Here…hold my coffee and WATCH THIS!!

Early in the 1980s, Sporting Clays landed in America. Friendly trash talk was fierce and the competition fiercer.  Being late that morning, loading my gear into the 4x4, I remember faintly hearing the shooting from Hummelstown Field & Stream. A real, down-home gun club across the street from Hershey PA, the good folks there make sure you feel welcome.

Way back then, the early trap machines were all manual, requiring a trapper to walk the course with his/her assigned squad of shooters. Remember walking? Sitting on the 3-legged trap stand, I had the privilege of loading my machine countless times, offering friends and newcomers the most challenging targets we could throw. While those early targets were rarely over thirty-five yards, trap machine springs and how the targets were placed on the trap arms kept shooters busy.   

So…gun loaded, what worked? Well…that depended on figuring out the best choke; the best shell; how much lead; what shot size; and, of course, the most important question of all…the best gun??? Lord knows, we tried them all knowing full well, when we missed, had we chosen something different we’d have broken more targets. OXXOOX…understandably, our equipment was eyed suspiciously.

Naturally, everyone paid close attention to those who shot the higher scores. What gun, choke, load, method did he/she use? This was typically followed by making a trip to Trop’s Gun Shop and emptying our wallets. After all…if the Acme Premium XX over/under worked for Harry Nevermiss? Surely…

And, as we all learned, hallelujah, our new gun, choke, and loads worked. And then it didn’t. And then it didn’t some more. Followed by, what’s up with that? And the search began again for what worked best. Good souls all, still early in the knowledge department, we were a determined bunch.

Please remember, I say all this respectfully with no criticism whatsoever. In hindsight, all of us tried hard, there was a lot we didn’t know. The method DuJour was all we had, primarily hand-eye coordination…aka, our God-given instincts. Which did work. Sometimes. Just like hand-eye coordination does today. 

Today and tomorrow, shooting instinctively can work well on the pheasant and quail field. However, for today’s clay target presentations…after decades of target setter mischievous skill development…not so much. Targets way back then required more swing “know-how” than we knew how to create. Just as it did in the past, today, this lack of knowledge costs us targets. And, especially now with our creative target setters intentionally throwing substantially more challenging presentations. More sophisticated trap machines, along with target sizes, shapes, lines, speeds, distances and angles, all of which are working in the setter’s favor.

All to say…using our basic hand-eye coordination still works. Sometimes. If we want more Xs on our scorecards, consistently, our pre-shot setup and swing precision asks for more than just our instinct. The key word in that is precision. Because yesterday, today and tomorrow…in the shooting box…each and every time our set-up and/or swing precision is compromised, the door opens to a missed target… regardless of shooter skill level or equipment 

As for choosing a shooting method specifically, a few thoughts.

Aside from the common, most basic methods, there are literally dozens of shooting methods. What I’m asking you to consider is this. Some of those methods will work. How dependably? Then, there are other methods that will, and do work far more reliably, provided they are executed correctly. With today’s targets, method choice and method execution have become much more important. I say that because breaking a target over and over again requires a degree of precision…emphasis on that word required. As history has shown us, while our instincts are in every way valuable, alone, can they be counted on to deliver the X dependability? 

And that more dependable method is? Mr. Gary Greenway…former N.S.C.A. Chief Instructor once said, “95% of the top shooters in the world are pulling away from their target when they pull the trigger.” He was correct, then and now. If I may respectfully add to that, IMHO, he may have underestimated the percentage a bit. How to a) build and b) execute this type of method correctly…are taught in my Paragon lessons and outlined in my three books: Take Your Best Shot, To The Target and Beyond The Target.

All of us share the desire to break more targets, to put more Xs on our scorecards. Consider researching shooting methods that can in fact…dependably and predictably…do just that. Consistently. OK, Dan…I hear you, but, what are the conditions? There are two. The first condition is that your pre-shot set up on the target be precise…and, second, the method be executed correctly with minimal mistakes. Those two things, assembled and executed well each and every time, will give you the required precision…XXXXXX…on time, consistently. A truth you can trust.

Thanks for being here. Stay warm and here’s to where you want your shooting to be in 2023.

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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 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, Skeet, Trap & 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 making 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)