Head Turner   I hear different things from different people. When I call for the target, should I be looking at the trap or should I be looking somewhere out in front of the trap?   You should never place your eyes on the trap. Putting your eyes on the trap arm as you call for the target runs contrary to the available research on sports vision, yet opinions to the contrary abound. We use two general types of vision: peripheral vision (or ambient vision) and central vision (aka, foveal focus or central focus). We must engage both to perform at a high level. Our peripheral … [Read more...]

Gun Fittings   I have a sporting clays gun that I have been shooting for about two years, and I'm not sure that it fits me. I'm thinking about ordering a custom stock or custom gun. What do you suggest?   If you have a gun that you love, except for the fact that it might not fit, visiting a gun fitter for a fit check would be the way to go. A good gun fitter can tell you whether or not your shotgun fits and, if it doesn’t, what modifications can be made to make your shotgun fit properly. Installing an adjustable comb, adding an adjustable butt pad, lengthening the reach or … [Read more...]

Rising Teal   There is one target I always struggle with — the steep rising trap target that I have to shoot on the way up. If I wait for the target to get to the top, it is out of range and I've missed the second target. Help!   What makes this target challenging is that you are forced to occlude the target as you execute the shot. There are three engagement techniques that instructors will teach for this target. The first is a hybrid sustained lead/intercept move in which you will hold the gun to the outside of the line. When the target emerges, you move your gun upward on a … [Read more...]

Always Behind   I have trouble on some fast quartering targets. I always feel like I'm missing behind. What's the best technique to break these targets?   There is more than one way to break just about any target, but when a shooter habitually misses behind on a fast, flat-trajectory, quartering target, it is often a function of insufficient gun speed, incorrect visual pick-up point, or improper hold point. Without seeing you shoot, I would recommend that you use a “quartering move,” sometimes referred to as a “come to the gun” technique, instead of sustained lead. Establish … [Read more...]

Shifty Feet   On some pairs, the break points are so far apart that I feel like I need to change my foot position between the two targets. Is that bad?   First, let’s agree on the correct foot position and stance. For a right-handed shooter, your feet should be oriented on the left-most break point of a pair. The left foot (lead foot) should be pointed at 1 o’clock, or slightly to the right, of the left-most break point. The trail foot, the right foot, should be oriented somewhere between 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock with the heels no more that 12 inches apart. For left-handed … [Read more...]