Stance for Sporting Clays

 

What is the proper stance while shooting sporting clays? Should my knees be bent slightly, or should my legs be straight with no movement in my lower body?

 

The basic shooting stance for shotgun shooting is similar to any other fundamental athletic stance used in sports, such as boxing, tennis, football, and martial arts. The shooter should stand comfortably with feet about shoulder width apart. The right-handed shooter should stand with the left foot slightly forward, pointing generally towards the anticipated break point for the target. The knees should not be locked, but should not be overly bent either. The shooter’s weight should be placed on the front foot (60/40 or 55/45), knees slightly bent, head forward (“nose over toes”), shoulders directly over feet and waist slightly rearward (“buckle back”) such that the shooter’s balance is slightly forward. This stance provides a comfortable starting position from which the student can move with the target.

Don Currie is NSCA’s Chief Instructor, an Orvis Wingshooting School instructor, and Master Class competitor. To get free shooting tips and videos, sign up for his monthly newsletter.  You can also see more tips from Currie at www.doncurrie.com.