Notch
App of the Day
from the creators of 
murmur
Layered
The shape of a group says more than its score. These are the ten patterns Notch looks for, with the first suggestion it makes for each. They are starting points to check with your coach, and one card is never enough to be sure.
| Pattern | What you see | First thing to check |
|---|---|---|
| Shots going left | The group sits left of centre, card after card. | Check your stance: ensure feet are shoulder-width apart |
| Shots going right | The group sits right of centre, card after card. | Reduce trigger finger curl: use pad, not joint |
| Shooting high | The group sits above centre. | Check sight picture: equal light gaps |
| Shooting low | The group sits below centre. | Focus on follow-through: hold sight picture |
| Vertical stringing | Shots line up top to bottom through the centre. | Shoot at natural respiratory pause |
| Horizontal spread | Shots spread side to side. | Practice smooth, straight-back trigger press |
| Stringing | Shots fall along a line at an angle. | Check for canting (tilting) the firearm |
| Inconsistent groups | One card is tight and the next is loose. | Develop consistent pre-shot routine |
| Flyers | A few shots land well outside an otherwise good group. | Identify what's different on those shots |
| Fatigue | Scores fall away in the second half of a session. | Take breaks between strings |
A habit or a bad day
Any of these can turn up once. A pattern is worth working on when it repeats. Notch scores each card from a photo and counts how many sessions a pattern showed up in, so you practise the one that costs you most.
When it is the sight
If the group is tight and the offset repeats across a whole card, the sight may need moving. Read when to move the sight before you touch it.
Updated 11 November 2026.
Questions
Why are my shots going left?
A group that sits left of centre card after card is usually technique before it is the sight. Notch's first suggestion is to check your stance.
What does vertical stringing mean?
Shots lined up top to bottom through the centre point to breathing. Notch's first suggestion is to shoot at the natural respiratory pause.
Can one card tell me what I am doing wrong?
Rarely. One card can mislead, so Notch looks for the same pattern across your sessions before it ranks it.