If you already know you can break that target, why practice that target?
My Sporting Clays student Greg (not his real name) sat across from me after this morning’s lesson. Over lunch he said he went to the Practice segment in his Paragon Workbook which I provide all my students. Our conversation went like this.
“Dan, I noticed in your practice notes, on the Skeet range, you listed which Stations to practice on and which not. You included Low 7. Do I need to work on Low 7?”
He asked me that question because he knew he could easily hit Low 7.
“Greg, why are you asking?”
“Well Dan, that’s not a hard target for me. I already know I can break it.”
On the surface, Greg’s reasoning made perfect sense. After all, we judge success on whether we break the target or not. X means it was a successful shot. Yes?
If one shoots a bit more socially, then the answer is yes. However, if our shooter’s goal is to break the target more consistently, to improve one’s shooting, consider another perspective on what makes a shot successful.
X with an inconsistent swing looks like this: XOXOXXOX. X with a swing executed consistently/correctly looks like this: XXXXXXXX. If one’s goal is improvement, repeating an inconsistent swing will break targets, but won’t provide a single, measurable step towards improvement. Why? Using the same swing mistakes over and over again, we can’t expect a different (more consistent) result. A few more X’s? Sure. Consistently? No.
I explained to Greg, the goal on Low 7 is to build the correct swing ONE time. Repeat. Same exact swing. One shell, one target, five times; then ten; then twenty. Repetition. To break the target? No. To build, to reinforce, to ingrain that one perfect X swing.
For some, an X can be truly gratifying and rightfully so. For those of us who genuinely want to advance our skill level…to become more consistent…to perfect our shooting “form…” executing the method correctly is far more important than an X.
Before beginning a practice session, consider identifying one specific part of your set-up and/or swing you want to work on. Shell by shell, target by target, work on that. That, dear reader, will take you straight to the home address of consistency.
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Dan Schindler is one of only 60 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK) and is one of the most highly respected Sporting Clays and Wingshooting Instructors in the US. Dan is an NSCA Level III Instructor (since 1995) and founded the Paragon School of Sporting with one goal in mind. Whether it be for the advanced competitor or providing the basics to the entry-level shooter, Paragon provides the simplest, most practical and most effective Instruction, Coaching and Mental Training for the Sporting Clays & Wingshooting enthusiast. Dan Schindler helps shooters alleviate a lot of their frustration by taking the mystery out of breaking targets, calling their own misses, and make their own corrections. Lessons are fun, enlightening and our clients learn to shoot better in minutes!
"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors
and parents of youth shooters."
Schindler's books are written for shooters like you!
Take the mystery out of missing targets and feathers with Dan Schindler's simple, easy-to-understand books. They're your road map for consistently and dependably shooting higher scores.
Warning: Shooters from around the world tell us ...if you lend these 3 excellent books to your shooting buddies, you may never see the books again! Some say they'd give up their spouse before they give up these books.
Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer It's all about the fundamentals, a requirement for good shooting. This book is used by high school and college shooting teams, recreational and competitive shooters from around the world. Solid, valuable, concise information that has helped thousands of shooters shoot more consistently with higher scores.
To The Target (Book II) Builds on the steps outlined in Book I. Emphasises Gun Management skills when the trap fires, creating a consistent, reliable, trustworthy swing.
Beyond the Target (Book III) is for shooters of all levels. It is filled with valuable information and clay target truths. It is entertaining and a culmination of three decades of Dan's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.
Here's what Shooters, Coaches and Clay Shooting USA saying...
THE TRUSTED PRIMER
A Quarter of a Century and Counting
"Take Your Best Shot is the best clay and wingshooting shooting primer on the market that I have ever seen. The brilliance of its simplicity aids in getting across the correct messages for successful shooting for ANY clay/wingshooting shooter, let alone a new shooter."
Jacksonville University Sporting, Skeet & Trap Team
(Founding & Head Coach)
SCTP & ACUI Event and Divisional National Champions
"Take Your Best Shot is the greatest publication ever written on how to increase X’s on a scorecard and put more game birds in a hunting vest. In plain language, Take Your Best Shot teaches the essential, non-negotiable basics for building shooting excellence. It should be a required text for every clay target shooter, Wingshooter, Coach, Instructor and parent of a youth shooter who is looking for a step-by-step shooting “system” that is easy to understand, repeatable and utterly dependable. Take Your Best Shot is not only the best but the only book that provides this knowledge. Seriously – Take Your Best Shot is a must-have for every shotgunner."
Jeff Allen, Head Coach Carolina Clays
Paragon School of Sporting Professional Instructor
NSCA Level II Instructor
NSSA Skeet Instructor
NC State Scholastic Clay Target Program Advisor & Coach
NC Scholastic Clay Target Program Trap Director
“Few authors have tried to take the shooter on from the novice stage to serious competitor. “To The Target” does just that and it is one of the most innovative and important books yet published on the art of shooting clay targets.”
Clay Shooting USA
"This third volume in the Paragon school trilogy is the second best thing to booking a lesson with Schindler himself. Dan writes the way he coaches in person: respectfully, provocatively, humorously, and, most of all, effectively. His new book informs the Sporting Clays arts not only with a clear and proven blueprint for breaking (many) more targets, but with great heart as well."
Contributor Shotgunsportsmagazine.com
Blogger at Longhuntersrest.com/longhunters-rest
Wingshooting Editor: Sporting Clays Magazine