You shot well today. Even your swing mistakes managed to catch a piece, XX. Everything just felt right, the targets looked slower than usual. Every X reinforced the momentum…your confidence a force driving the gun. Planned and rehearsed, sight picture after sight picture appeared right on time, again and again. XXXXXX. This momentum carried you through the final 3 stations to your best tournament score ever. It’s 2:15 in the clubhouse and you’re reminiscing so many good shots today. A friend strolls by and says you’ve tied the club “protester” and there’ll be a shoot-off at 2:45.  The protester has a reputation for disruptive ...

As the Sporting Clays season is about to kick off, here are a few thoughts about how to start our new year, in the right direction. No, not my direction…what might be your best direction. Understandably, and rightfully so, a lot of attention is given to our equipment choices, making those choices a high priority. No arguments here, let’s make good choices. Right after that we’ll begin to polish our shooting, our methods and strategies, signing up for events we wish to attend. This is an intelligent, prudent approach. But is this what’s most important, the first question at the top of our to-do list? Those who climb the ladder to more consistency ...

Common, I see this in lessons, competition, and while watching social shooters. Like leaving the house with the hot coffee pot still plugged in, it’s that important message in the shooting box we shouldn’t, but do forget.   We step off the cart and Earl steps into the box. I’m holding the controller, my thumb on the button. Earl looks serious today as he evaluates the A and B trap, 2 challenging target presentations. After the show birds, preparation in place, he asks for the A trap and begins by only shooting singles. Earl shoots very well on the A trap. 5 singles = XXXXX. 5 good breaks. He then asks me for singles again, off trap B, which is another crafty ...

To expand on my recommended 2018 New Years Resolutions, please consider the following. These are just a few of the basics, commonly overlooked or unintentionally compromised. First…there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using our natural, eye-hand coordination to break targets. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t start here, and it works. Literally, millions of targets have been broken this way. That’s a truth. Here, however, is the other side of that truth. Using your raw, unrefined instincts to break targets inevitably leads to inconsistencies in your swing and lost targets. To break targets on purpose takes a certain correctness built into each ...