They Promised Me It Would Work

It didn’t. 

And, unfortunately, that was just the beginning. 

Learning which shooting method to put your faith in takes some doing. Understandably, along the way, mistakes will be made. Here’s one I made, so, hopefully, you don’t.

Wing or clay, if the target calls for the Churchill shooting method, use it with confidence. Let’s get that said. However, before counting on this method on our clay ranges, beware of the method’s inflexible limitations. You wouldn’t drive a Model T on the Interstate during rush hour…right? Asking Churchill to be your # 1, primary, foundation clay shooting method will very quickly reveal its inherent weaknesses. Shortcomings that will cost you. Most importantly…on the majority of our target presentations…know that it’s the method that’s failing…not you. Because the method was never created to handle those presentations. Not dependably.

Every competent Coach knows…

when the next X really, really matters…

the shooting methods’ got to show up and work! 

Regarding Churchill, here's my forthright story…a journey of testing and discouraging results.

Way back then, in the early 1980s, Sporting Clays was new to American shooters. That’s a polite way of saying we didn’t know what we were doing. Which was 100% understandable. I think it’s fair to say, we were all using our God-given eye/hand coordination to break targets. Other than Mr. Dan Carlisle (God bless you Dan) we had no methods to refer to. With my athletic background, my natural coordination served me well in the shooting box. Said humbly, I worked at it and put up some good scores.

So far so good.

Here’s the testing part…to learn where the method worked…where it didn’t. X’s and O’s, what was ultimately being tested was method dependability. Plain and simple. No excuses. Because we were counting on the method to work. Right? But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Early 1990s…wanting to learn…to improve my teaching skills…I went to instructor certification school where I learned the Churchill shooting method. I was surprised, impressed, and shot the method well. Those are understatements. Hey…I could do this!! Grateful then, and now, I was shown, taught how it worked. Unfortunately, times being what they were, I wasn’t shown “where” it didn’t work. That…over time…I had to learn the hard way. It was indeed a very costly lesson, and why I’m sharing it with you.

Returning home, certification in hand…as in immediately…my once good scores fell. The word plummeted comes to mind. My friends Henry, Barry, Paul, Tim, all asked me…”What happened to you?” I had no answer. But, here’s the deal. I persevered. Tenaciously. I kept the faith. I shot the Churchill method…by the book. I know I did because I have the book. I taught my students the method…by the book. Trust your instincts…the bird will break!! See the target rings…focus on the leading edge of the bird. No need to see any bird / barrel “relationships.” Just trust yourself…the X will happen! One by one, my students, they too stumbled, doing exactly what I said above. As in, perfectly. In a half-dozen states where I’d been teaching, my students hit a scoring plateau and couldn’t move up. Could not. Maybe you can relate?

This I remember like it was yesterday. I returned home after teaching this method and told my wife Cheryl…”I taught him everything I know. If he comes back, how will I improve his swing?” I knew this because Churchill is all about shooting “instinctively!” Trust your instincts, focus harder on the target, don’t worry about lead…that’s the method. In the end, after a long history of testing and disappointing experiences, it was becoming very obvious Churchill wasn’t cutting it. 

Sitting on the edge of my bed a week before the New Year, I asked myself if I was going to continue down this same path next year? No. I wasn’t. So, I went to see my British mentors, Peter and Wendy Crabtree of the West London Shooting School. Every day…six all-day lessons which I rightly paid for…that exhausting but productive, week-long experience in the shooting box got my shooting and my teaching on the right path. Finally.

What we are all seeking is X consistency. Repeatability.

This brings us back to method dependability.

Meaning I never used the Churchill method again? No. I learned what worked where Churchill didn’t.

The truth is, the method in question relies on instinct. Which worked on clay ranges in 1991 when the targets were a lot closer, slower with little or no target setter craftiness involved. Back then target presentations were pretty much about safety and entertainment. Many of today’s presentations, however, have substantially increased target speeds…then adding longer distances to opposing targets traveling on outgoing, curling trajectories. Here, using instinct just won’t be enough. It won’t. And that’s just one of many hundreds of target presentation examples on today’s courses. Today’s trap machines and more technical presentations require…emphasis on that word require…real gun control…real set-up and swing movement precision. Those are non-negotiable. Compromise that precision…which instinct unintentionally does…OOXOOX. X consistency? Gone. Fact. Not opinion. Hard focus on the target or not, asking our instincts to break these targets…not just sometimes…well, sorry, they won’t. Not consistently. They can’t.

And all this is my opinion? Not hardly. Over the decades, in my well-attended instructor certification classes…along with the other common shooting methods…where to use them…when not…all my Candidates are taught Churchill…by the book. They love it. As I once did. Right up until they see it stop working. Where, right on schedule, it fails. On the majority of “today’s” Sporting Clays presentations…it is best kept locked in our method toolbox. Why? On the average clays course, the method will inevitably disappoint. Count on it. A truth confirmed countless times. Been there, done that, personally and professionally.

So, this is my condemnation of Churchill? No, it’s not. Take it to a Georgia plantation for Quail. You’ll love the method. The Quail will hate it. I’m just urging you to learn Churchill’s limitations early, not later. I didn’t and it cost my clay target students and myself dearly for too long. Corrected…maybe 15 years ago…by moving to other methods…all the problems disappeared, promptly and completely. With more reliable methods in place, daily, my students’ performances and scores predictably improved. As they are today.

I’m often reminded that Churchill is still being taught as a base method for the majority of our clay targets. Based on my all-too-long, first-hand experience, I believe this is a serious, problematic mistake, one you should avoid.

Set by hard-working, very creative people…to our benefit…trap machines and target presentations have been steadily evolving for the last 30+ years. As have our shooting methods. Next article, we can talk about a few of those methods. When executed correctly on our current target presentations, they will work for you, on schedule. Necessary precision and dependability included.

Thanks for stopping by. We hope to 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, Skeet, Trap 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)