Here’s exactly why you, I, and everyone else miss. No mystery, no confusion, just one correct answer.

My message here can be easily misunderstood. To prevent that, remember, in all the clay target sports, there can be NO aiming of the shotgun. Please read that again and hold onto that as we move forward. 

• Rifle and handgun shooters fully understand and respect this immutable fact: any gun movement that compromises precision will result in a miss to some degree. Maybe a little, maybe a lot, but the miss will be certain. What guarantees this is the science and the math involved in precision. That math is non-negotiable, regardless of shooter age, weapon, skill level, etc. Mistakes at the muzzle create missing. Period. 

“But Dan, with my shotgun, I’ve got a pattern out there THIS BIG.” You’re right, you do. And you are breaking all of your targets consistently, yes?

I start all my lessons in the Clubhouse, checking eye dominance, gun fit and other basics to make sure everything is in order before a shell goes into the chamber. Very importantly, I introduce two critical factors before we adjourn and head to the range. First, a pre-shot routine, covering both the mental and physical aspects of the upcoming shot. Second, I show my student the real effects of compromising precision with their shotgun movement. 

The numbers on my chart were calculated at my request by one of my students, an engineer. His correct numbers clearly show why the target is being missed.  

For example, from the chart, one inch (1”) of Random Gun Movement (RGM) at the muzzle, puts the shotstring OFF the target:

2 Feet at 30 yards

3 Feet at 40 yards

That’s with a 1” swing mistake.

Two inches (2”) of RGM at the muzzle, puts the shotstring OFF the target:

4 Feet at 30 yards

5.5 Feet at 40 yards.

That’s with a 2” swing mistake. Make that a 3” or 4” mistake and the numbers get far worse.

Further compounding these errors, mistakes in the setup on the target, such as poor foot position, a misplaced muzzle hold point, etc., all add RGM into the swing.

Kindly remember what I said earlier about not aiming, and what even small swing errors look like on the score sheet. Those numbers emphasize the critical importance of building precision into our swing. We do this, not by being careful, but by properly managing our swing movements, using our visual bird / barrel relationships. Clean, consistent gun management, early and throughout the swing = XXXXXX.

Understandably, breaking the target is a common goal. That X is an “outcome.” To create that X outcome consistently (not by accident), one must first build a swing free of RGM. That “process” uses a planned setup all the way to the trigger pull.  Here’s where a competent instructor should be teaching you how to construct that process, a system that works full-time. My 3 books (Take Your Best Shot, To The Target, and Beyond the Target) cover all this extensively in plain, easy-to-understand language.

We appreciate your visiting with us. Here’s hoping our paths cross this summer.  

We’d Love to Hear from You
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Learn how to break the various Clay Target presentations and call your misses so the next target breaks. Every second on the course is a chance to do something great. If you're ready to stop missing the moments that matter—and start shooting with confidence—we’re here to help. Every lesson is tailored to your individual success.

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