Different Strokes I am a fairly new sporting clays shooter. I hear people talk about different techniques for breaking targets. Why do I need to use different techniques? Sporting clays and other clay target sports evolved from bird hunting. Most live birds are engaged in mid-flight. In the early years of sporting clays, the trajectories and behavior of airborne clay targets were designed to mimic that of birds in flight. Arguably, a bird hunter needs only one or two “moves” or techniques to down most birds in flight. As our sport has evolved, so has throwing machine … [Read more...]
Search Results for: target talk
Gun Weight
Gun Weight "I’m a Senior Super Veteran sporting clays shooter, and my shotgunweighs about 10 pounds. At times, halfway through a hundred targets my gun starts to feels slightly sluggish in my move to particular targets. Would I benefit from a lighter gun, and if so, whatwould be a suggested weight?" What you are feeling is a lack of maneuverability. Weight and balance are the two elements of a shot- gun’s maneuverability.What’s the ideal weight? This is highly individualized; however, I talk to many older shooters with 9+ pound guns looking for something lighter. If you … [Read more...]
The Z
The Z "I’ve heard you talk about a ‘Z.’ What is the Z, and how should we plan for a target pair?" One fundamental principle of shotgunning is that gun movement between hold points and break points should always be straight lines. We plan these straight-line movements during pre-shot planning. When shooting pairs, the movement of our shotgun should be three straight lines between four points — like a Z. As you call for the target pair, you initiate your move from your initial hold point. You move to the break point of target #1,then to the hold point of target #2 and … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hints: Choosing an Instructor
Choosing an Instructor A few days ago, I was practicing with a friend who is an NSSA Certified Instructor, and during a short break, he told me of a gentleman he's been coaching. His student took lessons about a year ago from a so-called instructor that set him up on a path toward failure. It has taken this new instructor several lessons for the student to un-learn much of what this previous person had tried to teach him. It always surprises me when a new or even an experienced shotgun shooter doesn't at least ask others about the capability of the person he's … [Read more...]
Ask the Instructor: Leading Crossers
Leading Crossers Is there any difference between a right-to-left target and a left-to-right target in terms of perceived lead? Roger Silcox once talked about left-to-right needing extra lead, or perhaps he meant extra effort (for a right-handed shooter). Do you recognize this in your move/mount? Roger Silcox was a legend; a coach’s coach. I wish I had known him personally. The phenomenon that you are referring to is the comparative difference in “perceived lead” of a left-to-right crosser versus a right-to-left crossing target for a right-handed shooter. For a right-handed … [Read more...]