Sporting Clays Instruction…Avoiding A Misunderstanding

If you are considering taking a lesson with an Instructor, there’s something very important I’d like to share with you…said respectfully…something for you to consider before booking that appointment.

 If you are seeking improvement in your shooting skills, please be aware of a session we call Gentlemen’s Coaching. A Gentlemen’s Coaching session is a session purposely designed and executed for corporate or social shooters. There is no teaching involved. The trap machines have been purposely set to create “can’t miss” targets. Along with safety of course, the goal of this session is strictly entertainment. Break as many targets as possible with your Instructor helping you do just that. Hence, a ton of targets are broken and everyone has a grand time. As it should be. For a Gentlemen’s Coaching session…the Instructor’s work was honorable and well done…mission accomplished.

 Here’s the misunderstanding that you want to avoid. The next day, our shooter from that Gentlemen’s Coaching session borrows his neighbor’s 12 gauge and drives to the store for a few boxes of ammunition. Beaming with confidence, he heads to the nearest Sporting Clays range expecting to do well, just like he did yesterday. 00X000X0X000X0. Disappointed, he’s wondering why he can’t repeat yesterday’s performance? Answer? Shooting improvement is not a part of Gentlemen’s Coaching. Shot after shot was basically point, shoot, bow to the applause. Each and every shell…the Instructor was there to help, “fixed” his shot and rightfully so. XXX.  

 However, if your purpose is to advance your shooting skills and raise your scores, please know ahead of time that a Gentlemen’s Coaching session is not designed to move your skills up. Again, safety issues aside for a moment, here’s where your “formal” lesson must include competent instruction followed by new understandings and learning. Learning what?

Among other key responsibilities, your Instructor has 2 basic duties. First, by the end of the today’s lesson, you should know how to “self-correct” your miss without Instructor comments. 0…then X. Today, you must learn why you missed (not where) because tomorrow and this weekend your Instructor won’t be with you to tell you what just happened…and why it happened. You’ll be on your own. You’ll have to know what the error was so you can correct that error and break the next target…by yourself…on purpose. You do have a plan to correct your next shot, right? Hope is not a plan.

The second Instructor duty is teaching you how to repeat the successful shot…X. Then XXXX. This will require your knowing a) specifically what you did correctly (or not) and b) how to repeat those steps…consistently. XXXXXX. Deliberately. Again, this you must be able to do on your own before your lesson is finished. When you go to your home course and stand alone in the shooting box, X’s and 0’s will occur. That’s why, today, it is your Instructor’s responsibility to teach you…why you miss…why you hit. This will be essential…or, how are you going to improve during your practice sessions?  

I respectfully suggest this all be covered during your lesson inquiry so there’s no misunderstanding about why you are coming. Gentlemen’s Coaching is a noble Instructor assignment, but…when your skill advancement is on the line…your lesson agenda should include a lot more than broken targets.

Very Important Questions to ask your instructor before you schedule a lessons.

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About the Author

Dan Schindler is one of only 60 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors, U.K. and is one of the most highly respected Sporting Clays and Wingshooting Instructors in the US. Dan 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. We promise you an enlightening, memorable experience!

Books 

Discover a clear, direct path to quickly shoot better or competing at a much higher level? Check out Daniel L. Schindler's 3 books - (Take Your Best Shot, To The Target, & Beyond The Target) written in concise, simple, plain language that helps every shooter build a solid foundation, compete at a higher level, and takes the mystery out of their shooting.