I am on the fence about deliberately practicing point shooting.
BigMacMI, good point on sighted shooting vs unsighted shooting which I have found is the fundamental difference between conventional shooting vs point shooting.
When most of us were introduced to shooting, a heavy emphasis was placed on the use of front/rear sights. When I was going through Army basic training, front sight focus with "ghost" rear ring was key to marksmanship. When I started shooting USPSA matches, "front sight flash" was the foundation for fast double taps. So I believed use of front sight was key to accuracy.
Then my defensive shooting instructor, a USPSA RSO who also taught police/sheriff SWAT teams, challenged me - If I wanted to shoot accurately in real life, I needed to learn point shooting. Our point shooting training was done with front sights removed from our pistols and we practiced until we got 4"-6" shot groups at USPSA targets set at 7-15 yards. Later, some regional USPSA match shooters talked to me about "zen" of shooting and to elevate my shot calling, focus on the target only (not on the front sight) and make holes "appear" on target. And when I mastered making double taps appear on target COM, practice to make double taps appear anywhere on the target.
Obviously if you consciously practice PS an additional 100 trigger pulls a week, you will get better.
Before, when I introduced new shooters to shooting, I had them stand at 5 yards and focus on the sights while pulling the trigger. Then I worked with them on improving consistency of grip and trigger control to reduce group size.
Now, I have them stand at 5 yards but dry fire while watching the front sight.
I have them dry fire until FRONT SIGHT DOES NOT MOVE when the hammer/striker is released (THIS IS KEY to Point Shooting and reducing trigger/grip induced flyers). Then I have them fire with eyes closed until POI matches POA COM. Once they master this, I have them practice aiming/point shooting at different dots on target while moving target out to 7-10-15 yards.
Often, range staff and especially husbands of new shooters are surprised at how fast new shooters are able to shoot accurately, particularly point shooting which most have not mastered. Instead of focusing on front sight and recoil, I have the shooters focus on the holes and to make necessary adjustments so the holes appear on the target where they want them to appear.
Do you look at the ignition of your car when you insert your key?
Most people will insert the key without having to look at the location of ignition - this is point keying.
I would be really interested in a study comparing two groups of shooters practicing point shooting only (no sights), and sights on group.
I have shared with a lot of people to point shoot (at least the version I use) and found different people have different learning speed to become proficient with point shooting. Some people can point shoot 4"-6" groups at 5-7 yards on the first session while some people can take several sessions.
I think the difference is their body's ability to consistently reproduce same physical movements. When I have them point at COM with their eyes closed, some people are able to reproduce same POA better than others and this ability will affect how consistent they will be with point shooting at different targets.