It is practically impossible to predict the wind’s movement. At even at 50 yards the wind is reacting differently at every location. Multiple wind flag placement proves that. And even then it lasts only for a fleeting moment. All we can hope for is some stability.
“CONCURRING THE WIND”. I don’t who came up with that term, but it ain’t going to happen. No one can concur the wind as it is relentless in its pursuit to confuse and defeat you.
Wind rarely moves in a straight line. It is complex and totally unpredictable, coming from every direction, swirling, rapidly changing, invisible, silent, loud, colorless, odorless or smelly, powerful, motionless, hard, fast or slow and gentle as a whisper, but always there. The wind flag is limited in its ability to transfer data. Even the best wind flag is only a piece of the solution.
Those that think they can conquer the wind are foolish and wasting their time. Someone once told me “It’s a lot like putting socks on a chicken”. So don’t fall for anyone stating they have an absolute solution or can teach you how to control the wind. Perhaps“Understanding” would be a better description.
Relying upon a single axis wind flags, prepared charts, pictures, clouds, leaves, smoke, dust, flags, streamers or banners “DO NOT WORK”. These are only illusions as they are responding to a specific location and moment in time and nothing else. Berms, backstops, walls, and trees contribute to swirling and unpredictable wind movement. Even the position we shoot from at the range has an impact. Other than shooting indoors nothing is safe from the wind. Tools designed for identifying wind movement and its power are absolutely necessary to understand the wind. Without them, it’s a “GUESS”.
Wind flags and streamers pointing in several different directions at the same time are all correct and accurate, it’s what the wind does. It is obvious from the multiple application and placement of wind flags that competitive shooters realize the activity of the wind is specific to locations. The problem is what to do about it. Still when arriving at a range seldom are conditions ideal. The only solution is preparedness and helpful tools.
No simple solution is available for completely understanding the wind’s energy and movement. Even with the finest wind flags, experience, self-training and full commitment are a must. Wind reading devices are a great help but they do not offer the absolute answer. The final results remain with you. Practice, practice and practice some more. Learn what your wind flags are trying to tell you, once you understand them now apply what you have learned. This is the only way to react to the wind accurately because no one will ever control it.
Wind flags and other tools specifically designed to identify wind movement and energy are the only tools we currently have. Generally, they attempt to tell us when the best time is to shoot as opposed to when the risk is high for a “Best Guess Shot”. Conditions at the range during a match are never predictable and we must be prepared for all these situations. Through the understanding of the tools chosen it will eventually become apparent what those tools are trying to tell us. Consider a still wind flag with the streamer hanging down, the daisy wheel or propeller not moving and the flag pointing at 45-degree angle. What does that mean? Was the flag left at its last activity direction or is the wind so soft to not cause any flag reaction? What if several of the other flags on the range are moving? What if only one of your four flags is acting this way? Where is that flag located? Do you trust it or the others?
During our testing within a controlled indoor environment, a fan was used at a distance of 10 feet. The energy produced from the fan fluctuated between changing pressure and speeds. Perhaps it was affected by the air that existed within the room, but really disturbing. Changing the distance and speed of the fan made little difference. If this is how the wind reacts in a controlled environment, what can we expect at the range?
Resist copying winners. The equipment they use may not be the best for you. Their selection and success display that they have obtained the ability to understand and react to the equipment of their choice. No one wins all the time, if they did there would be only one kind of everything. As competitive shooters, we must be prepared for ever-changing conditions and react with learned knowledge and reaction.
MTC is offering tools that address the wind’s activity and measured intensity from multiple directions.