The Unwanted Choke

The mental game…does it really work? Oh yeah. Want to know its magic? Sorry. As mysterious as it may seem, there’s no magic in it anywhere. Instead, there are just some common sense, albeit different, mental approaches to your shooting. Using these mental changes can, however, create what seems like magic. Seriously, I'm not kidding. The techniques work beautifully and dependably and generate more XXs.

Let’s start with this understanding. Upfront and personal…pressure to do well…to not fail…is universal. That says…you and I are not alone with tournament pressure. Look around. Body language and facial expressions say today is the day. Everyone has their game face on. This is serious. Every target will be counted. What’s holding their silent attention? Their upcoming performance and final score a few hours from now. Here come the unwelcome, troubling doubts.

Here are a few recommendations for managing our nervousness more effectively.

In my recent articles, I’ve been emphasizing the important difference between Task and outcome thinking. Keeping our attention on our swing steps…our swing tasks…to achieve the outcome we want. If you want to learn the simplest, most basic, most effective mental game technique to help you better handle tournament pressure…consider reading my two true stories.

Years ago, I took my archery competition very seriously. With the Pennsylvania State shoot less than a month away, this morning was turning into a frustrating practice session. My arrows flew everywhere but into the bullseye. Standing behind me with his coffee, my friend and coach, Ron, asked me what the problem was. Looking at the target, I thought the problem would be obvious to anyone not wearing a blindfold. Another arrow on its way…another miss. He asked the question again. As my exasperation escalated, Ron finally said, “What are you trying to do?”

Pointing at the target, I said, “I’m trying to get my arrow into that bullseye.” Ron replied, “That’s your problem.” Say what?? He then asked me how much control I had over the arrow after it cleared the arrow rest by one inch. “None,” I said. “Then why are you putting all your attention on where the arrow lands instead of assembling and executing the very best shot you can?”

Outcome thinking? OH yeah. Didn’t know the term back then. Do now. No more mystery about the missing. Regroup. By deliberately moving all my attention back to my draw, hold and release, arrow after arrow found its way into the 10-ring. Needless to say, effectively immediately, I was on a mission to stay on my tasks. That morning’s revelation and the dedicated “task-focused” practice that followed granted me HOA at the State tournament.

Does this apply to our clay target shooting? Absolutely. The following is another true story…exactly as it happened.

My Sporting Clays student Ed was a very successful businessman and a serious A-class shooter. Like so many, he was very much “outcome-oriented” in his shooting, which contributed to his struggles. In the Clubhouse, I shared Task thinking with him. Readers…hold onto that.

In August, the temperature in SC was close to 100 degrees. Arriving at the 5-Stand, gun in the rack, I politely asked him to stand in each box and watch every single target—all 25. Menu: One Single, one Report Pair, and one True Pair. Each target was a test of skill. I set those targets to challenge him.

As he stepped out of box 5, I asked him which target he could not break. He said confidently, I can break all of them. OK, Ed…here’s the drill. Start in box # 1. If you break all 5 targets…move to box # 2. Then to box # 3 and so on. However…miss one target…stop shooting…step out…back to box # 1 and start over. Agreed? Ed, with no doubt in his mind…none…smiled and agreed. Happy to show me.

Ed stepped into Box 1 and loaded up. Out with 5. Brimming with confidence.

Box 2. Surprised, he missed his third target. Step back and start over in box 1.

Box 1 and 2, no misses. Box 3…5th target…Lost.

Coach quiet. Ed visibly shaken now…took a break. Hydrate.

Back to Box 1. Serious and determined. I held the controller silently.

Box 1, 2, 3, and 4 had no misses. Box 5…XXXXO. UGH!! The walk to box 1 was a long one. 

The drill was working. The drill wasn’t about how many targets Ed could break. The drill was about how many times in a row he could keep his attention on his tasks. So far…24 times.

Frustrated, walking to box 1, Ed had a talk with himself. The coach is quiet and patient.

Back in box 1, XXXX, Ed had the same result in boxes 2, 3, and 4: twenty straight. Box 5… XXXX. Out with 25. Ed stepped out smiling…lesson learned. 

When I meet Ed in competitions, he always shakes my hand and tells me, his lesson on that 5-Stand got him to Master class and the best shooting he’s ever done. I encourage all my students to follow the advice I gave Ed.

Folks, we can’t make the pressure go away in practice and competition. What we can do is focus only on what we can control: our pre-shot setup and swing steps, gun management, and our tasks. This is an effective way to neutralize the pressure we place on ourselves. There are no magical meditation steps involved. 

As we explore breaking more targets and shooting consistently, Dan Schindler's trilogy — Take Your Best Shot, To The Target, and Beyond The Target — offers invaluable insights, serving as a roadmap for shooters of all levels. These books are available on the Paragon School of Sporting website and shipped worldwide.  Schindler's 3 books offer a simplified and uncomplicated approach to shooting, laying a solid foundation for achieving consistently higher scores. There's a wealth of information and blog posts on the Paragon website.

Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.

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About Dan Schindler

Tired of being frustrated over missing targets or birds?

Ready to move your shooting forward and shoot consistently higher scores?

Shoot better than you ever imagined.

Schedule a lesson with the esteemed Dan Schindler. As one of the exclusive 44 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK), Dan stands as a beacon of expertise in Sporting Clays Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instruction in the US.

Embark on a transformative journey with Dan, an NSCA Level III Instructor since 1995 and the visionary founder of the Paragon School of Sporting. His singular goal is to provide ultra simple, step-by-step, Premier  Instruction, Coaching, and Mental Training for enthusiasts of Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap, and Wingshooting of all skill levels.

Dan Schindler is a maestro at alleviating the frustrations that haunt shooters. By unraveling the mysteries of breaking targets, enabling self-awareness in calling misses, and empowering individuals to make their corrections, Dan ensures that lessons are not only enlightening but also immensely enjoyable. Clients at Paragon School of Sporting witness significant improvements in their shooting skills within minutes.

Bid farewell to the vexation of missed targets and soar towards consistent excellence in shooting. Whether you're an advanced competitor or an entry-level enthusiast, Dan Schindler's wealth of experience spanning over three decades has empowered thousands of shooters to propel their game forward.

Having certified over 274 instructors, authored three exceptional books, and contributed to numerous articles and blog posts, Dan Schindler is a luminary in the field. In your very FIRST lesson with Dan, you will unlock the secrets of the Paragon System, ensuring that you break targets consistently, confidently call your misses, and adeptly make corrections, setting the stage for a remarkable journey of shooting mastery. Contact Dan Schindler now and witness the transformative power of his expertise in action.

In your very FIRST lesson with Dan Schindler, you'll learn the Paragon System so YOU can break targets consistently, call your misses & make corrections so your next target breaks!

"Folks fly from around the world to take lessons with Schindler at River Bend Sportsman’s Resort, his home course in Inman, South Carolina. Clients have included Bush staffers to NASCAR drivers to the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. The approachable teacher has spent 25 years on “gentleman’s coaching” (with social and corporate shooters) and formal instruction (with individuals, groups, and competitors). Schindler has even certified more than 230 instructors using his handcrafted curriculum—a system that signaled his qualification as the first American admitted to the British Guild of Shooting Instructors... “Shooting, like golf, or anything like that, is a mental sport, and he has the mental game down so well.” To find out how he calibrated mind with metal, we head to Japan."

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

THE TRUSTED PRIMER

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III)