Short Course

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A Podcast about Practicing, USPSA, and Practical Shooting

Ben Berry


    • May 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 148 EPISODES

    4.8 from 62 ratings Listeners of Short Course that love the show mention: glad he s back, shooting, ben, nice, fantastic, good, great, show.


    Ivy Insights

    The Short Course podcast hosted by Ben, a humble and knowledgeable USPSA GM shooter, is an amazing resource for anyone involved in competition shooting or looking to start. This podcast provides a wealth of knowledge and strategies to improve in the sport. With its engaging content and fantastic audio quality, The Short Course is a must-listen for all shooting enthusiasts.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the amount of knowledge that Ben shares. He consistently drops valuable insights and tips throughout each episode, making it highly informative for both seasoned competitors and beginners. From discussing competitive shooting considerations to offering strategies for improvement, Ben covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to anyone looking to excel in the sport. His ability to present information clearly and concisely ensures that listeners can easily understand and apply what they learn.

    Another great aspect of The Short Course podcast is its natural flow. Unlike some other podcasts, Ben doesn't go off on tangents or get sidetracked from the main topic at hand. He stays focused on delivering the details and ensuring that the information is effectively communicated. This makes it easy for listeners to follow along and stay engaged throughout each episode.

    While it's challenging to find any significant flaws with The Short Course podcast, one minor drawback could be the length of each episode. Some listeners might prefer longer episodes with even more in-depth discussions or interviews with other experienced shooters. However, this is just a matter of personal preference, as the current format already provides a substantial amount of valuable content within reasonable timeframes.

    In conclusion, The Short Course podcast is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in competition shooting. With its knowledgeable host, engaging content, clear presentation style, and fantastic audio quality, this show offers everything you need to improve your skills on the course. Whether you're actively competing or just starting out, The Short Course should be at the top of your playlist.



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    Latest episodes from Short Course

    Bonus: Update and Ben Stoeger Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 67:32


    On this brief recap and intro, I discuss a few events from tonight's USPSA Board meeting, and then play a recent interview I did with Ben Stoeger on his podcast that is a wide ranging discussion of what has been going on.

    #140: Transparency

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2025 27:37


    This week on the podcast, I talk about transparency and confidentiality within the board of USPSA, and the ongoing attempts to define by example where the line is.

    #139: New Year, New Board

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 23:28


    This week on the podcast, I make two big announcements, one of which is the Area 6 match for this year, and go over some of the events of the January 2025 board meeting.

    #138: December Special Meeting

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 30:35


    This week on the podcast, I discuss the special board meeting held this week to remove the USPSA President.

    #137: Carolina Classic (2024), Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 35:30


    This week on the podcast, I continue the discussion of aspects of both the 2024 Area 6 and Carolina Classic matches: one handed shooting in stages and chrono.

    #136: Carolina Classic (2024), Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 31:02


    This week on the podcast, I discuss some aspects of both the 2024 Area 6 and Carolina Classic matches: staff reset and cash-only sponsorship, as well as the video coverage of the recent USPSA Handgun Nationals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vtdN9S4Tck&list=PLJel9jHuGSVlb4emdmEvMdOhjAxGH8YHv&index=1).

    #135: Area 6 (2024), Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 32:42


    This week on the podcast, I continue my discussion of the 2024 Area 6 Championship. I cover a number of decisions we made of how to run the match, and whether I would do them again or not.

    #134: Area 6 (2024), Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 29:58


    This week on the podcast, I talk some more about the 2024 Area 6 Championship. I discuss my shooting the match and how I ended up DQing, as well as share some funny stories and lessons learned from the match.

    #133: Area 6 (2024), Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 28:38


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the now-concluded 2024 Area 6 Championship hosted at Belton Gun Club. I talk through the schedule and some things that went well, and with more topics to be covered in the coming weeks. I also give a brief update on the impending bylaws changes discussed at this week's board meeting, to be voted on at the meeting in two weeks.

    #132: 2023 Financials

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 28:59


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the happenings at the first July 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, and give my understanding of the now-released 2023 financial statements.

    #131: Board Baby Steps

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 27:18


    This week on the podcast, I cover some of the things that are happening behind the scenes with the USPSA board that are reasons for optimism, even though there may not be obvious signs of improvement yet.

