Fast Track to Shooting Higher Scores

You and I both want that target to break. Right? Of course, we do. Amen. And when it doesn’t break? Try, try, and try again…or something like that. Which takes us to OXOOXOXO. Not exactly what we were hoping for. Which brings up more practice. And rightfully so. Like medicine…it might taste bad but it’s good for us.

“It’s not the will to win that matters —

everyone has that.

It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”

– Paul “Bear” Bryant

Off to the course we go…gun, shells in hand…expectations in check. Right? Well, not exactly. It’s that expectations thing. Because no one likes missing…and miss we will.

Chambers empty, both targets landed untouched.

We can still see the ripples on the pond.

(Expletives deleted)

Do we remember to tell ourselves…

There are no losses,

only lessons? 

First, let me honestly say, I am privileged to be able to work with every one of my students. Always have been. They come with valid questions about their lack of consistency, confused and often frustrated over not knowing a) why they are missing, and, b) why they can’t repeat the X…at least not intentionally or consistently. What they lack…what they are searching for…are the necessary fundamentals...a simple, dependable shooting “system.” Literally, a no-nonsense, step-by-step system that works on time, all day, every day. Eliminating all the complications, all the mysteries, Paragon offers that system, with specifics. Here is one step from that system. 

We can skip debating the necessity of practice. That’s a given. The question I’m asking is: what are we taking out of a practice session? Because practice means different things to different people, it could be argued, there are no practice requirements. Unless, of course, shooting improvement is the goal.

With that goal in mind…

Two words…failure (what didn’t work) and success…definitions different from Websters. Why? To create more consistency, to put more Xs on our score card. FWIW, as I’m not comfortable with the word failure, please allow me to use it here, only as it relates to our understandably missing targets. Patience and self-forgiveness to the front, please.

Let’s take a closer look at what some may or may not be taking out of their practice sessions.

Glued to the TV, I watched a dialogue between Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon, a well-known professor of the mental game. The question was, did Butch know what Tiger’s swing error was? Butch said, yes, he did. Tiger was elated and said, “Then you can fix my game.” Butch replied, “No Tiger. I can show you how, but only you can fix your game.” Let’s hold onto that. 

From Tiger’s book, I read that a week later he was standing on the practice range to implement and reinforce Butch’s swing change. If I remember correctly, thirty balls later…exactly…not a single swing had been right. Tiger 30, progress 0. And then…ball number thirty-one…the magic happened. And Tiger knew it! Success.

Here are a few thoughts about that success, and the errors that led up to it. 

First, to improve, Tiger made a commitment to do what it would take to create the necessary change in his game. The same commitment it will take for us to create our changes, to create our improvement. More specifically (and perhaps more importantly) our willingness to accept (and forgive) the mistakes and missing that we know will be coming our way during practice. Difficulties we’re all familiar with. Our upcoming blunders…our errors, the agony of defeat and frustration… are all the steps on the ladder leading upward to a higher skill level. So, this climbing is required? No. It isn’t. Unless, of course, shooting improvement is the goal. 

Improvement?

There is no elevator,

we all have to take the stairs.

Second, Tiger’s ball number thirty-one was not a success because it flew as hoped for and landed on the intended spot. It was a success because Tiger knew…knew…he’d made the change and executed the swing correctly. There’s a difference. He understood that difference, specifically, and recognized what he’d done right. For us, it’s our recognizing the difference between an X that is a mystery…and an X where we know why the target broke. To be intimately familiar with that difference. So, during our practice, we can intentionally repeat that swing, breaking the next target. In that order of priority, please. Deliberately. Again and again. Building consistency. Our awareness of the swing change…our ability to repeat that change intentionally and correctly…not just the X…that’s the definition of success…our goal during a practice session! We first must know why we missed and why that target broke. So we can correct the swing error…from an O to an X with one shell…or, repeat that X swing.

Before and during practice, this is the “attention shift,” or maybe “goal shift” I’m respectfully recommending. Because endless practice, blindly trusting an inconsistent swing…no matter how many targets break…only reinforces our swing errors, unfortunately strengthening habits that some of us will want to change down the road. It’s that inconsistent swing that’s causing OXOOXOOX one day and XOXXOXXX the next. Improvement? Sorry, no. Not just to break the target…but to become aware of WHY we’re hitting or missing the target…right there is where our attention is sorely needed. If not and we’re lost and confused…wondering why that X or O just happened…where can any practice improvement come from? Not just more X’s here and there but real, measurable improvement?

As to what really comes out of a practice session, if all we have are empty shells, a thinner wallet and some broken birds, we’ve cheated ourselves out of a worthwhile practice session. Consider asking yourself this personal question: shell by shell, target by target, what am I learning? What’s better in my shooting now than it was yesterday; one hour; one minute; ten seconds ago?

To avoid any misunderstandings here, I’m confident you know I’m not suggesting we be careful,  aim our shotgun, or any such foolish thing during practice. Practice should have a purpose. If it’s breaking targets, so be it, the goal being entertainment. If, however, the goal of practice is to gain improvement, each swing, each trigger pull takes on a new meaning.

Please consider that putting my recommendations into service can increase your return on a purposeful practice session. Required? Absolutely not. Unless, of course, shooting improvement is your goal.

Thanks for spending time with us here and 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 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)