r/USPSA • u/Proof-Heron4072 • 10d ago
Initial Classification Question
My first and only USPSA match was a 6-stage All Classifier.
Why are all 6 of 6 stages counting towards my initial classification? I thought initial was best 4 of 6?
4/6: 61.58825 = B Class :)
6/6: 54.0202 = C Class :(
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u/hellaborkin CO-B 10d ago
6 of 8
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u/UHF800MHZ 10d ago
I thought for initial was 4?
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u/hellaborkin CO-B 10d ago edited 10d ago
Edit: I think I might be wrong. It’s been a minute and I’ve had a few beers lol.
Edit 2: nm I was right I’m not that drunk
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
Isn't that just for reclassification? I keep seeing 4/6 initial and 6/8 reclassification... even on the website.
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u/hellaborkin CO-B 10d ago
As a side note, don’t rush to class up. You’ll thank yourself when you start doing trophy matches and majors. I’m not saying purposely sandbag, but to want to be classified how you actually shoot matches. Feels better to trophy out C than get bottom 25% of B
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
I can confidently say that'll never be me lol. I do love it, but I never have the time or energy to practice.
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u/goodgamble B Class, Carry Optics 10d ago
then why are you even worrying about your classification.
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u/EntrySure1350 10d ago
From the USPSA website
“To become classified, a member must have at least four valid scores from different classifier courses in the USPSA database. If more than four scores are in the database when the averages are calculated, the best six of the most recent eight valid scores will be used.”
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
But I only have six classifiers on record... so it should be best 4 of 6?
Straight from the website:
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u/Procfrk 10d ago
First paragraph of earning a classification: If more than four scores are in the database when the averages are calculated, the best six of the most recent eight valid scores will be used
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
I don't have 8...
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u/Procfrk 10d ago
You're focusing on the wrong words. The best six of the most recent eight. Since you only have six, those are the best six.
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
Dang, that's weird. The flow chart halfway down the page directly contradicts this.
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u/Procfrk 10d ago
Not really. It's showing that only four classifiers are required to obtain your initial classification.
Again, it's not saying that it will only count four total classifications, just that it has a minimum requirement of four to calculate the initial classification.
That change was because there are some that shoot once a month, and sometimes those clubs don't always run a single classifier every month. What was happening is that some people weren't even getting a classification in 8 months (8 matches).
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u/Accomplished-Bar3969 10d ago
Probably because you shot them all the same day, not over 6 matches. Just a guess.
It’s a computer doing this stuff 🤷♂️
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u/Winston_Churchmao Production-B, RO 9d ago
Nah, it's because it's scoring his most recent 6 of 8. It's just he only has 6.
Though side note that 24 is why I don't like "all classifier" matches that start with a classifier. I prefer having a "warm up" stage before classifiers. Even something simple like an 8-reload-8 from a single position. I've found I usually do slightly low on my first stage because I'm going in "cold".
That or start the match at say 10am instead of 9am so people can "warm up" if they want. Though I guess this could be range specific depending if your range uses all your bays or keeps some open for non-competitors.
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u/MrNobody0312 B Class LO 10d ago
Even if they use all 6 you only have to shoot one more classifier at least 61% to drop that 24% stage and bring your average to B class.
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u/Outrageous-Cash9343 CO-B (and proud of it) 10d ago
Welcome to C class! I asked a very similar questions a few months ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/CompetitionShooting/s/pKFp1ZoKEH
The good news is that you’ll get to move up to B class soon. Then you can be stuck there with me.
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u/Proof-Heron4072 10d ago
:(
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u/steadylurker1 10d ago
Welcome to USPSA. Here’s a tip, stop caring about the classifiers. Stages are where it’s at, if you classify a B and run stages like a D then that’s the point.
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u/ImpossibleArgument 10d ago
Its def cause all on same day. If you’d had three on file and shot a match that had three and the classy cal ran, it woulda done same things. Computer doing computer things.
The next two you shoot is gonna drop the 24% and 53% (fingers crossed), so you might move up to B with just that
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u/NoobRaunfels 9d ago
Brother you may be too wrapped up in something that doesn’t matter much on the journey.
In DMVs they say, “if you want a better picture, bring a better face.” This is reflecting what you actually shot, so work on shooting better rather than caring so hard about the difference between middle of the pack and middle-back of the pack.
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u/The_TexaSOT 8d ago
Don't be overly concerned with classing up. I'm B class on the verge of A class, because I suck at shooting classifiers. However, whenever I go shoot a major (a level II match) I will routinely beat A class shooters and occasionally M class. My next major later this month should give me the bump to A class (your scores for major matches count towards your classification) and to me that's a much better gauge of actual performance than most "classifier" stages. It's always better to be a lower class and place high, than to be an A or M class and get smoked by some B or C class shooter.
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u/darthesis 10d ago
I am not an expert here, but here is what I saw myself. I had one classifier listed, so was still unclassified. Then I attended an all classifier match for five more. The next week it only read four of them into my calculation,even though I had six and ignore my two newest ones, one of them being the highest.
THEN one week later, it read that data again and gave me the actual best 4 of 6.
I think the first time it notices you have the minimum 4 score you need for classification it does look for best 4 of 6 or best 6 of 8. However a week later it may clean it up, it did for me.
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u/MrNobody0312 B Class LO 10d ago edited 10d ago
It’s because you have 6 scores by shooting an all classifier match. it would only use 4 if for example you shot 4 matches and each had one classifier, you would get your initial ranking with those 4 scores, then if you shot a 5th it would average your 5 scores and so on for a 6th.
4 is just the MINIMUM required to get an initial score but you already have more than that so it’s going to use all 6.
If you shoot another match with a single classifier bringing you to 7, it will drop your lowest score and use the 6 highest.
Then any match after that, it will be the 6 highest of the most recent 8.
Edit to add- I just got my first classification as well but I shot 2 different all classifier match’s 2 days in a row so I had 12 scores to use. It used my 4 highest from the second day match since it was the most recent, and my 2 highest from the first days match for an overall average of 6 scores.
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u/Cypa B Class Bozo 10d ago
Good news is that 24 will drop quick and will give you a huge boost. Just keep up the good work. I will say that's odd because I went from 2 to 6 after a 4-classy match and when it ran that first tues/weds it grabbed 4/6, but when it ran again the next cycle, it grabbed all 6 and dropped me a bit. They may have tweaked it but either way next cycle all of these woulda been counted for you, granted you wouldn't have lost B class.
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u/Winston_Churchmao Production-B, RO 9d ago
Classification happens "Twice"
- Your first 4 classifiers
- 24.29+53.47+54.24+59.44 / 4 = 47.86
- Your most recent 6 of 8
- Your current classification
Honestly one more 60ish should bump you, that 24 is what's dragging you way down, and that will drop off with your next classifier.
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u/Pole_Lock 9d ago
As someone who was stuck in B for a long time. Don't worry about classifiers. They mean nothing and are not a true determination of how you shoot. Pay attention to match % and how you stack up to other shooters better than you. Don't get better to get a higher classification. Get better to get better. The letters next to your name will follow
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u/Wooden-Awareness7590 7d ago edited 7d ago
dont force classifying up without the skills or you'll just be another paper master.
Do you want to be B and routinely beaten up by C/D shooters or do you want to be D/C and routinely beat up B/A shooters?
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u/EntrySure1350 10d ago
The minimum is 4. If you have more than four then it uses the best 6 out of a maximum of 8. You have six, so it uses all six.