    #130: Alabama Section (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 32:26


    This week I discuss my trip to the Alabama Section match, and my larger project of trying to visit matches and interact with members from Area 6, as well as give some general updates on the progress of the USPSA board.

    #129: April Board Meeting (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2024 42:48


    This week I discuss the two-part April meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors.

    #128: March Board Meeting, Part 2 (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2024 44:35


    This week I discuss the two-part March meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors, including the signs of progress being made, and the areas we are still pushing for improvements.

    #127: March Board Meeting, Part 1 (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 27:13


    This week I discuss yesterday's meeting of the USPSA Board of Directors, including the vote not to livestream it, as well as my view on this being a setback but not a fatal one.

    #126: February Board Meeting (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2024 33:34


    This week on the podcast, I recap the February 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, and discuss why 22-28 round stages offer really interesting options when shooting with 15 rounds in the gun. First half of the meeting livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELWcGvkydjY Second half of the meeting livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U_E8hdogDM My March 2024 Sir Walter Gun Club USPSA match video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyi5ch7wMKk

    #125: Worse or just different?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2024 36:10


    This week I discuss the current events in USPSA including the resignation of the Area 5 director and the surprise move to reincorporate in Alabama, as well as a main topic about whether changes in gear are actually worse, or just unexpected and different, leading the reviewer to reflexively dislike them.

    #124: Area 6 Match Announcement (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2024 35:00


    This week I discuss the events around USPSA filing to register the "Hit Factor" trademark, the appointment of the interim Area 1 director, announce dates and information related to this year's Area 6 championship, and discuss how staff reset matches provide a place for folks interested in getting started volunteering. Links: Area 6 Staff package and signup form: https://area6uspsa.org/match/staff/ Area 6 RO class information: https://area6uspsa.org/range-officer/ Area 6 Sponsorship information: https://area6uspsa.org/match/sponsorship/

    #123: January Board Meeting (2024)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2024


    This week on the podcast, I recap the January 2024 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, which spanned two days an almost ten hours, including the removal and restoration of A7D Frank Rizzi, and where we go from here. Links: Recording of Monday night (sans executive sessions): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xutI6Vm0PKY Recording of Wednesday night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhuvFPcl7so Training Group Live interview with Frank Rizzi and Scott Arnburg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Q88T7AkSI Area 6 USPSA website where you can subscribe for email updates: https://area6uspsa.org/blog/

    #122: Playing By The Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2024 23:15


    This week on the podcast, I elaborate on a post I made about my strategy of changing USPSA from the inside, as well as discuss the bylaws change I have proposed that will remove the lifetime ban on removed board members from running again.

    #121: First Week in Office

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2024 25:21


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the current state of the boycott over the removal of Scott as Area 3, some hints about the polygraph tests that happened, discuss what I see as the real meaning of fiduciary duty, and the idea that we should stop calling each other puppets.

    #120: BOD Goes Scott Free

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2023 34:36


    This week on the podcast, I briefly review the December 2023 USPSA Board meeting, before discussing the vote to remove Area 3 Scott Arnburg under Bylaw 7.7 and the growing boycott against USPSA arising from it.

    #119: IPSC Nationals (2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2023 31:16


    This week on the podcast, I talk through my thoughts on the recent 2023 IPSC Nationals, and the ways the match both did and did not really convey what it is like to shoot a "real" IPSC match. Links: 2023 IPSC Nationals match video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8iaknDcuvo

    ipsc ipsc nationals
    #118: November 2023 Board Meeting

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2023 42:25


    This week on the podcast, I talk through the November 2023 USPSA Board of Directors meeting, which I attended as a guest ahead of my term as Area 6 Director starting January 1, 2024. I talk through various items in the minutes and try to give more context and depth to the discussions that were had and the arguments presented on each side. Links: - November 2023 Board Meeting Minutes: https://uspsa.org/documents/minutes/20231127.pdf - BoD travel policy: https://uspsa.org/policies/view/05ec0fbc319a423435e29659c8d1646f54e53b01a155b1fe0bfc689fd3856f7a13d/Travel%20and%20Expense%20Reimbursement%20Policy.pdf - Area 3 Virtual Members Meeting with Scott Arnburg and Joel Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHdj66zULkY

    #117: Stepping Stone Matches

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 30:56


    This week on the podcast, I discuss the differences between level one matches that are run as a stepping stone to shooting bigger matches as compared to ones that are the destination.

