That Dead Spot Is Free Ground: How to Get Ahead of the Turn

When my header’s pressing and the catch goes on around the neck, I already know what’s coming. The head turns, the body stays way away from it and the hips hit out. That’s a dead spot. Every time.

That dead spot is free ground. When I see it start, I’m gaining—I want to be as far ahead of that steer, as far ahead of the run, as I can get. It’s worth about half a shot.

So I ride deep into him. Deeper than you probably would think or want to. Getting there early is what buys me time to assess from the back of my swing to my delivery.

The goal is to be over the steer, not behind him. If I’m over him enough, it doesn’t matter what he does—left, right, straight, tries to run out of it. I’ve got coverage, and I’ve got room to read it and put my rope down wherever he’s going.

Every heeler reads the turn. That’s the run. But if you wait and watch it, you’re behind, and now you’re on the chase. You usually don’t catch on the chase.

—TRJ—