Scores. . . When They Matter. . .When They Don’t
01/08/2022 | By: Daniel Schindler, Master Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instructor
Ok. . .hold your gun here. . .point right there. X X X. Hey. . .congratulations, you’re definitely getting better at this. Folks, unfortunately, this is not true and fertile ground for a misunderstanding.
“If you don’t know where you are going,
you can end up somewhere else.”
– Yogi Berra
Teaching versus fixing. . .what can you expect, what can’t you?
Different shooters, different goals. For some folks, real shooting improvement just isn’t all that important. This approach to shooting appeals to many and certainly doesn’t need any defending. Different strokes for different folks. Others are the opposite. Raising scores and advancing their personal skill levels matter. Greatly. That’s why shooter goals and lesson agendas should never get mixed up. Ever.
When an Instructor accepts a session with a corporate group or family members. . .when it’s all about FUN. . .safety and entertainment are the ONLY two goals. Keep everyone safe and make very sure the chosen trap machines are throwing “can’t miss” targets. Keep’em close and slow. Hangtime for each target? Four minutes or thereabout. Right on schedule, as intended, lots and lots of targets are breaking. Every time a miss occurs, here the Instructor offers a “quick fix” that will result in an X on the very next shot. It does. Session over, the corporate or family group leaves very, very happy, the course owner and Instructor feeling the same. This was the intent for all involved. Please note, however, there was no real teaching involved today. No formal instruction. No real learning or shooting “improvement.” Today, shooters came for fun, not to learn how to shoot. Mission accomplished.
Two days later a shooter from this corporate group steps into the shooting box on his/her home course, with no Instructor present. Brimming with confidence, the missing begins. Why? Because there was no teaching, no learning on the agenda two days ago. Just fixing. . .no real instruction. Which is acceptable. . .remembering our shooter attended that session to be entertained. . .not to be taught how to improve his/her shooting. A misunderstanding to be avoided by both shooter and Instructor.
Fixing has a place in the entertainment business. . .but should never be substituted for “teaching” in the clay target sports where student improvement is the specific and openly stated goal. Here, real improvement is on the line and has been specifically requested. Here is where an Instructor inserting “fixing” is not only contraindicated and unprofessional, but unethical.
When the shooting becomes more serious, teaching clearly has very different priorities. This is a formal lesson. Along with safety, of course, your learning and improving are the two goals. This excludes fixing. Please read that exclusion again. Your schooling, your revelations are on today’s schedule. X’s and O’s, the actual causes of those outcomes. . .your learning “why” you missed or hit the target. . .are promptly revealed and discussed. You can expect to have the required Basics and more precise movements replace unintentional set-up and swing movement errors, aka your inconsistencies. Your comprehension of this entire process is your Instructor’s obligation to you. You are here to learn X generating corrections. . .corrections that can be taken home, repeated and reinforced. You are not here to be fixed. . .which won’t “teach” you anything. . .and certainly won’t work at home.
With “improvement” as your stated goal before and during your lesson, in my experienced opinion, you have every right to expect your Instructor to meet the following obligations.
1. Safety.
2. To fully prepare you to continue to succeed…to continue your improving. . .AFTER you return home where there will be no Instructor standing behind you.
3. To teach you how to “SELF-correct” a miss, on your own. If you leave your lesson unable to do this, what will you do when the missing begins at home, lost and confused, with no Instructor behind you? From an O to an X with the very next shell. . .are you learning how? Are you ready? If not, what was the purpose of your lesson? See # 2.
4. God bless you, but, the reality is, some of your targets will be broken by accident. Can you now “self-correct” the set-up and/or swing movement mistakes? If not, what are the odds the next target will break if you repeat the same errors with this shell? Just like “self-correcting” when you miss, are you being taught to visually see “why” this target broke so you’ve got a specific plan with the next shell? Because hope is not a plan. See # 2.
Entertainment being the goal, fixing is not only rewarding for all involved but honorable work for the Instructor. Teaching, however. . .instructing in a formal lesson. . .is what we Instructors do when our student is paying for and expecting knowledge, how to advance his/her shooting skills. Very specifically now, this includes being taught what goes where, and why. What to do before AND during the swing movement on each one of the three common presentations. I share all this with you because, only the latter will make you a better shooter when you stand in the box on your home course, alone, Instructor absent. Your being “fixed” never has and never will make you a better shooter.
“Success spends more time
with those who are prepared.”
IMHO, a competent, ethical Instructor has an obligation to discuss all this with you beforehand so you’re both on the same page, not only before but during your lesson. If you are serious about improving your skills, raising your scores, your Instructor owes you working knowledge and the very specific shooting methods that are, consistently, 100% dependable. . .not just broken targets. Just as importantly, your Instructor’s training doesn’t stop at the end of your lesson. Days, weeks after your lesson(s)…standing alone in the shooting box. . .are you still improving? That will depend on a) the specific set-up and swing “steps” you were taught, and b) what you are practicing AND how you are practicing. Ask your Instructor for that guidance.
As always, we appreciate your stopping by and spending time with us. Cheryl and I and all our Instructors wish you a safe and blessed New Year. All of us look forward to seeing 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 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!
Testimonials
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.
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