Greetings and welcome back. The following is respectfully offered to both shooters and Instructors who are engaged in the process of shooting improvement or are considering entering that process. If you haven’t read The Truth, The Way & The Light (Part I), please consider doing so. Thanks.
Over the years, I’ve lost count of the number of calls we’ve received from angry, frustrated and discouraged shooters. Some have taken lessons elsewhere. Some have not. ALL are trying hard to understand why they are inconsistent, and not improving. Everything they’ve been told and believe just isn’t working.
“I have not failed.
I have found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
--Thomas A. Edison
The Truth, The Way & The Light (Part I & II) share my experiences from 3+ decades as a dedicated Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instructor/Coach. As their Examiner, more than 260+ excellent people have come through my classes seeking their Instructor certifications. I humbly share with you, long years of studying under good teachers; listening intently to my students; intense tournament competition; serious testing and constantly evaluating; until the results unequivocally, consistently proved the findings, be they good, bad or ugly. All to separate what really does work from what does not in the clay target disciplines and Wingshooting.
If skill advancement is the goal…each of us needs to be absolutely sure, unraveling what does in fact work, sometimes, all the time or not at all. Realities and results that don’t lie…as opposed to opinions based on well-intended but misleading hearsay. A harsh truth? Maybe so, but, in my professional opinion, how well a shooter faces reality will be in proportion to how well this shooter can progress…or not. Please forgive my tone here, I explained that in Part I. Again, thanks, I appreciate the latitude and respectfully ask you to hang onto that as we move forward.
After OXXOOO…maybe you are confused about why you are inconsistent? Maybe you are considering lessons, possibly hiring an Instructor with real “improvement” as your goal? In my experienced opinion, after safety of course, what would be your paid Instructor’s first, # 1 obligation? Answer: to competently prepare you so you can continue succeeding …continue improving…AFTER your lesson…on your own…with no Instructor behind you. You have every right to “expect” those results from your Instructor.
Let’s clarify what all that means.
After your lesson(s), you’re in the box on your home course and just missed the target, as we all do. With good intentions mind you, everyone’s telling you where you missed. Unfortunately, they haven’t told you why…the real “cause” of the miss which took place inside the shooting box…not where you missed out yonder. So, the question is: were you taught what to watch…so you could see…and right now correct what your set-up and/or swing error actually was? With 1 shell…from an O, corrected to an X? Predictably? Asked respectfully…what is the plan for the next shell going into the chamber?? Trapper ready, are you? Is your improvement training working?
And when your target does break?
X! Seriously…congratulations. Now…with improvement being a priority…were your set-up AND swing steps correct so you can follow those “X steps” again and again, not just during your lesson last week…but today and next week…on your own? Or was the X an accident? Has your Instructor explained the difference so…AT HOME…a) you can actually see and then SELF-correct the error so you break the next target…or b) repeat the correct swing for another X? Not sure?? If this X was an accident, are you willing to risk repeating the unknown error and hope the next target will break? XOOX. If you do know it was correct, now you can intentionally repeat the very same swing steps. XXXX. Right there is why consistently good shooting is not a mystery.
“The truth is, until you let go…
until you change what needs changing…
temporary improvements are…well…just that.”
Folks…how can a shooter improve…become more consistent…without the knowledge above?
If you are standing in front of an Instructor for entertainment purposes only, good on you. No learning is expected or involved. Safely, shoot and have fun! However…if shooting “improvement” is your loud-and-clear, stated goal to your Instructor…you have every right to expect a return on your time, work and $ invested in this lesson…not just driving away happy about all the “friendly” targets you broke today. Why? Because your goal today is not “just” about breaking targets. It’s about learning how to break each target …specifically…and then, on your own, how to SELF-correct your miss when you don’t. During a lesson, your Instructor has obligations to teach you these individual steps, what to do, what to watch and see, how to execute the essential basics. Not just being your cheerleader.
If your Instructor doesn’t teach you these very specific skills…slowly and patiently…step-by-step…clear as a bell… get all this done for you…then, sorry, you went through a lesson (?) that entertained you…boosted your confidence…but didn’t teach you anything. So, progress made? None. Later, standing in the box on your home course, how on earth will you first know how to assemble and then execute the correct set-up and swing steps…the formula for consistency? The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? You’ve asked for better. You deserve better. You’re paying for better.
Lastly and very importantly…a short repeat from Part I:
“There are 3 types of lies…
lies, damn lies & statistics.”
--Benjamin Disraeli
To Whom it may concern…at no time, on any course, anywhere…your Instructor’s answer to you, “You will just know,” or “You just know”…is not an answer…or any kind of a defensible explanation, whatsoever…to any shooter who is seeking improvement in their shooting and is asking about lead, or anything else. If you already know…why would you be standing in front of an Instructor asking good questions?
If I may, allow me to be very clear about something. An advanced shooter may need to put more trust into what he already knows. However, for the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced shooter who just missed the target and honestly doesn’t know why…should the Instructor put a new shell in your chamber and say, “You will just know…you’re not trusting yourself”…please ask your Instructor this very fair question: “How can I trust something I don’t know and I haven’t been taught yet?”
Should you retain a Big Dawg Master class winner…or an Instructor you found in the yellow pages…before you leave your lesson…your learning how to first assemble and then execute the “X swing” steps, correctly and consistently…and how to “self-correct” your mistakes…O’s and X’s…on your own with no Instructor behind you…that responsibility falls directly on your Instructor’s shoulders.
“It’s not what we don’t know that gets us in trouble.
It’s what we do know that just ain’t so.”
--Mark Twain
Outside of the shooting box, our perceptions guide us…but…it will be in the box where reality teaches us.
Gun fit, chokes and loads…just exactly how important are they? Important. When skill advancement is the goal, however, they are not most important. Learning and knowing how to first assemble and then repeat a successful swing…XXXXXX …consistently…that’s what’s most important. OO? Nope…sorry…98% of the time, it wasn’t the gun fit, choke or load.
Maybe you disagree? Please consider…here’s your $20,000 custom shotgun…no expense was spared…gun fit is perfect. Your target loads are excellent and your chokes are the best money can buy. The renowned Mr. Digweed, Faulds, Matarese, McGuire, or Cherry…you choose…will be meeting you at 4:30 for the shoot-off on the RED course 5-Stand. He will be carrying a Remington 870 pump with 7/8 oz shells at 1,150 fps with a fixed, EXTRA Full, turkey choke. I’m sure you’ll do fine.
In closing, please forgive my sarcasm above. In my defense, kindly remember, real, measurable shooting improvement first requires your learning what truly does work; what methods can be accurately labeled “brutally dependable;” and then letting those basic truths, those realities, guide your game. Why? Well…unfortunately…those shooters who resist changing their inconsistent, comfort zone beliefs inevitably end up with disappointing, unmet expectations. The good news is, there are indeed answers and methods out here that do in fact work. Consistently and without fail. I’ve provided a few because you came here. You deserve that. That’s why I wrote The Truth, The Way & The Light (Part I and II).
Thank you for your patience here. I hope my messages have shone a light on what’s confusing many…and provided a few revelations you deserve knowing. God bless and have a great week everyone.
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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
"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors
and parents of youth shooters."
Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer It's 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's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.
Here's what Shooters, Coaches and Clay Shooting USA saying...
Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition
To The Target (Book II)
Beyond The Target (Book III)
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