Taking The Next Step - Which Way?
January 2011 Sporting Clays Tip
by Dan Schindler
Happy New Year Everyone.
Since our sport's gone into it's usual short hibernation this time of the year, I thought we could spend a minute thinking about the upcoming season.
Folks in general seem to approach the upcoming season with the same hope they had at this time the year before. There's nothing wrong with good intentions mind you but what are we changing in our approach to this season? Realistically, can we expect to see some measurable gains in our skills and performances if we're coming into the new year counting on the status quo? I submit this to you respectfully, but that just seems unlikely.
A more honest and candid evaluation of our game would lead us in search of improvement - what is it specifically that needs improvement-how will we get there? Practice? Good idea. Practice what? Well, shooting. Sounds good but at the end of the practice round what was accomplished? What part of the strategy, swing, shooting method or sight pictures was adjusted - was improved? What changed?
We know a house isn't built in a day. It's built in steps or stages. So it is with our game. What "one" step or piece have we isolated to work on? If unsure, then the practice will be an unguided, hit and miss affair with the hope that something good will come out of it. What's missing here is a plan, a blueprint to get something of value out of each shell.
I've been out here a very long time and can honestly say that every one of us standing beside you on the sporting clays course wishes you well. We're pulling for you. But our hopes and your wishes are no substitute for sound shooting basics. For 2011, I wish you the enlightenment, the changes that will move your game onto a more productive, more consistent, more gratifying path. Be safe and I greatly look forward to breaking some targets with you in the months ahead.
December 2010 Tip
Gun Mount and Swing - 1 Motion - Not 2
Please place one hand under your gun's receiver - balancing the barrel on one side, stock on the other. Now gently push the stock UP and watch what happens to the muzzle. It, of course, goes DOWN. During your gun mount - this is exactly what happens if your trigger hand goes UP faster than the fore-end hand in charge of the swing. In slow motion - if the trigger hand snatches the gun to the face - the muzzle does a "dirt dive." ............
February 2011 Tip
PIECES!
There are many important elements to the Paragon Instructor certification class and I'd like to share with you one of the most important. You being the shooter reading this, possibly considering instruction.
Obviously, the instructor candidates in the class share a desire "to help." That's one of the reasons why they come to this class, to learn how to assist you competently when called upon. On day 1 of the class - the candidates are inclined to believe (once trained) that they can............
