Understanding clay target disciplines can be very simple. In reality, there are just a handful of basic target presentations and corresponding shooting methods that consistently handle each one. The apparent complexity arises from a lack of fundamental shooting knowledge.

To cut through the confusion, let's focus on a concise list of required insights for success in clay target sports. Emphasizing the term "required" is crucial for a reason.

In the pursuit of greater consistency in the shooting box, there is often an emphasis on "trusting" one's actions with the shotgun. While this sounds appealing, trust alone does not guarantee consistent success. Achieving X consistency demands mastering the correct gun movements—precision in setup and swing. Trusting undeveloped skills can lead to disappointment. Breaking targets for enjoyment doesn't necessitate skill-building, but achieving consistent results requires learning and applying the correct fundamentals.

Precision plays a pivotal role in shotgun sports, a factor frequently underestimated. Small errors at the muzzle translate to significant mistakes at the target. Relying on shot-string patterns to compensate for swing errors proves inconsistent. Precision, crucial for rifle and handgun shooters, is equally vital for managing the swing in clay target sports. Pre-shot setup errors, followed by swing mistakes, are the primary culprits behind inconsistent performances in the shooting box and at the target. Building precision into each swing is non-negotiable for those aiming for X consistency, regardless of the shooting method.

Now, let's address a specific consideration – 12-gauge target ammunition. The prevailing belief that "more is better" often leads to the choice of heavy loads with higher velocities. However, this approach comes with significant drawbacks. Heavy recoil compromises swing precision, impacting performance during a round of clays and especially during a competition weekend. Moreover, loads exceeding 1,300 fps struggle to maintain pellet pattern integrity, resulting in fewer pellets hitting the target. In contrast, a 2 ¾ Dram load at 1,200 fps with 7/8 oz, 1 oz, or 1 1/8 oz can consistently break every fair target presentation without the drawbacks of excessive recoil. Shooter error, not equipment, remains the primary determinant of shot outcomes.

In conclusion, drawing from over 40 years of experience in clay target sports, the key lies in distinguishing between fundamentals that can be compromised and those that demand our unwavering attention. Simplifying our approach and emphasizing the required skills is the pathway to consistent success (and more broken targets) in the shooting box. 

Dan Schindler's trilogy—Take Your Best Shot, To The Target and Beyond The Target—offers invaluable insights, serving as a roadmap for shooters of all levels. The fundamentals required for good shooting are covered in Take Your Best Shot chapters 4, 5, 6 & 7. Available on the Paragon School of Sporting website, along with a wealth of blog posts, these 3 books greatly simplify and uncomplicate shooting, providing a foundation for consistently higher scores.

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About Dan Schindler

Tired of being frustrated over missing targets or birds?

Ready to move your shooting forward and shoot consistently higher scores?

Shoot better than you ever imagined.

Schedule a lesson with the esteemed Dan Schindler. As one of the exclusive 44 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK), Dan stands as a beacon of expertise in Sporting Clays Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instruction in the US.

Embark on a transformative journey with Dan, an NSCA Level III Instructor since 1995 and the visionary founder of the Paragon School of Sporting. His singular goal is to provide ultra simple, step-by-step, Premier  Instruction, Coaching, and Mental Training for enthusiasts of Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap, and Wingshooting of all skill levels.

Dan Schindler is a maestro at alleviating the frustrations that haunt shooters. By unraveling the mysteries of breaking targets, enabling self-awareness in calling misses, and empowering individuals to make their corrections, Dan ensures that lessons are not only enlightening but also immensely enjoyable. Clients at Paragon School of Sporting witness significant improvements in their shooting skills within minutes.

Bid farewell to the vexation of missed targets and soar towards consistent excellence in shooting. Whether you're an advanced competitor or an entry-level enthusiast, Dan Schindler's wealth of experience spanning over three decades has empowered thousands of shooters to propel their game forward.

Having certified over 274 instructors, authored three exceptional books, and contributed to numerous articles and blog posts, Dan Schindler is a luminary in the field. In your very FIRST lesson with Dan, you will unlock the secrets of the Paragon System, ensuring that you break targets consistently, confidently call your misses, and adeptly make corrections, setting the stage for a remarkable journey of shooting mastery. Contact Dan Schindler now and witness the transformative power of his expertise in action.

In your very FIRST lesson with Dan Schindler, you'll learn the Paragon System so YOU can break targets consistently, call your misses & make corrections so your next target breaks!

"Folks fly from around the world to take lessons with Schindler at River Bend Sportsman’s Resort, his home course in Inman, South Carolina. Clients have included Bush staffers to NASCAR drivers to the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. The approachable teacher has spent 25 years on “gentleman’s coaching” (with social and corporate shooters) and formal instruction (with individuals, groups, and competitors). Schindler has even certified more than 230 instructors using his handcrafted curriculum—a system that signaled his qualification as the first American admitted to the British Guild of Shooting Instructors... “Shooting, like golf, or anything like that, is a mental sport, and he has the mental game down so well.” To find out how he calibrated mind with metal, we head to Japan."

Dan Schindler's Books

"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors

and parents of youth shooters."

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, filled with valuable information, clay target truths. Entertaining and a culmination of 3 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...

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition

THE TRUSTED PRIMER

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III)