    #116: Sponsorships

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 33:42


    This week on the podcast, I make some observations on the current structure of match sponsorships and discuss why the prevailing arrangement at most major matches leaves something to be desired. Links: Nationals livestream with instant replay and commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Y3A0jyT-0

    #115: Polygraphs? Really?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 22:59


    This week on the podcast, I discuss the board's decision in the most recent board meeting to subject each other to, I am not making this up, polygraph tests. October 2023 Board minutes: https://uspsa.org/documents/minutes/20231023.pdf

    #114: (Re)introduction

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 35:21


    This week on the podcast, I give a brief overview of my time in competitive shooting since shooting my first match in 2009, and shooting my first USPSA match in 2013.

    #113: Broadening USPSA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 34:10


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the various types of shooting challenges that USPSA rules deem off limits, and discuss some ideas of ways we could expand the options for stage design in consistent, enforceable ways.

    Bonus: the Carolina Classic on the Casual Shooters Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 15:04


    My voice is still not fully recovered from whatever bug I caught, so this week I just want to point you to the recent episode that Stephanie Berry and John Royer did on the Casual Shooter Podcast about this year's Carolina Classic: https://casualshooterpodcast.podbean.com/e/season-2-episode-83-carolina-classic/ .

    shooters casual john royer
    #112: Elections & Retaliation

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 25:32


    This week on the podcast, I give an update on the outcome of the USPSA elections and talk about the contentious recent USPSA Board meeting. Links: - 18 September 2023 Board minutes - https://uspsa.org/documents/minutes/20230918.pdf - Frank and Scott talking about the meeting on Training Group live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqGsVeijWJI - Scott's full motion - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx-kNLorB47/

    #111: Chrono at the Carolina Classic (2023)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 41:08


    This week on the podcast, I talk about how things went running chrono at the 2023 Carolina Classic.

    #110: Carolina Classic (2023), Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 36:03


    This week on the podcast, I talk about things that went well and lessons learned from this year's Carolina Classic match.

    #109: Current Events

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 26:58


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the release of the 2022 Audited Financial Report, leaked financials showing cost breakdowns from Nationals, an incident on staff day at the ongoing Open/PCC Nationals, and the opening of a survey about Production 15. Links: 2022 Audit Report: https://uspsa-docs.b-cdn.net/finances/USPSA%20-%20Final%202022%20Audit.pdf Insider-provided numbers on Nationals losses: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsD_T9LAVT/ Incident with Troy McManus at Open/PCC Nationals: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw3sbW-LNfS/ Incident with Troy McManus at 2021 WSSC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAMV7TMFp0Q Incident with Troy McManus threatening to DQ Tanfo Timmy over porta potty stickers: https://www.instagram.com/p/CiJcDbPM4us/ To listen to this episode on YouTube, go to berryshooting.com/YouTube .

    #108: Runoff Begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2023 22:21


    This week on the podcast I talk about the recent debate I did with Kyle Stephens and Dave Riddle of the Casual Shooter Podcast, as well as the recent board meeting where they announced an impending vote on removing the bylaw requiring board members to be ROs. Links: Casual Shooter Debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpz3B-RdUik August 2023 Board Minutes: https://uspsa.org/documents/minutes/20230828.pdf

    runoff kyle stephens
    Preview: Training Group Live debate with Kyle Stephens

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 15:38


    No regular episode this week. Instead, this is a preview of the more than 2 hour debate I had with Kyle Stephens on the Training Group Live podcast which will drop August 22nd. Additionally, I wanted to let folks know that Kyle and I will be doing a livestreamed debate on August 23nd starting at 9pm Eastern, hosted by Dave Riddle from the Casual Shooter Podcast, so look for that on his YouTube channel and podcast feed. Thanks for listening, and I'll be back in a few weeks with more regular episodes.

    #107: Training Cycles

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 33:14


    This week on the podcast, I talk about how I break down my training for each major match into early, middle, and late cycle training and what types of drills I work on to progress through each phase of the cycle.

