There certainly should be no effort made to reduce or discourage such arrangements, as it's a win-win for the shooter and the sport.

Rick

[TonruNomad]

Excellent video with some great points. The pros are already shooting together in "super squads" anyway. UPSPA should absolutely create a "Pro" class to differentiate those shooters from the rest of us. Many professional sports (golf, tennis, auto racing) have "pro-am" competitions. The only issue I see he coming up with a clear definition of exactly who is a pro.... I guess if my paycheck said "Glock" or "Smith & Wesson" on it, I would certainly consider myself a pro! - Phil

[EmanP223]

@powerfactorshow Maybe, but that wasn't our intenst. Our intent was to provide free advertising for a buddy while not ruining our clothes and staying comfortable. I wouldn't mind another shirt but darker, more subdued with no logo on it. I mean, for mountain biking you wear the clothes for specific reasons just like in other non-main stream sports, why not shooting as well?

[hawker665]

If you take a look at the 60's and 70's, motorcycle racing in the US was facing a similar transition. You were moving from an era where it was largely a hobby (10's into the 60's) through a time where one talented guy could maintain a nationally competitive effort (supported by prize money from the events), into a time where riders are paid six-figure salaries an teams have eight figure budgets. Now we have AMA (pro) WERA Nationals (semi-pro?), and various other club-level (am) orgs/events.