Shooting Methods - Wise Choices - 2 of 4
January 2009 Sporting Clays Tip
by Dan Schindler
Happy New Year everyone!!
Last month we discussed the first of the 4 primary shooting methods: Maintained Lead. This month I thought we could talk about Swing Through. While more than a few good shooters favor swing-through as a base method, I personally see it as a specialized shooting method.
Let's look at its primary weakness. And it's strength. Ample gun speed. When gun speed picks up, it's exponentially harder to control. The higher the rate of speed, the higher the risk of compromising precision in the swing. Many who employ swing-through simply cannot control the gun, their sight picture or the shot. It's a dicey affair, with success hinging mightily on timing of the trigger pull. Get the timing right,...X. Get it wrong,...0. And the higher gun speed makes it increasingly difficult to time that trigger pull correctly, and consistently.
However, a controlled swing through can be very effective. Here the gun speed creates lead effortlessly. Follow through? No problem. I see 2 very good applications for swing-through. First, for those who have follow through problems, visually coming in slightly behind the bird encourages a pull through, past the bird. Second, provided you are controlling the gun, swing-through can move your break points back—aggressively. This is a huge advantage when you need to take that first bird down right now! By doing so, you just created the much needed advantage of an earlier (closer) breakpoint, or better hold point on the second bird.
Increased gun speed can be an asset or a liability, depending on how it is managed. Managed properly, swing-through is a must-have method to handle some of the more difficult report and true pair presentations. Generally speaking, swing-through favors the speedier targets out there. Executed properly it is a joy to have in your repertoire and delivers the X's when you really need it to.
December 2008 Tip
Shooting Methods - Wise Choices - 1 of 4
Last month we talked about the advisability of you having more than one shooting method available when facing so many sporting clays target presentations. I thought, over the next few months, each month we could focus on one method, why and where you might want to use it.
Before we begin, I'd like to say that this is a hotly debated topic. Many will argue that this method or that method is best for a particular presentation. Will that method work on that presentation? Sure! Consistently?..............
February 2009 Tip
Shooting Methods - Wise Choices - 3 of 4
We're here again, talking about shooting methods. We've previously covered Maintained Lead and Swing-Through. This month we'll cover Churchill, an old and controversial shooting method.
Few have been able to accurately describe this method and how it works. But it does work and it has its advantages
Churchill, like swing-through, relies on increased gun speed. Some proponents and teachers of this method will tell you to shoot right at the target..............
