Fall Down 7, Stand up 8

A scorekeeper behind us, the pressure around these 8 bird stations is so thick you could stick a fork in it. Out with 3 Sir. Out with 4 Ma’am. So much for our expectations. Missing hurts. Emotionally and physically. Been there done that? You’re not alone.

Let me say this upfront. Some may not like hearing what I have to say on this subject. I’ll risk it, hoping everyone can get past the bad news and move on to changes that can measurably improve one’s shooting. Seriously. Not just a promise but a rock-solid guarantee. If the changes are made.

There’s a lot more in what follows than just an opinion. The success of this mental adjustment is based on hard, proven facts. Some folks have already learned this...many have not. Those who haven't, here’s your opportunity. I share this with you based on first-hand knowledge and decades of in-the-shooting-box experience. Both behind the trigger, and, lately, just as much if not more from standing behind my students. And when the changes are made, incredibly good things begin to happen.

Here are the changes in steps.

The first step is to face the fact that the clay target disciplines…in the beginning…are hard. The truth is…the target couldn’t care less about our good intentions, our expectations, or how much we need to break it. And when do we miss? We're embarrassed, thinking we've failed. Right? And that's the root of the problem. Believing that we should be breaking these targets when the truth is…those expectations are not only unrealistic but set the stage for the inevitable frustration and disappointment. Those who consistently break all their targets, they’re excluded.

The hard truth is, we can expect to miss. Trust me, it’s inevitable and we can count on it happening. Not maybe. It will. If that’s true…and it is…why does XOOXOXXO mean we’ve failed? Here’s another hard truth. We haven’t. Missing predictably comes with skill development, for everyone, with no exceptions. Yet, here we are, disappointed in ourselves as we watch both targets, still intact, splash into the pond. Not once but twice!

Taking lessons from a competent instructor can help. Mightily...and move your game forward much faster. However, here’s a cheaper lesson. Missed the target? Figure out WHY. (Not where, because the mistake occurred in the shooting box behind the muzzle, not out yonder where the target is). Correct the error. X. Good on you. Lesson cost? One shell, one target. Worth of the lesson? Invaluable.

The mental change I’m proposing involves our being a bit more honest with ourselves when it comes to our shooting. About our actual skill level. That means admitting to ourselves that we can and can’t do it. Even more importantly, hold our expectations in check on the hoping and wishing.  Believe me, no one started by shooting scores in the ’90s. Skill development, for everyone, is a time-consuming “process”…not an event.

To better understand that process…to change our mindset on what it really takes to improve (in any endeavor), please Google the Japanese improvement philosophy called Kaizen. Kai as in “continuous”…and Zen as in “improvement.” The required, step-by-step “process” of improvement with emphasis on the word required. This is discussed at length in my third book, Beyond The Target, Book III. Regardless of the endeavor, skill-building takes time, including all our trial and error. Recognizing…then relentlessly reminding ourselves of this truth…opens the door to the next step, the next truth. Maybe the most important truth? 

"I have not failed.

I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

--Thomas Edison

XOOXXOXO. We’re back to missing…how we feel...the all-too-common assumption again being we’ve failed. When we haven’t. What we HAVE done is discovered that what we just did…did not work. That’s not failing. That’s learning. Adopting and holding onto this new and productive mindset takes us around and away from all the self-imposed, totally unnecessary misery over missing. Each and every miss provides us with an opportunity to learn…educate ourselves... measurably advance our skill level... build consistency and raise our scores.

We can make real progress IF we are willing to make changes in our shooting and in our perspective on missing by looking at our misses objectively instead of reacting. Missing is inescapable in our skill development process. Once we admit to ourselves and accept that missing is an unavoidable component of improvement…we can become more consistent and shoot higher scores. That in itself is a huge step forward. Kaizen. Patience and tenacity. Change a miss from a loss to an advantage learning and improving along the way. This is an invaluable lesson.

Just because things don’t turn out the way we planned,

does not mean we’ve failed.

I teach my students these principles from the first lesson forward. They see the value immediately and their determination and tenacity to adhere to the process greatly accelerate their improvement, their consistency, and their scores. And not just during their lessons but long after as well.

All the books on the Mental Game could fill a library. Yet, in my experienced opinion, the basic principles themselves are few, and not overly difficult to learn or understand. Like the ones I have outlined above. With a new mindset in place, not only do they expedite shooter progress, but they also virtually eliminate all the stress previously experienced. A calmer mind is a tremendous asset in the shooting box. Once a shooter accepts a lost target and uses it to his / her advantage, the rewards come very fast. And by that, I don’t mean just more Xs. Just as importantly, there’s the gratification and newfound confidence that comes from those X accomplishments. Kaizen. With a more open, more forgiving mindset.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my views with me. We hope to see you out on the course.

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About Dan Schindler

Dan Schindler is one of only 60 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK) and is one of the most highly respected Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instructors in the US. Dan is an NSCA Level III Instructor (since 1995) and founded the Paragon School of Sporting with one goal in mind. Whether it be for the advanced competitor or providing the basics to the entry-level shooter, Paragon provides the simplest, most practical and most effective Instruction, Coaching and Mental Training for the Sporting Clays & Wingshooting enthusiast. Dan Schindler helps shooters alleviate a lot of their frustration by taking the mystery out of breaking targets, calling their own misses, and make their own corrections. Lessons are fun, enlightening and our clients learn to shoot better in minutes!  

Dan Schindler's Books

"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors

and parents of youth shooters."

Take the mystery out of missing targets and feathers with Dan Schindler's simple, easy-to-understand books. They're your road map for consistently and dependably shooting higher scores.

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer It's all about the fundamentals, a requirement for good shooting. This book is used by high school and college shooting teams, recreational and competitive shooters from around the world. Solid, valuable, concise information that has helped thousands of shooters shoot more consistently with higher scores.

To The Target (Book II) Builds on the steps outlined in Book I. Emphasises Gun Management skills when the trap fires, creating a consistent, reliable, trustworthy swing.

Beyond the Target (Book III) is for shooters of all levels, filled with valuable information, clay target truths. Entertaining and a culmination of 3 decades of Dan's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.

Here's what Shooters, Coaches and Clay Shooting USA saying...

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III)