It's hard not to be impressed with a Big Dawg breaking those long-distance targets no one else can seem to hit. Final score: 97, a worthy accomplishment deserving of congratulations. Here's a look at how that score was built.

 This month's Tip asks you to look at your scorecard and review the score and the target presentations, individually, Station by Station. I'm willing to bet there's a pearl of information on that scorecard staring back at you, waiting to be discovered.

 I won't be the one telling you not to practice on those long-distance, more challenging targets. For good reasons, we should. But I am proposing that your best score this weekend won't be built on these presentations.

Good scores – and the winning scores – are built on breaking a) ALL the easy targets, b) most of the intermediate targets and c) some of the most difficult targets.

On a well set, fair and balanced course, the majority of our targets will likely be inside 30 to 35 yards. Let's say 12 of the 15 Stations today have targets presented inside 30 to 35 yards. On 10 of those 12 Stations, let's also say we drop just 1 bird per Station. That's 10 targets off our score right there, assuming we only drop 1 bird on each of those Stations. More would take our score down even further. If we could put back 6, 7 or 8 of those targets (X's), just on those 10 Stations, anybody here not want 6 to 8 targets added onto their score at the end of the day?

Good scores are almost always lost on the easier targets, not the harder ones. Which is why a good practice session will include considerably more time devoted to raising our X% on targets inside 30 to 35 yards. And why the best shooters rarely miss a target inside 30 yards. Right there is the foundation under the score you want – the score you correctly know you are capable of.

One of the most important components of our Scoring skills will be learning how to put together a good score. Once we start breaking the easier targets in practice, it's easy to become lax on learning to break these targets all the time – consistently – no missing. That's why I'm suggesting this part of our practice regimen be adjusted and reinforced.

When it comes to posting our best score, knowing we can break the target in front of us isn't enough. On a 4 pair Station, we have to break that bird (flying inside 30 yards) all 4 times, no if's, and's or but's. And then do that again on the next Station and the next, on purpose, with relentless focus and determination. The harsh truth is, to push our scores up consistently, this will be a requirement, not an option. Hence our need to do what I call “inside drills” during every practice session, which includes working on both gun control and concentration control on these particular target presentations at more typical distances. XXXXXXXXXX.

Raising our tournament score can be easier than we might have thought. Give this Scoring skill drill more attention and your X% can only go up.

 Thanks for stopping by. Be safe and I hope to see you out on the course.

Shooting equipment – guns and all your gear – are important. They are an inspiring source of confidence and rightfully so. Celebrate the rewards they bring you. However, when it’s all said and done – XXXX or OXOO – the level of performance in the shooting box will be decided by whoever’s finger is on the trigger.

“A true measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

-Albert Einstein

You already have all the talent you will ever need to improve your shooting. That’s a Truth. To build a “skill,” however, requires adding knowledge (the Basics), work and a willingness to change what you are doing. What’s currently missing is the information – the shooting system – the “steps” you must add to your set-up and swing process to create higher scores and consistency.

When the trap fires, a target’s flight time is finite. What our gun is doing during that time is largely decided by our set-up on the target before the trap fires. Errors early in the swing are commonly caused by set-up mistakes, i.e., compromised Basics. Understandably and very predictably, a set-up that starts incorrectly, predictably leads to a swing that ends incorrectly. OOOO. Good shooters are not lucky. Before and during each swing – step-by-step precision is planned and intentional. Yes, an inconsistent set-up and swing can and will break targets – sometimes. But never consistently. 

Once the target is in the air, trust your MA (muzzle awareness). Eyes on the target – always. Muzzle awareness in your “peripheral” vision – always. Staring at the target harder and harder with no MA can only leave you assuming where (you hope) your muzzle really is. What’s not commonly asked and should be is this: how long can you keep trusting what you can’t see and isn’t working? MA allows you to see the essential (correct) sight “pictures” – target / barrel “relationships.”  Only then will you know – exactly – what went right or wrong in your swing so you can a) correct the error, or b) repeat the successful swing. This we must know to put more X’s on a scorecard.

To borrow from our last Newsletter, “The higher scores ladder is made up of time, education, shells and targets. Instruction puts the rungs in the right order.”

Be safe and I hope to see you out on the course.

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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!  

Here's what Michael Bane (Outdoor Channel Shooting Gallery) had to say about Dan Schindler:

Successful Assault on Wily Clay Pigeons

We were filming a sporting clays episode of SHOOTING GALLERY, something you guys have been asking me about for years. The big delay was finding an instructor I was comfortable with and felt would fit into the SG model, such as it is. I found Dan Schindler through his book, TO THE TARGET, and his work on mental training and was impressed with his holistic view of the shooting sports. He proved to be every bit as good — and better — than we expected. As always, my goal is take-home value, which I think you guys have come to expect. He is truly a world-class instructor capable of taking complex actions and breaking them down into simple, repeatable pieces...and good heavens, doesn't sport shooting need more of that!

Dan Schindler's Books

Take the MYSTERY out of missing targets and help you quickly learn steps to shoot more CONSISTENTLY!  Order Dan's 3 books NOW!

Newest Release...Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer...

and is 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, filled with valuable information, clay target truths. Entertaining and a culmination of 3 decades of Dan' life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer and much more.

Testimonials

"Take Your Best Shot is the best clay and wingshooting shooting primer on the market that I have ever seen. The brilliance of its simplicity aids in getting across the correct messages for successful shooting for ANY clay/wingshooting shooter, let alone a new shooter. As a master instructor, founder/Head Coach of the Jacksonville University Shooting Team (a national championship program), and JU faculty member, Take Your Best Shot is standard reading for ALL of our varsity shooters. Dan has managed to capture the basics beautifully, and he has placed them in an easy, simple-to-follow, witty presentation. My students love the book and read it time and again. Highly recommend, no matter what your level of shooting experience and expertise."

David T. Dobson, M.B.A.

Paragon Master Instructor

NSCA Instructor, Level III

NSSA Instructor, Level III

Mark Engen These three books are a must-read for all clay target shooters. They are clear, concise, logical instructions on how to shoot clay targets and how to improve your scores. Taking a lesson from Dan would be very advantageous & help hasten the learning process. He has been my instructor for 15 years. With each lesson, I always come away amazed how much I have learned & how my scores improve. 
He also emphasizes how important it is to practice regularly & stay with his advice & recommendations to really learn new skills to improve your scores. He has helped me tremendously & I highly recommend him.

Don N Lisha Sante Got my three-book set. Read Take Your Best Shot (Book I) and can’t put book II down. Can’t wait to apply all I’ve learned tomorrow now that the rains gone.

Steve Powers I got my copy about a month ago. I’ve read it twice, cover to cover & reviewed the sequence of steps multiple times. Good Book.

Jim Butler  I've read my copies twice now and it has absolutely picked up my game. Joined a sporting clays league this spring. Increased my top score by 7. Thought them to be expensive at first, but now find them extremely valuable now. Thank You !!!

Telford Scott Great book !! Simple steps with great results!!

Randall C. Burl Best investment a shooter could make!

David Parks Received mine yesterday and have one chapter left to read. Can’t wait to get to the range and practice the new techniques I have learned. Now I feel like I have a system to work with instead of shoot and hope.

Bill Fibelkorn Called the number on their website, ( leary of ordering through Facebook posts) and Mr. Schlinder himself answered the phone. One of the most pleasant people I have ever talked to about anything. Whenever I get a chance to get down his way, I am going to get in touch with him to shoot. Got my books this weekend, read the first one and it reminded me of the basics. Just started on the second one, going to keep reading them over and over. The best reading you have for shooting clays.