It Ain't Magic

“Baseball is 90% mental.

The other half is physical.”

--Yogi Berra

Folks, here’s a quick look into the mental game and why it ain’t magic. A little patience please as keeping this particular article short was a bit like trying to explain to men how women think in 10 words or less. Wait ladies…no need to reach for the frying pan. That we do things differently is old news, no offense intended. Thank you.

Here’s a story on how to elevate your performance in the shooting box. Forgive the archery story …the type of equipment is irrelevant to my message here.

The time was further back than I care to say. The Pennsylvania State Archery championship was coming fast. Early that morning, I was practicing. Sort of. Arrow after arrow left in a direction opposite of my intention. Coffee in hand, my good friend Ron approached and watched silently. Ron’s girlfriend, Linda, had been on the US archery team in the Olympics. His opinion on my shooting mattered.

As I walked back from the target to my shooting position, arrows in hand and discouraged, Ron asked what I was doing? Say what? What am I doing? Determined, I drew back and launched another failed attempt. And again, Ron quietly asked the same question. I had assumed Ron already knew I was trying to put the arrow in the bullseye. So, I said that. Exactly. He replied, “Yup. Thought so. There’s your problem.”

Excuse me…putting the arrow in the bullseye was my problem? I thought my standing there, bow in hand, might be a hint.  

Handing me an arrow, Ron asked me… “Dan, after the arrow leaves your bow by 1,000th of an inch, how much control do you have over the shot now?”

Even this English major knew that answer so I said, “None.”

“Correct,” Ron said, “so please put all…as in 100% of your attention on what you must get right before you release that arrow. Put ALL your attention back here on what you are doing, not out yonder on what you hope will happen.”

OK. Taking my time, I did. Exactly. And I watched that arrow fly dead center, smack into the small, yellow bullseye. Exactly. Smothering the X. That’s when I put the bow down and stepped back. What the heck was that…and more importantly…how can I do that again? In simple terms, I’d just learned to put all my attention on what I could control…and stop trying to control what I could not control. Right there folks is a pearl.

A few days later I was reading an article in a popular archery magazine. The author, an Olympic archery Coach, asked this question. “How many arrows will you shoot in a FITA round?” In my upcoming event, I knew the answer was 30…ten rounds of 3 arrows per round. That’s 30. She then said, “If you said 30, that is incorrect.” I thought, nope, sorry, can’t be. The rule book says 30 arrows. She went on to say, “The correct answer is one.”

And then it hit me. I was gobsmacked, stupefied and dumbfounded by her answer. Because she was correct. Back to what Ron had told me. One arrow, one shot, focus on what I could control.

The day of the tournament, almost all were shooting target bows with sights. All but one. I’d always been an instinctive archer and stayed with what I trusted. In the past, in my mind, competition had always been me against them. Not today. I kept all my attention on this arrow and this arrow only. I made absolutely dead certain everything was correct before I released that string. And I mean exactly. Still as a rock, I was a machine. Using more discipline than I knew I had…I did that ONE time. And again. One time. Repeat. After 30 times…HOA. Thank you, Ron.

The mental game in sports has always been given a lot of attention, and rightfully so. The win, however, doesn’t always go to the biggest, strongest or to the one with the most skill. Neither does it always go to the most determined as determination without skill is a bucket with no bottom.  

“It’s tough to make predictions,

especially about the future.”

--Yogi Berra

So…may I suggest we don’t. They’re called “expectations” and they can sink a performance faster than skating on a pond in July. Expectations are distractions that move our attention out, into the future, away from our tasks, where, again, we have no control. Not one bit.

“If you don’t know where you are going…

you might end up some place else.”

--Yogi Berra

This is where determination without skill…without a plan…gets us in trouble. All those good intentions are righteous indeed…but are no substitute for gun control. The same control that puts precision into your swing. The same control that puts consistency into your swing. This asks for total focus on your Tasks (gun management, i.e., basics)…one shell…one target…one correct shot…repeat. Mentally go past ONE and control will be compromised. OXXOOX.

In closing, so there’s no misunderstanding here, I’m not in any way recommending you aim or micromanage your shotgun. But…racket, club, bow or gun…control requires your focused attention on what you are doing, not shot “outcomes.” Those take place out yonder. Where you have no control. And why skill development depends on focusing on the basics, gun management, your STEPS…which BTW is all you can control.

And for the record, over time and after all it has taken to measurably advance your skill, I’d suggest that your attention can safely shift to trusting a swing that has now become more instinctive…without losing either precision or consistency.  Before that comes with risks.

With that, I bid you adieu and may those of you struggling with this Winter find some rest and comfort.

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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 & 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)