Captain of Team SIG and Army Marksmanship Unit veteran Max Michel on why Ace delivers real training value, even for someone who shoots for a living.
The journey to becoming a world champion
Max Michel began shooting at age five in Louisiana under his father's guidance. “We'd go out plinking and spend time shooting on the range. I wasn't really a hunter, but shooting quickly became my thing,” he recalls. By nine he was competing every Friday night in local steel-challenge matches, and at 13 he committed fully to competitive shooting, training twice weekly and dry firing daily.
In 1999, at 17, Michel enlisted in the U.S. Army's prestigious Army Marksmanship Unit, dedicating his first two years to becoming the fastest handgun shooter in the world, training with up to 1,000 rounds daily. Following a decade in the Army, he transitioned to SIG SAUER in 2008. Today he splits his time between major championship matches and instructing law enforcement, government, and civilian shooters.
What sets Ace apart: dry fire with results
Michel discovered Ace at SHOT Show, and it immediately landed.
“I was blown away with how it was able to provide real training value even for someone like me who shoots for a living. It's like dry fire but with immediate results.”
Max Michel
“With Ace, I'm held accountable for every shot. I can instantly see if my rounds are impacting right or left, improving my vision, eye speed, and consistency.”
Max Michel
Making Ace part of a daily routine
Michel typically trains on Ace for 30–45 minutes per session. His preferred drills include “Whackamole,” with unpredictable targets that sharpen visual processing and short-to-far transitions, and his custom “Transition Hell” drill, which surfaces diagnostic detail.
“I love being able to click and just restart the drill, without having to go down range and reset targets. I do have my own gun range, but it's still challenging to get out and do what I want to do.”
Max Michel
How Ace transfers to the range
“I can get so many reps in on Ace, it's becoming a subconscious act much faster because I'm seeing it in real time. Ace really does translate to when you go back out to the range. Everything you're doing, you're going to get feedback, good or bad, and you can see your previous score so you can track your progress.”
Max Michel
His advice for new shooters: don't wait until you feel ready. Find your local club, get involved, and you'll quickly find a supportive community. Build the reps and visual processing at home on Ace, then dry fire and live fire on the range with your own equipment.