Sporting Clays, Skeet and Trap Targets…XXs not happening?

If you are serious about taking your shooting to the NEXT LEVEL…improving your performance and scores…I promise to make this reading worth your while. Have a seat and hang with me.

If you speak with my students, they will unanimously tell you that I teach a shooting system. A specific process. They will also tell you this process is powerful, very precise, and yields consistent, uber-successful results. Not just exceeding their expected X count but creating invaluable knowledge – specific steps on how to break targets, how to call their own misses and how to make corrections so their next target breaks. Their understanding of what’s important to focus on is discussed inside the clubhouse – before we go out to shoot. This is equally important to the outside gun work. Possibly even more so.

Why do I say that? As you consider choosing an instructor, does he/she have a well-constructed shooting system? A very specific, step-by-step process for you to follow that works every time, all the time?

For example – specific preparation work avoids problems before the shooting starts – not after. Never overlooked, eye dominance must first be checked, evaluated and handled correctly. Far too many shooters are diagnosed incorrectly AND then adjusted improperly or worse, unnecessarily. Regrettably, mistakes here will cost the student, short and long-term.

How important is gun FIT? Here’s the truthful answer to those who ask because they simply don’t know. Time and work spent to make sure the gun fits perfectly – in order to break more targets – is time and work wasted. Provided there is no glaring, serious gun fit issue – XX XX XX consistency comes from learning the basics, and executing a correct swing that places the shot string in the right place to break the target. Any small, inconsequential gun fit issue is NOT the reason for missing targets. Lack of shooting knowledge and/or shooter errors are the cause(s) of missing. Always have been, and always will be. Gun fit won’t break targets. Shooters do. 

As discussed in my last article, Specifically - How To Break Targets Consistently, all shooters want to break their target. This is completely understandable. Unfortunately, no one can. Why? Because it’s the shot string that breaks the target. And once that shot string leaves the muzzle by one-thousandth of an inch, how much control over the shot outcome does our shooter have now? None. Zero. Nada. This means the shooter's mission in the box – and where his / her attention should be – is on the correct swing management. And why attention on trying to break the target leaves little if any attention on guiding the gun properly. To avoid any misunderstanding here, I’m not talking about aiming the shotgun. Let’s not go there. I am saying, XXXXXX will depend on swing precision. Our shooter must decide whether to put his/her attention on swing precision, or “trying to break the target?” Only one will break the target consistently.

In all my formal lessons, before we head to the course, I comprehensively address where my student’s attention should be in the shooting box right before the gun comes up and the target is called for: on TASK thinking or process thinking. Swing management.

If I may…to make sure I am very clear here…allow me to back up for a moment.

Understandably, most of us are hard-wired to focus our attention on performance outcomes…the X…instead of the steps required to produce that outcome. That’s called outcome thinking.

Henry Ford revolutionized factory production, by creating his assembly process. Ford shortened the time necessary to produce a single vehicle from 12 hours to 90 minutes. By focusing on the process, production skyrocketed. As will yours. The Paragon Shooting System aka process (that I developed and refined over the past 3+ decades) will dramatically shorten your learning curve and allow you to quickly move your shooting forward starting within minutes and will continue to serve you well, provided you follow the process without making changes.

With process thinking…in the shooting box, gun loaded…by moving my student’s attention to the very specific set-up and swing steps (process)…allows my student to quickly integrate the Paragon Shooting Process into their shooting and dramatically increases not only their X counts but their consistency. No longer lost and confused, they quickly learn 2 essential lessons: 1) WHY they miss, and 2) WHY the target broke. This is the indispensable knowledge that creates improvement. By placing their attention on their required steps (process)…instead of outcome thinking…raising an X count becomes predictable and much more successful. Much more. A hard and reliable truth.

If you’ll spend a minimum of 5 or maybe 10 years of intense reading and study, you can learn the mental game. OR…if you take this information to heart - and implement the information into your game - you can do the same. Seriously. Not kidding.

Cheryl and I wish You a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Be safe, take good care and enjoy our shooting community’s wonderful fellowship. 

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XXXX

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)