When an entry-level shooter decides to work with me, I can almost always count on his or her open mind and eagerness to listen. That's because from their perspective of "why did that just happen," they have little or no experience to fall back on. X's and 0's are a complete mystery. That's OK of course, and very much understandable. Underway enthusiastically, instruction is received and implemented with little if any resistance. Predictably, student comprehension and progress accelerate rapidly. Here's a common, subtle difference with a more experienced shooter in a lesson. XXXXXX. We're off to a good start, yes? My student's thinking, "Darn right we are! I smoked those targets!" ...

There are set-up basics (pre-shot skills) – swing basics (gun management skills) – and scoring basics (performance skills). All are interlocked, very much dependent on the other in purposely building our Sporting Clays (& Trap & Skeet) game on a platform of dependability and confidence. What follows is a favorite topic of mine, previously discussed multiple times from various perspectives. It cannot be stated too many times. It’s a fundamental that can motivate a peak performance in the tournament shooting box. Shell by shell…target by target…this motivation tool is built on the range during training/practice. In my experienced opinion, grasping ...

Pre-Shot Routine We're Listening... Question from Facebook follower: Mental ideas, concentration, and focus? Daniel Schindler, Master Sporting Clays and Wingshooting Teacher/Coach responds: Very insightful questions. May I suggest you turn your attention to an effective, working Pre-Shot Routine (PSR)? Regardless of clay target discipline, gun control skills – built on the non-negotiable basics – must come first. The current level of shooting success will always depend on that very foundation. Construction of gun skills underway – with consistency as the chief cornerstone of that improvement – the importance of a working PSR rises ...

It's hard not to be impressed with a Big Dawg breaking those long-distance targets no one else can seem to hit. Final score: 97, a worthy accomplishment deserving of congratulations. Here's a look at how that score was built. This month's Tip asks you to look at your scorecard and review the score and the target presentations, individually, Station by Station. I'm willing to bet there's a pearl of information on that scorecard staring back at you, waiting to be discovered. I won't be the one telling you not to practice on those long-distance, more challenging targets. For good reasons, we should. But I am proposing that your best score this weekend won't be built on these ...