Visual Pick-up Point   Can you go over the process of picking where your eye should be during the pre-shoot routine and where the barrel should be? Should I look beyond the flight path? An instructor told me it's better to focus way out than in because it takes one's eyes longer to focus out than in.   The visual pick-up point is the spot along the target's flight path at which the eyes should settle when the shooter is in the ready position and calls for the target. While there is no hard-and-fast rule, it is important to be intentional about your visual pick-up point. What … [Read more...]

Progressing   What are your thoughts about an amateur shooter who shoots every other weekend as far as his ability to develop and improve through the various ability levels? How long does it normally take for an athletic 55-year-old man to develop to AA or Master levels?   I coach shooters with a wide variety of personalities and personal situations. My observation is that there are five factors that affect the rate at which a shooter progresses, assuming gun fit and eye dominance have been properly addressed. These five factors are: 1) commitment level, 2) resources (time, … [Read more...]

Where To Look   Where should my eye be during the pre-shot planning, and where should the barrel be in relation to my peripheral vision? How far out from the trap should I set the visual pick-up point? Should I look at the trap or not?   The "visual pick-up point" is the location of your eyes at the moment you call for the target. The ideal visual pick-up point will largely depend on the given target presentation; however, there are some general principles one should follow. Your visual pick-up point: 1) ...should be farther away from the trap than the spot at which the … [Read more...]

Lens Tint   What tint lenses will provide greatest depth perception? My understanding is that dilated pupils will give the most depth perception as more light enters.   The more light that flows to the eye, without causing eyestrain, the greater your depth of field and your ability to perceive detail, color and contrast. It all comes down: to rods and cones, the two different types of receptors in the eye. Cones are resident in the center back portion of the eye (the fovea) and aid in perception of detail and color. This is the part of the eye that receives the critical … [Read more...]

Hold Point   I've always been told to keep my eyes centered in my head to follow the bird (ocular center) and turn my head toward the visual hold point. I see in your video that you say to cut your eyes back to the visual hold point, and if needed, turn your head slightly. Can you clarify?   Proper shot execution requires acute visual focus and a head and muzzle that are synchronized with the target through the break point. Movement to a target must include an acute visual "fix" on the target together with a brief period, prior to shot execution, when the head is quiet and … [Read more...]