Everyone wants to be John Wick until it is time to act like John Wick. The mythical “Baba Yaga,” the boogeyman and one-shot legend, represents the highest standard of shooting performance: precision, efficiency, and lethal focus under pressure. Wick is fast, cold, and efficient, and he does not get to rehearse. He acts decisively in the moment.
The Baba Yaga Drill captures that same demand for cold, on-demand performance. It strips away warm-ups and comfort, forcing the shooter to deliver speed and accuracy the instant the pistol clears the holster. Four small targets. One shot each. No second chances. The objective is simple but unforgiving: see how quickly you can complete the drill while keeping every round on target.
Establishing a personal par time, the fastest you can shoot the drill clean, provides an honest benchmark for tracking growth. This exercise sits on the razor’s edge between precision and speed, requiring calm execution while the clock pushes for urgency.
Why Cold Hits Matter
Most shooters begin training sessions with warm-ups or familiar drills. That routine can create a false sense of skill. A cold hit is different. It exposes reality and reveals what a shooter can truly deliver without rehearsal or mental preparation.
The Baba Yaga Drill lives at the demanding end of the proficiency spectrum. It tests draw efficiency, visual processing, and trigger control under time pressure. Misses cannot be covered with make-up shots, and rushed mechanics fall apart quickly. This is not about feeling fast; it is about being accurate and efficient when it counts.
Drill Setup and Execution
- Target & Layout: Four 2-inch circles arranged in a square, spaced about 8 inches apart.
- Distance: 7 yards.
- Start Position: Pistol holstered (concealed or duty), hands naturally at sides or in a ready stance.
- Procedure: On the buzzer, draw and fire one round into each circle. Any order is acceptable. Only one shot per circle. Record your time and hits.
- Scoring: A clean run is four hits. Focus on accuracy first. Once consistency is achieved, work to reduce time while maintaining precision. Use your fastest clean run as your personal par time and track improvement over multiple sessions.
Keys to Success
Own the First Shot: The first draw sets the tone. Build a smooth, consistent presentation before pushing for speed.
Plan Your Path: Decide the order that minimizes movement: clockwise, counterclockwise, or diagonal. Test options in dry fire and commit to the one that flows best.
Lead With the Eyes: Look to the next target before the gun moves. Efficient visual transitions keep the gun moving smoothly and on line.
Control the Trigger: Each press counts. Deliver a deliberate, clean break without slapping or rushing.
Analyze Every Miss: Treat misses as data. Did the grip slip? Was the sight picture rushed? Were transitions too aggressive? Use each failure to refine mechanics.
The Takeaway
Cold-hit drills, such as the Baba Yaga, are truth tellers. They expose the gap between perceived skill and proven ability. Shooting well after warming up is easy; shooting well cold is real performance. This drill forces accountability for every shot and demands that fundamentals hold under pressure. It challenges shooters to master draw stroke efficiency, visual target acquisition, and deliberate trigger control while moving at pace. Run it at the start of each range session, record your par time, and push for clean hits before chasing speed. The Baba Yaga Drill is not comfortable, but it is revealing, and the growth it drives will make every shot outside the range more deliberate when it matters most.