The Mental Game...Do’s and Don’ts

“The Secret every Master knows…

Never stop being a student of the game."

 When score matters, many of my students understandably want to learn more about the “mental game.” I encourage their questions and work diligently to clarify specific do’s and don’ts. And this works? Oh yeah…absolutely. 

Books abound on this important subject and I encourage their reading. My time here is short so let me share with you a few key points, each learned from long experience. Please remember, what follows is all said constructively. The hard truths I speak of? Those are reality.

First, I think it’s fair to say, much of the mind game revolves around where we put our attention and how well we maintain our focus. This focused attention prepares us for competition, both mentally and physically (practice). Then heighten our attention when “on deck;” in the shooting box; and after we exit the shooting box.

During competition, cell phones, sharing jokes and trash talk are contraindicated. These distractions move our attention away from preparing for the specific shooting tasks in front of us. Your preparation begins outside of the shooting box, focus escalates when you step into the shooting box. In the box, visualizing your swing in a Pre-Shot routine will measurably improve your upcoming swing on both targets. Tremendously! When score really matters, your Pre-Shot routine is indispensable and competent coaches teach it accordingly.  

As I’ve addressed in recent articles, in the shooting box, Task thinking takes precedence over outcome thinking. I’ll resist the temptation to expound on that at great length. Suffice it to say, when our attention moves to things we can’t control, our performance falls short. Predictably. A dependable Pre-Shot routine deliberately gathers our awareness (love that term), tightening our focus on our swing steps and bird-barrel relationships. Steps and sight pictures that create the required swing precision for XXXXXX.

Moving on…

Heaven knows we all want the target to break. Amen. And here comes the miss. And then another. This is crunch time, a very important moment of decision-making. All too often, here comes the rush of frustration and self-criticisms. The question now is: how is this negativity helping the shooter? The miss is history. The choices are, drown in disappointment and anger or, instead, find the set-up and/or swing error and correct it. That right there is how to build a better score. Didn’t say this was always easy…but will add more Xs to your scorecard!

Let’s stay here for a moment. Truthfully now…how many of you believe a miss is a negative? It isn’t. It’s feedback. A miss gives us a fleeting opportunity to learn something very important…why we missed. In practice, knowing why is nothing short of invaluable. Watching and learning why you missed tells you specifically what to correct. When corrected, XXXXXX. There’s a lesson you want to hold on to. If a miss steals and moves all your attention to negatives, asked respectfully, what was your goal when you stepped into the box? Good shooters know they can’t erase a miss. They first accept and then correct the error. Immediately. No muss, no fuss. It looks like this: XOXXXXXX. That right there is how to build a higher score.

“The only one who can tell you “you can’t win” is you…

and you don’t have to listen.”

- Jessica Ennis-Hill  

Gun loaded. Are you thinking about winning or losing at the end of the day/weekend? Time out. Right now, at this moment, where is your attention? “Trapper ready Ma’am.” Are you thinking “Don’t miss?” How important your score on this Station will be? Will I shoot in the 70s (80s / 90s) today? Questions like these move our attention to the future where you (and everyone else) have no control. None. Meaning? The first target in front of you needs all your attention. 

Speaking of that one target and where our attention should be…

A simple question. How many targets are there in a pair? Two…right? No. One. Only one. You have one target, one shell, and one swing. Before stepping into the box AND especially when in the box…let’s get ALL our attention on target # 1. If our attention is on two targets, our attention is now divided, leaving us what…maybe half our attention on target # 1? Half. X? Probably not.

Using the above example, here’s how misplaced attention steals targets from us. True or Report Pair, let’s say the second target (# 2) is much, much harder than the first. OK…THAT # 2 target has your attention. What now? Here’s the mental game rule. Put ALL your attention on TARGET # 1. I learned this mental rule from National Champion Andy Duffy. Trust me, I remember well what Andy said to me as he stepped into the shooting box. “I may not hit that second target Danny, but I’m going to make damn sure that first one breaks!!” He ran that station and many others, winning that tournament and dozens more. Thank you, Andy.

Another, but not the last mental technique…

Granted, we both know that stress typically goes into the box with us. Especially in competition. A large amount of stress creates anxiety and no surprise, our performance falls short. A small amount of stress, however, if you allow it to, can actually energize you. Some feel a rush of adrenaline, generating a “peak performance.” That’s not just an opinion. I speak from exhilarating, first-hand, been-there done-that experiences. Consider first “accepting” this type of stress and then use it to your advantage. 

Your being here is always appreciated. Be safe, shoot well, and 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 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)