What Is Hit Factor Scoring?
In competitive shooting sports like USPSA, hit factor scoring is what separates a decent run from a winning one. If you’re using our hit factor calculator, here’s what it’s actually telling you—and why it matters.
The Basics
Hit factor is a measure of your shooting efficiency. It’s calculated by dividing your total points by your time. The formula looks like this:
Hit Factor = Points ÷ Time
Simple, right? But there’s more to it than just math. Let’s break it down.
- Points come from your hits on target. The better your hits (A-zone vs. C or D), the more points you score.
- Time is measured from the start beep to your last shot.
Shooters are ranked by their hit factor on each stage. The best hit factor gets the most stage points, and everyone else gets a percentage of that.
Why It Matters
Your job is to find the sweet spot between speed and accuracy. Too fast, and your points drop. Too accurate but too slow, and your hit factor suffers. The top shooters blend both to maximize their hit factor—and that’s what separates match winners from the middle of the pack.
Think of it like this: it’s not about being the fastest or the most accurate. It’s about scoring the most points per second.
A Quick Example
Let’s say you shoot a stage in 10 seconds and score 80 points.
Hit Factor = 80 ÷ 10 = 8.00
Now another shooter scores 90 points but takes 15 seconds.
Hit Factor = 90 ÷ 15 = 6.00
Even though they had more points, you won the stage because your hit factor was higher. That’s how important time is.
Tips for Improving Your Hit Factor
- Focus on consistent A-zone hits at speed.
- Know when to push and when to throttle back.
- Keep your transitions and movement efficient.
- Practice stage breakdown so you minimize wasted time.
Hit factor scoring rewards well-rounded shooters. You can’t just be fast, and you can’t just be accurate. To win stages, you need to do both—efficiently. Our calculator helps you understand how your performance stacks up and where you can improve.
Now that you know how it works, plug in your time and points and see where you stand.
