Have you noticed how the really good ones make it look so easy? Gymnasts, skateboarders, cyclists, runners, shooters—the ones in the lead—all have an easy, rhythmic stride or stroke.
Too many shooters approach the shot anxiously, the swing is much too fast and the shot is launched, more with hope than confidence. Their tempo—the first T—is too fast, putting the gun out of control. Contrast that with the advanced, experienced shooter who has this almost "syrupy” swing, a slow, fluid, graceful swing that delivers the XX. Why is this slower tempo so effective? First, because the swing speed is beautifully matched to the bird speed. That synchronizing of the muzzle and target creates a swing with precision, putting the muzzle on the right line and at just the right speed. Tempo—matching gun speed to bird speed—is the purest form of gun control, putting the muzzle into the right place at just the right time.
The second T is timing. Too often a target is missed because the trigger is pulled too soon or too late, the shooter not knowing which. The experienced shooter has learned, really good tempo slows everything down so the eyes can get the visual confirmations of bird-barrel alignment. That visual confirmation shows you where your gun really is—as opposed to where you think it is, or hope it is. Why is that so important? If you don't know what the bird-barrel relationship is—precisely—how will you know when to pull the trigger? The right tempo gives you great visuals. This wonderful visual leads to great timing of the trigger pull. T&T = gun control = more consistency = higher scores.
