Xs The Easier Way

My students often ask this universal question…”Will I ever be able to shoot well? Because I’m not.” The honest answer to everyone is…yes, you can. Just my opinion? Maybe. But an opinion based on having worked with thousands of good students who’ve learned they can. On their own. Dependably and consistently.  

 Their having missed time and time again so often lead to “I’m failing,” which reinforced “I can’t do this.” The truth, however, is the opposite, hiding behind the natural reaction to each miss.

The fact is, there’s no lack of shooting potential here. None.  What’s missing is knowing how to successfully set up and execute a consistent swing. Once taught and basics learned, amazing things happen. Quickly. Lesson after lesson, countless times, I’ve had the privilege of watching my students make amazing progress in their very first lesson. A surprise to the student, a competent instructor already knows this enlightenment awaits on the other side of skilled, patient teaching.

“That there are a great many people who believe something,

is no guarantee of its truth.” 

- W. Somerset Maugham

The stories I could tell you…

OK, here’s one. Her husband was not a shooter. She was. Step by step, basics put in place, right on schedule, XX XX XX XX. Each X taught her, ”I can do this!!” Adding one basic to the next (a very short list), right on schedule, as I knew she would, she excelled. X and O…now she knew WHY she missed…WHY she broke the target. Now she had real control over her swing consistency and dependability.

In the clubhouse to say good-bye…overjoyed with her newfound confidence…she said, and I quote…”Mr. Dan, you have made everything incredibly simple.” Simplicity is the key component in everything I teach the thousands of students I’ve had the privilege of working with since 1990, and the more than 300 good souls who’ve come through my NSCA and Paragon Instructor Certification classes.

I promise you faithfully, dear reader, the clay target games are indeed incredibly simple. Not easy mind you, but, in every way, uncomplicated. The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Layer by layer, piece by piece,

when you remove the unnecessary,

simplicity appears and success happens.

Regrettably, too often, clay shooting instructors needlessly overcomplicate…directing his/her student’s attention to minutia that has little if anything to do with swing consistency and dependability. Predictably, this minutia causes shooter inconsistency, confusion, frustration and, in the end, even more unnecessary missing. Which says…

“Perfection is achieved,

not when there is nothing more to add,

but when there is nothing left to take away.” 

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

If I may…one more quick story.

I gathered my corporate group of women under the 5-Stand. Easy targets on purpose now, broken targets began to fall like rain. The friendly competition was intense. Broken targets were applauded and cheered as each lady stood in the box determined to overcome her doubts, her anxieties, her fears. One lady in particular, my last shooter, the look on her face was fierce. Swing after swing, X X X X X X. Each X followed by her asking, “Another shell please…”

Trap machines almost empty, I began gathering guns and gear. A tap on my shoulder. I turned. The silence was deafening. All eyes were on her. It was my last shooter. Head down, she’d asked for our attention. All 20 of us, we waited. Listening. Supportive. Fighting through her emotions, she gave us her story…her lifetime of being told she “couldn’t.” How she’d been told again and again that she “never would” amount to anything. Never good enough, she’d always fail. Forever. And then…today. Her words now…with a killer smile and defiance in her eyes, she said, “Today was my day. Today, I learned I could. Today is the first day in my new life.” Everyone cried (except me, of course) and lined up to shake her hand. 21 people will forever remember that moment.

 And you thought this was all about shooting?

In closing on skill development…

Want to reach your shooting goals?

Accepting your imperfections while taking lessons

from a competent instructor will get you there faster.

When we accept and forgive our mistakes…the door opens to discovering what to change so we can break more targets. Changes made, XX XX XX.

In closing, the truth is, we are all in a simple game. Not necessarily easy, but SIMPLE.XXXX

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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)