Commitment Versus Involvement

 “How can I run the first 3 pairs and then drop the last pair, Dan?"

 Good question. And the answer of course, will depend on the shooter and the situation. But there is 1 answer that works in most cases. It's called commitment versus involvement.

 Let's start with the difference between the two. The old adage goes like this. A chicken and a pig were walking down the street and the pig asked, what would you like for breakfast? The chicken replied, ham and eggs. Well, said the pig, for you that's involvement but for me that's a commitment. Here are 2 other examples of commitment versus involvement. Marriage versus dating, and driving the car versus riding in the passenger seat.

 As the gun closes and we are about to say pull, are we mentally just involved or truly committed to this pair? Because we bring our busy, often hectic schedules into the shooting box, is it a surprise that our mind wanders away at inappropriate times? And not helping this situation, we just finished putting this on our scorecard - XXXXXX with one pair remaining. This is the perfect situation, luring us into an over-confident concentration lapse, also known as "involvement."

 Mental "focus" occurs in degrees. Like driving our car in heavy traffic, 100% attention to the road and cars around us would be commitment. The bad news in the shooting box is, calling for your pair with less than 100% attention on the A bird and the same on the B bird is involvement. The result? 0X, X0 and sometimes 00. The good news is, this is preventable. While we can't control the outcome on our remaining pair, we very much can dial up our concentration level before we call for the pair.

This is done in 2 steps. The first step is making a full-time commitment to being 100% committed to both shots before our gun closes, each and every time, every shooting box, every single target in our round. The second step is having a definitive, working pre-shot routine which sheds all the distractions and tightly narrows our focus on the pair ahead - 1 shell, 1 target - and then again, 1 shell, 1 target.

 The "shelf life" of maximum concentration is very short. So once built, it's time to go. Remembering to build our commitment to the pair comes first though. There's no rule that we have to be committed to each shot, but failing to do so will invariably open the door to concentration lapses and missing. This holds true whether you shoot sporting clays, trap, or skeet.

 Thanks for stopping by. 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!

Check out 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.