While actual danger can be real, fear is not real. Last I heard, no one is in any danger on a Sporting Clays course. Those annoying negative thoughts…fear is a belief we create… nothing more. It’s our moving our attention to what we fear happening, or not happening in the tournament, that causes all of our apprehension. Worrying about what we do or don’t want, our long list of expectations, we create the doubts, the fear, then respond by letting the physical tension disrupt swing after swing in a downward spiral on our scorecard. Again and again, anxious about what our score will be on this field and the next, OO…lost a pair. Yes,…our physical ...

As you know, changing chokes from field to field is very common. And it can be to our advantage, depending on the reasons for changing and how the choke is being used.         For example, a few years back in a match, I observed an elderly gentleman prepare for a crossing target under his feet, inbound across a ravine. The common breakpoint on this A target was under 25 yards. Visibly anxious, he was vacillating, unsure of what choke to put in. He stepped into the box less than confident. I was on deck behind him. He very clearly shot behind the first two A birds, stopping his gun each time because he incorrectly thought he was too far in front. He ...

Hello! Please click to listen to Dan's informative podcast on "Why shooters struggle to raise their scores on a consistent basis."  Serving Sporting Clays and Wingshooters for 3 decades: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 you'll learn to shoot better in minutes! Daniel L. Schindler is the author of three books written in concise, simple, plain language that helps every shooter build a solid foundation, compete at a higher level, and takes the mystery out of their shooting:Take Your Best Shot (Book I) ...

Very understandably, many shooters believe the “breakpoint" is the most important “place” on the target’s flight path. After all . . . that’s where the target is hit or missed. So their point appears justified. However . . . I believe something critically important has been overlooked. Here is the question: Way back in the very beginning of your swing movement . . . if your bird/barrel “relationship" is incorrect . . . why would that relationship be correct later in the swing at the breakpoint? If the swing starts incorrectly . . . why would it end correctly at the breakpoint? It’s way back in the beginning of the ...