    #106: The Great Duebacle

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 32:17


    This week on the podcast, I cover the recent announcement about USPSA membership dues going up effective immediately and the board's response to walk that back. Links: The original announcement of the impending increase: https://uspsa.org/announcement/841 The announcement that the increase is being delayed until October 1st: https://uspsa.org/announcement/843

    #105: Elections Begin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 30:41


    This week on the podcast, I discuss the 2023 elections getting underway, including how the runoffs will work, and why I voted for Luigi Li for President, as well as why I think Vince Lucchetti would be an asset to the board.

    #104: Outlaw Lessons, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 24:36


    This week on the podcast, I continue the discussion from last week about lessons learned from the past two years of running a monthly outlaw match a local indoor range. Links: - Triangle Action Pistol match video from May 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYuYiOxk244

    #103: Outlaw Lessons, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 27:53


    This week on the podcast, I discuss lessons learned from the past two years of running a monthly outlaw match a local indoor range. Links: - Triangle Action Pistol match video from May 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYuYiOxk244

    #102: Locap Recap, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 26:59


    This week on the podcast, I finish my stage-by-stage coverage of the 2023 Blue Grass Locap Classic, finishing with stages 7-11. Links: - Blue Grass Locap match video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YpLkdKH-hg

    #101: Locap Recap, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 25:43


    This week on the podcast I talk through my strategy and lessons learned from stages 1 through 5 of the Blue Grass Locap match, with a brief USPSA board update at the end. Links: - Blue Grass Locap match video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YpLkdKH-hg - Candidate Bio and Q&A: https://berryshooting.com/a6-bio/

    #100: Blue Grass Locap

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 31:47


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the excellent Blue Grass Locap Classic, and talk about all the features that made it an outstanding match. Links: - My Blue Grass Locap Classic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YpLkdKH-hg - Scott Arnburg on the Paracast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36wtC6acy8

    Bonus: Updates plus Casual Shooter Podcast Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 15:50


    A few quick updates on the YML/Mel Rodero situation, a discussion of my use of the word "rumor" last week, and a snippet from my interview with Dave Riddle from the Casual Shooter Podcast. Link to the interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSrWXGafqH8 .

    #99: Booting the President (Again)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2023 20:51


    This week on the podcast, I talk about removing the RO certification of the sitting President of USPSA, Yee-Min Lin, effectively bypassing Bylaw 7.7 and removing him from office. I also discuss the fact that by the same bylaw, A4D Mel Rodero is not and has never been eligible to serve.

    #98: Adding Context

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 21:15


    This week on the podcast, I add some context around my thoughts on rolling back Production rules to the 2017 era, as well as the range commands I used at the 2022 Carolina Classic, and plug Training Group Live with Scott Arnburg and Yee-Min Lin that was posted this week, which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B4iRQ2hr3c .

    #97: Ban The Bens (A History)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 28:05


    This week on the podcast, I talk about the background, events, and outcome of 2018 incident that came to known as Ban the Bens. My blog post with timeline and screenshots: https://berryshooting.com/blog/petition-for-the-removal-of-mike-foley/ The menacing "announcement" to the members threatening to secede from IPSC: https://uspsa.org/announcement/243 Followup "announcement" warning World Shoot competitors IPSC could suspend us as a region: https://uspsa.org/announcement/252 Wayback machine archive of the Doodie Project thread: https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020801/http://www.doodieproject.com/index.php?/topic/5893-ben-berry-banned-from-uspsa/ The announcement from the board that they were basically going to do nothing about what Foley had done: https://uspsa.org/documents/minutes/20180605.pdf

    #96: South Carolina Section

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2023 30:01


    The week on the podcast, I talk through my thoughts and impressions of how the 2023 South Carolina Section Championship match went. (Spoiler: it was really good.)

    #95: Mastery Versus Novelty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 29:18


    This week on the podcast, I discuss approaching questions from a novelty-focused versus mastery-focused perspective, and discuss a few case studies, including Nationals, Limited Optics, and the classifier system.

    Bonus: Interview with Manny Talks Shooting

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 10:24


    My interview with Alex Mansfield of Manny Talks Shooting aired today, so I wanted anyone that subscribes to this feed to be aware of that, in case you wanted to listen. You can listen in your podcast player, or click here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alex-mansfield/episodes/Ben-Berry-bsberry-Manny-Talks-Shooting-94-e1vtgmf .

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