Preview – Shoot Like the Great One

Rob Leatham Reveals the Tips and Tricks that Helped Him Evolve Into an Icon

Photography by Henry Z. De Kuyper

Even if you are only vaguely familiar with the world of competitive shooting, the name Rob Leatham should ring a bell. He’s the kind of living legend who needs no introduction. But we’ll give him one anyway for those of you living under a rock for the past few decades.

Leatham is the captain of the Springfield Armory shooting team, a 24-time USPSA national champion, and the only shooter in the history of action shooting sports to become a Triple Crown Winner (first at the Bianchi Cup, Steel Challenge, and the IPSC/USPSA Nationals in the same year). They don’t call him “The Great One” (or TGO) for nothing.

But in the 1980s he was considered an upstart. By his own admission, Leatham was a young kid who shot fast with little regard for technique, winning through raw talent and sheer luck. Then he befriended fellow shooter Brian Enos and everything changed. (It was Enos who would eventually dub Leatham as “TGO.”) The rivals became fast friends, training together and more importantly, analyzing and experimenting with different shooting techniques. They tried innovative grips, arm positions, and stances — constantly evolving. And they started winning — a lot.

The establishment didn’t like it, but Leatham proved them wrong. Not out of spite. Truth was he admired most of the old guard, men he had looked up to as heroes. No, Leatham kept winning out of a personal need to constantly improve. Now he is considered a top veteran who has young bucks nipping at his heels. He welcomes the challenge and still strives to improve.

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