The Secret to Shooting Higher Scores
07/28/2023 | By: Daniel Schindler, Master Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instructor
Want to raise your scores? Want to be more consistent in the shooting box? To “measurably” improve your shooting…please consider the following.
From the feedback over the last eight weeks, it seems our 4-part series on shooting methods created some clarity for more than a few shooters…the very purpose of How Much Lead?, How Much Lead? Part II, How Much Lead? Part III and How Much Lead? Part IV.
For that reason, I thought a bit of follow-up on those methods might be prudent.
As a full-time, national and international instructor and coach…the focus here will be on improving your shooting. Whether you choose to enlist an instructor for assistance, or not, I’m confident the following can be of value to you. Take a few minutes and work with me here, OK? Thanks.
Specifically, what you should be expecting from your instructor during a paid lesson. What are your instructor’s obligations to you, assuming your “stated” goal is measurable improvement in your shooting? Not just broken targets here and there but knowing how and especially WHY that target did or did not break. Critical knowledge one must have to advance one’s skills.
For clarity, let’s start here and be crystal clear about the key difference between “fixing” and “teaching.”
Fixing is what an instructor should be doing when “fun and entertainment” are the client’s goals. Family groups and corporate groups. On purpose, the targets thrown will be especially soft, assuring a lot of X’s. Rightfully so. Hold the gun here…point there…pull the trigger. X. X. X. X. Everyone has a great time and goes home happy. The shooter and instructor’s goals have been met. However, what was learned today?
The real question here being…with fixing…every time the shooter arrived at the next Station on the course…what information from the last Station can our shooter use now with different targets? When the shooter’s goal is “measurable improvement,” all the instructor’s “fixing” on the last Station won’t help the shooter on this Station. Or the next. Worse…at the end of the lesson (??) after a lot of X’s…our shooter understandably goes home believing he/she has improved their shooting. They haven’t. Breaking a target and learning how to break a target are two very different things. This costly misunderstanding is why fixing should never be a part of teaching when skill advancement is the shooter’s goal. Please read that again.
On your goals to break targets more consistently…
After safety of course, I believe your instructor’s #1 obligation is to prepare you to continue succeeding…to “continue improving”…after your lesson, when you are standing on your home course, alone, with no instructor behind you. Wouldn’t that be a reasonable expectation on your part? You made that goal very clear when you booked your lesson. Yes? The question is…during your lesson, are you being prepared to do that? This brings us to your instructor’s second obligation, how to accomplish the first.
On your home course after your lesson, let’s say you might miss some targets. Hypothetically of course. Here’s the question. Do you know WHY you missed? NOT where the miss went but why. In the shooting box, behind the muzzle, what went wrong? What was the swing mistake that caused the miss? So, with the very next shell, you can correct that mistake on purpose. X. X. X. X. Deliberately. This skill is called “self-correcting.” This is your instructor’s obligation, to teach you how to self-correct your miss. So you can do this on your own. An instructor who “fixes” your miss might help you break the next target. Maybe. However, did that fix teach you anything? Please forgive my saying it again…breaking a target and learning how to break a target are two very different things. Moving on to your instructor’s third obligation.
X. Congratulations. Asked respectfully…was that X an accident or was it on purpose? Intentional? Good shooters…they know the answer. If we’re going to improve our shooting skills, so must we. If the target was broken by accident, do you know what to correct, so you don’t make that swing mistake again? No? X. O. O. O. If you know your swing was right, for sure, now you can repeat that swing. X. X. X. X. On purpose. To improve one’s shooting, when necessary, knowing how to self-correct applies to both O’s and X’s.
Should you decide to seek instruction…to advance your shooting skills…please be careful to avoid being fixed during your lesson. Find an instructor who will meet his / her obligations and teach you the above. X or O, learning how to self-correct should be a top priority goal for you and your instructor.
Take the mystery out of missing targets and feathers with Dan Schindler's 3 books: Take Your Best Shot, To The Target and Beyond The Target. These simple, easy-to-understand books are your road map to consistently and dependably shooting higher scores. They are written for shooters of all skill levels. More information on the Paragon School of Sporting website along with dozens of blog posts.
Next article…let’s uncomplicate the Mental Game. Simple steps that really do work.
Thanks for being here. Be safe and shoot well. I hope our paths cross 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!
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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