This may be an odd subject to try and cover, but I feel like this could be a healthy subject to tackle. I don’t want to give the illusion that one is inherently more righteous over the other. They each have a purpose in helping to develop, enhance, or maintain your overall skills if used properly and strategically. However, I feel that most people fail to understand the difference based on the words they use to describe what they are doing. I want to get some clarity about what is actually being done on the range or at home...because when you call everything you're doing "TRAINING", you sound like an idiot.
TRAINING
By definition, TRAINING is when you work to develop a new skill or work to enhance it. Practice is part of the learning process but falls more along the lines of training due to its immediate usage during the learning phase. Guidance and practice can help with accelerating the learning capability of the student through intentional repetition.
An example of training would be using your phone camera or some other video recording device to film yourself pieing a corner to help establish a good leaning technique to minimize exposure. You simply set up the camera and treat the camera like the target and slowly pie the corner whilst leaning out to only expose the head and weapon. You do this a few times for each technique and then look at the camera footage to make a judgement of which technique worked for you in your given situation. You will try this from many different ranges, in different positions, etc. Once you find a technique that works best, you will practice it a few times and maybe even conduct weighted isometrics in order to help strengthen the core in the areas that are stabilizing the body for this particular task. This kind of process can be pretty involved depending on the type of subject you are training on.
One more note that I will make about training is that it is shown that portion control is extremely beneficial when it comes to information retention. Basically, you want to avoid trying to learn too many things at any one time. For instance, it is easier to learn how to clear a house if you train on each subject individually prior to bringing it all together. In many courses, students are rushed through the principles of clearing in a matter of a couple days. This can’t really be helped when talking about civilians, but regardless you see that not being able to train on each subject independently will cause only certain parts to be retained. In a subject like clearing, you will want to have as many advantages on your side as possible.
PLAYING
The word PLAYING can have a negative connotation when applied to something serious like lifting heavy weights, operating machinery, or using firearms. This is a method that can be very beneficial for a learning brain, or one trying to practice through utilizing already learned skills through application. However, I will not call it practical application since these scenarios are more like games than real life. It is intended to maximize focus. This is a way of setting up a challenge that is not so easy that it is boring, but not so hard as to be impossible. This is a method that helps people establish a FLOW STATE, which is proven to enhance learning capability and performance due to the inherent focus that the brain puts on the particular subject. Later on down the line, practical application such as force on force training can be beneficial as a proof of concept or a verification of proper skill integration, but now is not the time if you're merely moving beyond the generic practice after training.
An example of playing would simply be using something fun like multiple zombie targets. Shoot each one in the head as fast as possible, and maybe even under time. This is demanding precision but in a way that is fun and engaging, especially if it is timed and you are with friends or family. You can learn a lot about your methods, techniques, and general self if you especially pay attention to your form to look for faults to work on later. Also, here you are intentionally applying what you know and will not only get practice, but you will test your proficiency. This kind of thing can be applied in many ways such as having students shoot at steel targets from the draw to give a satisfying ping when they do their firing sequence right. Something else you may want to do is have someone set up targets throughout the house so you have hidden targets to find and eliminate while practicing clearing with a laser trainer, or dry gun.
REFLEX DRILLING
You are not doing anything new, but you are just doing something over and over again to ensure that it is at a state of reflex, hence the word DRILLING. There are some things that need to be done to the point that it is reflexive so your ability to react to the threat is not disturbed by placing your eyesight elsewhere unnecessarily. So really this should be a way of testing yourself in performing something you have practiced so much to the point that you don’t feel that it requires close scrutiny in order to be accomplished with efficiency. The point here is to do this under something like a timer and monitor something that is moving in order to maintain your focus elsewhere while your body works. You will have just enough time to reset for the next repetition. You will know you screwed up if you fail the time or fumble. Also practicing this while moving and in different positions is useful. The saying “Amateurs practice till they get it right while professionals will practice until they can’t get it wrong” is the best way to describe what reflexive drilling is for.
To name a few examples of things you may wish to do this with occasionally: Performing the drawstroke, pulling the trigger all the way from having your finger straight and on the frame (while maintaining a proper grip, minimizing movement, focusing on the target instead of the sights, and going as fast as possible), performing reloads and clearing malfunctions while visually focusing on threat/area of last known immediate threat, and presentations from a compressed or ready position.
Those who are well versed in their firearms use this as a way to confirm if they are maintaining that skill. Think of it as a verification rather than a method of practicing. You should generally always conduct practice first and then conduct a disconnected long set of reps.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
It is important the know the difference between the three things I mentioned. I often hear people say they are training when what they are actually doing is playing or drilling, and often drilling to look at their gun and ignore the threat. I think it is important to understand what each of these things means and I think it is important to understand how each is helpful. For example, if all you are ever doing is TRAINING such as classes and slow intentional rehearsal under guidance without moving to practice independently, you will struggle to establish true proficiency. Having a million different classes under your belt is not a bragging point. A bragging point is proficiency gained from practicing and becoming incredibly proficient and skilled at what you were trained on. Just a note for you to remember before scheduling a class and thinking that will be all you need. No, my friend, that is the tip of the long and challenging iceberg.
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