Heart Just Ain't Enough

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For those who are becoming more serious about moving their game up to the next level, please bear with me here as there’s a sound lesson offered in this analogy. 

This past Monday we got a well-deserved respite from politics and the usual daily grind. It was ALL about college football – the National Championship – a face-off between two hard-working, well-guided teams who were fiercely determined to win. The expressions on the players faces left no doubts about their intentions, as did their level of play on the field.

Dabo Swinney – the Clemson Coach – had a year of resolution building to make up for last year’s loss. He AND his team knew THAT loss would not be repeated this year. Clemson seized control over momentum at the kick-off and let Alabama borrow it only briefly. Mind you, while it was a hard-fought match to the end – with kudos to both sides – Clemson dominated play on the field with an intimidating game plan and a crushing ferocity to win.

Here’s what we could and did see on the big screen – and what we couldn’t.

We saw the brilliant plays on the field. We saw the resolve, the grit, the never-back-down stance of each team. Every play – looking into the eyes of those joyous and pain-filled faces – made each player’s hunger to win all too clear. A long year of inspired motivation visibly unleashed on the field.

What we could not see was the physical and mental, the intense year of preparation before the game. One team did this well. The team that won did it better. Yes, it’s true, we cannot in good faith overstate the importance of heart in competition. And while heart can and often does separate winning from losing – and should never be underestimated - it is also impossible to overemphasize the importance of preparation.

Hard-earned skill on the playing field – PREPARED IN ADVANCE – always has and always will have the advantage.

They say hope is not a plan. And yes, heart can make up for some of our shortcomings. The win does not always go to the strongest or fastest. But drills in the shooting box – relentlessly executing and reinforcing the basics and fundamentals – will effectively minimize errors and put more X’s on a scorecard. That’s a simple, timeless proven truth. There is NO substitute for doing the NECESSARY work to prepare. Last Monday evening – Clemson was the better-prepared team.

Understandably, we all want to perform well in the shooting box. And personal determination will count. But, in the end, those who prepare in advance – who do the push-ups and sit-ups correctly – will carry the day. And by that, I do NOT mean standing in a knee-high pile of empty shells after sending an untold number of unguided rounds downrange by the end of the day. This approach typically results in doing the same things over and over again – repeating our mistakes, reinforcing our set-up and swing errors. Which benefits us how?

Common sense tells us, there is a better, far more productive way to prepare. Learning how to correctly assemble and practice the basics will create a swing that is consistent – the same every time – repeatable, uber-dependable and trustworthy. It will be this preparation – this swing – that we can safely bank on to raise our X count. There is NO other way to reliably escalate our performances – to see some real traction in our shooting and raise our scores.

Heart is always admirable but on its own too often leads us to disappointment and unmet expectations. Add preparation and now we have a formidable threat in the shooting box. Target after target, this is exactly where planned and dedicated preparation will be the deciding factor on our scorecard. These are the reasons why the Scout motto earns its keep.

Don’t forget your thermos and hand warmers. 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!  

Dan Schindler's Books

Pre-order the NEW...Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition NOW

Expected to ship February 2, 2019

Take Your Best Shot 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.

Testimonial

As a successful youth clay target Coach and competitor, I assure you, the shooting fundamentals are vital, the absolutely necessary foundation under developing consistency and improving performances every time the trigger is pulled.
Take Your Best Shot is the greatest publication ever written on how to increase X’s on a scorecard and put more game birds in a hunting vest. In plain language, Take Your Best Shot teaches the essential, non-negotiable basics for building shooting excellence. It should be a required text for every clay target shooter, Wingshooter, Coach, Instructor and parent of a youth shooter who is looking for a step-by-step shooting “system” that is easy to understand, repeatable and utterly dependable. Take Your Best Shot is not only the best, but the only book that provides this knowledge. Seriously – Take Your Best Shot is a must have for every shotgunner.

Jeff Allen, Head Coach Carolina Clays
Paragon School of Sporting Professional Instructor
NSCA Level II Instructor
NSSA Skeet Instructor
NC State Scholastic Clay Target Program Advisor & Coach NC State Scholastic Clay Target Program Trap Director

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.