One ring, three values
The same shadow records eight, twenty-six, or fifty depending only on when the strike lands. The dashed band in the third stage is the marker drawn on the board, and hitting it is the whole discipline of Cold Snap.
Reading your own round
Divide the catch by the number of strikes. An average above thirty means you are working the ring; below twenty means you are striking on sight, which is the habit that costs the most points.
A drill worth doing once
Spend a full round striking only when the dashed band is showing, even if shadows expire while you wait. The final catch is usually higher than a round spent taking everything that appears.