Dan Schindler's Blog

One Two Many

Here’s exactly why you, I, and everyone else miss. No mystery, no confusion, just one correct answer.My message here can be easily misunderstood. To prevent that, remember, in all the clay target sports, there can be NO aiming of the shotgun. ...

The Truth About Measuring Leads

It’s human nature to leap to methods that promise quick and convenient ways to improve. From Tom Fiumarello, Paragon Senior Instructor: “It seems we as Americans have to have a hook. If we didn't, the golf industry would never ...

Sally’s Lesson

As our Fall wingshooting season approaches all too slowly, I thought you might enjoy a true story. My good friend’s name was Dave Miller. It was October in PA and Dave’s client wanted to go pheasant hunting. Dave set it up. ...

MA or Mayhem?

Some advice sounds helpful—until it costs you targetsFor those of you on a path to improve your consistency and scores, consider what can help you avoid two rough, time-consuming detours.Way back, in my US instructor certification classes, I ...

Guaranteed Xs? The Numbers Don’t Lie

“Explaining good shooting mathematically is hard.Demonstrating the math’s effectiveness on a Sporting Clays, Skeet and Trap target is not.” How to score well in Sporting Clays, for some, is no longer a mystery. I say ...

Instinct Got You Here

Methods will take you further.In the early days of sporting clays, natural ability and point-and-shoot instincts were enough to break targets and win bragging rights. But times—and targets—have changed. If you’re serious about ...

Beyond The X

If you already know you can break that target, why practice that target?My Sporting Clays student Greg (not his real name) sat across from me after this morning’s lesson. Over lunch he said he went to the Practice segment in his Paragon ...

Real Improvement Starts Here

And it’s not what you think.“Many stumble over a truth—then walk away, leaving the good lesson behind.”To keep a reader’s interest, a writer’s topics are endless. Truths, however, aren’t. And the value of ...

Make the Seconds Work Overtime

“Don’t count the seconds.Make the seconds count!”Being occupied with our guns, chokes and loads, that‘s all good. Too often though, we overlook one of the, if not THE most important requirements of consistently good shooting. ...

Good Lessons

Inconsistent scores, up one day, down the next on the same targets? Lesson paid for, shake hands with your instructor.Chambers loaded, gun up, targets are breaking station after station. You’re asked to hold the gun here, see this over the ...

The Day She Broke More Than A Target

She came to River Bend with a large group of friends, maybe fifteen ladies, most of whom had never touched a firearm. Surrounded by their anxious looks, I expressed comfort in each handshake. The atmosphere softened as smiles began to replace looks ...

Trust Me, That's a 3-Foot Lead!

“All the measuring in the world is uselessif it doesn’t match the target data.”In Sporting Clays, measuring leads causes missing. Period.This example illustrates why measuring works in Trap and Skeet but not Sporting. Lisa, a ...

Speaking of Gun Control

Let’s talk about what it really takes to generate more broken birds: Gun Control. Every inch movement of our gun muzzle will decide what happens out at the target, making swing precision non-negotiable. This is not my ...

Successfully Dealing with Pressure

“Our game has an uncanny way of endearing itself to uswhile at the same time revealing every weakness of mind, no matter how well hidden.”― Timothy Gallwey (Paraphrased)Think of the pressure we put on ourselves playing clay target ...