“I have something that can add 6 X’s
to your scorecard…today.
It’s called an eraser.”
A worthwhile shooting “lesson” is one that teaches what works and what doesn't. And before you go out the door, IMHO, competent instruction should also be handing you your practice “to-do list,” preferably in writing. Based on your personal shooting, very specifically, what to practice after your lesson(s). Those guidelines are your plan for moving your game forward after you go home…the very reason for your lesson. Yes?
Regardless of how much or how little is learned in a practice round, each and every practice should finish with visible, measurable progress in your shooting. This being the very definition of a dedicated practice session. Example. Got rained out after only 20 minutes and 12 shots into your practice? What did you learn from those 12 shots? Which “one” shooting step is better now than it was 20 minutes ago…one improvement? That’s dedicated practice.
To make a practice session effective, the practice goal is to polish our form…to execute the correct swing again and again…consistently…on purpose…to reinforce what was learned in the lesson. To do that asks us to concentrate…move our attention to a) our pre-shot set-up steps and b) swing steps. Our “form.” Our mechanics. Which makes everything work.
Moving one’s attention to a) and b) serves two very important purposes. First, when we miss a target, we’ll know WHY. We have to “see” why we missed. Specifically. So that our set-up and/or swing error can now be corrected with the very next shell. No muss, no fuss. O. X. X. X. X. X. On time and on purpose.
Secondly, so we can see and know WHY the target just broke. A lucky break or a good swing? Remember, this is practice, dedicated to improving our form. Seeing WHY that target just broke is critically important. So we can either correct or duplicate that X swing…intentionally…X. X. X. X. X. X. All by watching our sight pictures over the barrel…before the call…early in the swing…all the way to the trigger pull. Attention tightly focused on what we are doing because now we know what that target, our X swing requires.
Folks, the importance of the above cannot be overstated. Those who put all their attention on the shot outcome won’t see WHY the X or O happened. When not seen, the silent question is deafening. What’s the plan for the next shell? Answer? With no plan and our shooter lost and confused, where can any improvement come from?? On the other hand, with attention on developing good form, dedicated practice always has a plan. That plan is required, the very foundation under advancing a skill level.
To make every X and O work for you, consider Kaizen. A one-plus-one practice approach to purposely add one small improvement at a time. Countless times, put into practice, this incredibly dependable training approach has added winning improvements to athlete’s games across the globe.
“To improve our shooting…
whether we hit or miss the target…
our progress will depend on how well we
do or do not use that outcome.”
While both X and O are understandably important…here’s where it can all go wrong. Should all of our attention shift to those outcomes (with unforgiving expectations?)…we’ll lose the very reason for, the rewards of dedicated practice. With Kaizen, X “expectations” take a back seat to patiently, purposely building one improvement at a time. One shell, one target …every X, every O teaching us what went right, what went wrong. We quickly, very patiently forgive the miss…correct the errors. And then…just as quickly…we repeat and reinforce what went right…X. X. X. X. X. X.
“The real key to improving one’s performance
comes from our non-stop striving
to overcome all the adversity.”
While advancing our shooting skill is indeed an honorable goal, success comes from having a detailed plan and a commitment to overcome all that needs adjusting in our shooting. We do this to set up the successful swing…the correct sight pictures over our barrel…our swing “cadence”…the timing of our trigger pull. Not just once or twice but again and again, consistently. To successfully build this…XX. XX. XX. XX. Intentionally. Steps that we now know how to repeat. Steps we intentionally, again and again fortify, to grant us our much-wanted consistency in the shooting box. By focusing on those steps.
To sum up practice…consistently good shooting is both a science and an art. Knowing how to successfully execute the steps…the science…must come first. That’s where your lesson and practice come in. So, in time, chambers loaded, you can indeed confidently trust what you are about to do. Say hello to your very best shooting. It is here where dedicated practice teaches us the science…what works dependably…what we can (and cannot) trust in the shooting box. The goals of each and every dedicated practice. With a commitment to being patient during practice, and our attention in the right place…very predictably and right on schedule…more consistency and a higher level of shooting skill follows. Folks…that’s advice you can trust.
If you wish to break more targets and shoot consistently, you may wish to purchase Dan Schindler's books Take Your Best Shot and To The Target, available on the Paragon website. Unfortunately, Beyond The Target is currently out of stock. Schindler's books are an investment in good shooting and offer invaluable insights, serving as a roadmap for shooters of all levels. Take Your Best Shot and To The Target 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 breaking more targets and achieving consistently higher scores. These books offer invaluable information and are the next best things to taking a lesson with Dan Schindler. There's a wealth of information and blog posts on the Paragon website.
"Dan Schindler is truly a world-class Sporting Clays and Wingshooting instructor capable of taking complex action and breaking them down into simple, repeatable pieces . . . and good heavens doesn't sport shooting need more of that!"
Michael Bane, Host of Outdoor Channel's Shooting Gallery
Dan moves shooters — all skill levels (Never touched a shotgun to Master Class) — forward fast. He teaches the step-by-step Paragon Shooting SYSTEM that he meticulously designed to take the mystery out of breaking targets consistently, providing shooters with the solid foundation to continue moving their game forward. Shooters leave their lesson with crystal clarity, which removes the mystery of why the target broke (or didn't break). No more feeling lost, confused and frustrated.
Thank you for being here and I look forward to seeing 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
"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. It is filled with valuable information and clay target truths. It is entertaining and a culmination of three decades of Dan's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.
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