Please consider the following test. Blindfold tied on securely – have someone walk you to your car and stand you by the driver’s side front door. With your hand on the door handle – totally in the dark – you’re on your own. The test is: can you open the door; have a seat; put your seatbelt on; place the key in the ignition; put your foot on the brake; start the car and put it in Drive? The answer is, yes, of course, you can. Because you’ve done these countless times without a blindfold. The steps – the movements – are all familiar.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Don’t practice it until you can get it right; practice it until you can’t get it wrong.” This speaks of familiarity – its use – or absence. How do we gain that familiarity in our shooting and why is it so important?

Well, to start, what separates the Big Dawg shooter from everyone else is their familiarity with the target presentation in front of them. Not only do they already know how to break this target, they know they will. Yeah, OK, they can miss a target and likely will eventually, but I’m talking about a confidence level here that can and will build a serious long run of X’s on a scorecard. Target presentation after target presentation – station after station – XXXXXXXX. They do that, trusting familiarity. Where did all that familiarity come from? It’s a skill they built, one target at a time. Here’s a short version on how.

The first step towards building familiarity / improvement is usually something most folks overlook – setting a realistic goal for themselves with the emphasis on the word realistic. This is followed by a tenacious commitment to do what it really (realistically) takes to pursue and achieve that goal. What I am referring to here is what level of shooting ability – what accomplishment(s) – do we realistically wish to pursue? What level of time, work, training and dollars are we willing to commit to? While folks understandably have different goals, not having a goal leaves us with no specific destination in our shooting efforts. Which asks this question: beyond an X here and there, are we meeting our expectations?

Assuming a commitment is now in place to raise our game and scores, that brings us to what I call the non-negotiable basics. Why non-negotiable? There are many ways – shooting methods – to break a single target presentation inconsistently. Let’s skip those and move to a swing and X that are in fact Merriam-Webster consistent. This will require a method that is perfect. By perfect I mean – provided the method is executed correctly – the target will break, consistently and dependably. It is not possible to achieve that level of swing consistency and dependability without that perfection and the proper application of the basics. Both will be required, not optional.

Just learning those very specific basics – to assure a consistent set-up and swing – won’t deliver X’s dependably. There’s an undeveloped skill needed here – not yet achieved. This is where the training – the repetition begins – the correct implementation of those basics. While it’s completely understandable that we’ll likely stumble in the early stages of skill development – with an Instructor or on our own if we so choose – it is absolutely vital that the basics are employed full time.

Methods understood and training and repetition underway, this is when the commitment will be tested. Please remember, the mission now is not to “try to break the target.” Shell after shell, our mission is to put all our attention on our tasks – implementing the set-up and swing method / process as perfectly as possible – repeatedly, relentlessly and most importantly, correctly. Please read all that again very carefully. Because THAT “process” of focusing on our tasks will generate X’s followed by more X’s. Dependably. Equally important, this process results in a rising level of familiarity – a rising level of trust – in what is in fact, working.

As set-up, swing and method familiarity increases, skills rise with less micromanaging. This is when our more instinctive, trustworthy swing emerges.

Universally, skill development is not an event, it is a journey. And a journey with no destination or direction leaves us with trial and error, hope for the best, inconsistent shooting on a regular basis. If shooting reliability and consistency become our goal – our destination – going through the steps above to build familiarity will put more X’s on our scorecard. Yes, there might be more steps ahead like the challenges of competition – accompanied by the mental game – but consistency and familiarity will be our foundation. Built correctly – shell by shell, target by target – we can absolutely count on our game moving up to the next level.

Thanks for joining me here. 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

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

New 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.

A few Facebook comments Dan Schindler's and his Books:

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.