Dan Schindler's Blog

Hard Truths On Clay Target Shooting Part II

The following Truths offer you consistency in the shooting box and more Xs on your score card.It’s early 2026, and Part One was our first step into building a foundation under a performance we know we can count on. That first step being ...

Hard Truths on Clay Target Shooting

“Consistent shooting isn’t built by doing more—it’s built by doing less, on purpose.” Part OneThe New Year is already well on its way. If your clay shooting is for fun, grab your gun and let’s go. Thanks for ...

X Consistency — Now or Later?

"The weak link in being self-taught is the teacher."It’s not that we men aren’t smart—because we are. After all, if you’ve been bringing home pheasants, quail, and ducks for years, good shooting feels like a given. So when ...

The Hidden Enemy of Consistency

The Missing Link in Peak PerformanceConsistency is what every shooter wants—and what almost no one can explain. One round everything clicks. The next, it’s gone. Most shooters assume the answer lies in better mechanics, more practice, or ...

The Secret to Good Shooting

“There are 3 types of baseball players:Those who make it happen.Those who watch it happen.Those who wonder what happened.”Tommy Lasorda Same with shooting. If you’re wondering why that just happened, read on.From a few million ...

X – What Works, What Doesn’t and Why

I wish you could see the moment a shooter realizes their swing finally makes sense. One clean move, the target breaks… then another… and right about then they stop, look at me, and say, “How have I been missing this long?” ...

Clay Shooting Methods & Books

As the founder of the Paragon School of Sporting, I’ve spent more than three decades teaching clay target and wingshooting students from around the world—each lesson reaffirming that not all shooting methods are created equal.A very ...

The Perfect Ammunition for Clay Targets

Since everyone else is, let’s talk about ammunition.Manufacturer? Folks, the truth is, they all work. Favorites build confidence and that counts. Pick any popular brand and know for certain: what’s in the box will do its job if you do ...

An Experienced Opinion on Shotgun Chokes

Counting on your shotgun choke to break this target?After watching countless X’s and O’s with an enquiring mind on which chokes work where, here are my findings.Does choke selection matter? For some yes, others no, depending on how much ...

A Heretic’s Opinion on Shotguns

Three goals: 1) Consistency; 2) measurable shooting improvement; 3) higher scores. Here’s Part 1 of 4 in a series on what we can and can’t depend on to reach those goals. Each Part in the series offers a short preview of what I cover ...

Mr. Bittlekirk Is Missing

Frustrated over your missing? Odds are, it’s not your gun, chokes, loads or shooting methods. A fan of football, baseball and shooting, I liked Mr. Bittlekirk at the handshake. In the clubhouse, I inquired about his goals, targets shot ...

One Two Many

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. ...

The Truth About Measuring Leads

It’s human nature to leap to methods that promise quick and convenient ways to improve. From Tom Fiumarello, Paragon Senior Instructor: “It seems we as Americans have to have a hook. If we didn't, the golf industry would never ...

Sally’s Lesson

As our Fall wingshooting season approaches all too slowly, I thought you might enjoy a true story. My good friend’s name was Dave Miller. It was October in PA and Dave’s client wanted to go pheasant hunting. Dave set it up. ...