When Missing Works

We all remember when America’s astronaut Neil Armstrong stood on the moon and said, “One small step for man……..one giant step for shooters.” Or something like that.

Understandably, we shooters want to learn that ONE thing that will genuinely help us with our game. Here’s ONE thing guaranteed to put more Xs on a scorecard.

Let’s get this out of the way first.

We all voted…it’s unanimous…no one likes missing. However, should frustration or anger appear in the shooting box…to break the NEXT target…that negative reaction will work against us. Chambers loaded, with our attention in the wrong place…target in the air… distracted…where’s the precision in our swing? Gone. OO. Each and every negative reaction will be obvious on a scorecard.

Some thoughts on successfully managing a miss.

OK, understandably now, that last shot was very important to you. XO. Let’s say that miss generates a negative emotional response in the box. Your attention won’t be on the one shot that matters most, your next one. Predictably, this emotional loss of control now brings tension into your next swing. The same tension that’s about to interrupt the slow, very precise swing demanded by these two dawdling, curling 3 mph incomers. And when it overrides the precise, super-slow swing? Here comes way too much aggression and loss of swing control. “Lost pair Sir.” Lesson? Mind and body should be working with…not against each other.

The fact is…every single target we miss very briefly opens the door for us to see exactly WHY that just happened. So we know what CAUSED that miss. NOT where the miss went, but WHY. Because the cause of missing takes place behind the muzzle of the gun. A simple set-up and/or swing error. Correct the error and adjust the next swing accordingly. X. If angry, truthfully now, a) will we see the cause of the miss (?) and b) if not, how can we make the needed adjustment to break the next target? Not intentionally, that’s for sure.

Beware should expectations show up. Expectations are sneaky, score-killing distractions. They steal our focus when it’s so needed elsewhere. Expectations are disappointment bait.

Let’s back up for a moment to skip the negative reactions altogether. To better manage a miss, we’re going to “accept” it. We’re going to very deliberately let it go and move on to our next swing. Quickly. Because that shot’s over and gone. All…I say again, ALL that matters now is our next swing.

To put more Xs on one’s scorecard…accepting is a powerful skill worth mastering. Accepting does not ask us to like that last miss. We don’t. Nor does accepting mean that we “give up” or “stop caring.” On the contrary, we care deeply. We understand that mentally holding on to that miss will indeed steal our attention away from our next swing’s assignment.

Let’s all remember…Sporting Clays, Trap and Skeet are tough games. Missing comes with our games. Not a single person…not one shooter anywhere in the world…escapes missing. So…a little patience, please. Accept the miss quickly. Forgive yourself. Forget the miss and move on…promptly. Because, it’s how we handle that miss that sets up the outcome of our next swing.

No one is saying that accepting is easy. It isn’t. Early in our round…middle or late…our best score requires us to “hang in there,” and stay focused on THE # 1 MOST important target in our entire round. The next one.

Want to know if a shooter is truly accepting when things go wrong? Watch this shooter’s “attitude.” Shot after shot, we’ll see a high level of emotional control. His or her expectations? Deliberately left in the truck. Disciplining his / her thoughts, a miss won’t (ever) generate a negative reaction. We may see moments of disappointment, but never loss of control.

Like it or not, happy or not, this shooter steadily goes with the flow, tightly focused on making the next swing a good one. The right one. On purpose. This shooter’s consistently good shooting is never a surprise. 

Coupled with this mental discipline, it goes without saying, a shooter must have a reasonable skill set to fall back on when things go wrong. And they will go wrong. And when they do…to break the next target on purpose…it is absolutely imperative that our shooter 1) see the error…and, very specifically, know how to 2) correct the swing error and 3) build an X swing.

Chambers loaded, there is no mind on the past…no mind on expectations…no mind on score. There is only this second…this shell…this target…this sight picture…this trigger pull. There is nothing else. Now…repeat. Repeat until someone taps you on the shoulder and says your round is over.

What miss?

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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 & 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. It is filled with valuable information and clay target truths. It is entertaining and a culmination of three 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)    Currently Out of Stock