Starting back into trap.
- Thread starter Win/64
- Start date
Anyone have any suggestions for calming nerves? I have just started back into Trap Shooting after a long layoff (20 years). I am shooting well but I can't stop my knees from shaking. Any suggestions?
No one will notice
Actually I think that is a good feeling when shooting trap! I have shot some of my best scores when I felt that way. You will calm a bit when you get into the rythm or zone or whatever, but I have noticed that when I get too relaxed, I loose my focus.
No one will notice
Actually I think that is a good feeling when shooting trap! I have shot some of my best scores when I felt that way. You will calm a bit when you get into the rythm or zone or whatever, but I have noticed that when I get too relaxed, I loose my focus.
My very first PITA ever shoot was in Vancouver and I was so nervous I thought I was going to puke. I went up to the line with my squad ( who I didn't know at all) and shot 25 straight. Nervous can be good if it gets you focused. In fact since that shoot some of my best scores have been in Vancouver.
Everyone gets hit with the nerves in one way or another.
Here are some of the ways I've picked up over the years to deal with the yips.
Develop a routine. The less you are thinking about the piddling little things the more you can focus on the target. Once you settle into the routine don't vary from it.
Don't watch the other guy's targets. Why watch 125 targets when all you care about is yours?
When you are not shooting think about somthing else. Pick a distant object, look at it and think about something pleasant. A former member of the Olympic team says he thought about ### to keep his mind settled during shoots.
Focus on breathing. Breathing tends to get faster and shallower when you are nervous. Make it a point to breathe deeply before you mount the gun.
Carry more than 25 shells in your vest. I tend to count targets and when you are running them straight and you reach into your best and find one shell left it adds pressure. I can recall not knowing the round was over because I had extra shells in my pocket.
Don't let a miss rattle you. It's gone and there's no getting it back. Put your focus on the next target, not the one you lost.
A trap round is not 25 targets. It is one target 25 times. Before the round focus on breaking the first target and only the first target. Then think about breaking just the next one and only the next one and so on. Before you know it the round is over and you've hit them all.
The best way to get over the nerves is more competitive shooting. The more you are in the higher stress situations the easier it becomes.
Here are some of the ways I've picked up over the years to deal with the yips.
Develop a routine. The less you are thinking about the piddling little things the more you can focus on the target. Once you settle into the routine don't vary from it.
Don't watch the other guy's targets. Why watch 125 targets when all you care about is yours?
When you are not shooting think about somthing else. Pick a distant object, look at it and think about something pleasant. A former member of the Olympic team says he thought about ### to keep his mind settled during shoots.
Focus on breathing. Breathing tends to get faster and shallower when you are nervous. Make it a point to breathe deeply before you mount the gun.
Carry more than 25 shells in your vest. I tend to count targets and when you are running them straight and you reach into your best and find one shell left it adds pressure. I can recall not knowing the round was over because I had extra shells in my pocket.
Don't let a miss rattle you. It's gone and there's no getting it back. Put your focus on the next target, not the one you lost.
A trap round is not 25 targets. It is one target 25 times. Before the round focus on breaking the first target and only the first target. Then think about breaking just the next one and only the next one and so on. Before you know it the round is over and you've hit them all.
The best way to get over the nerves is more competitive shooting. The more you are in the higher stress situations the easier it becomes.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
You're too busy thinking ...
Stop thinking & obssessing over things ...JUST SHOOT !
The referee (or trapper) will tell you what your score is when you're done !
But, seriously ... just get out there and do it - often. They're only clay targets, not Boone & Crockett Class once-in-a-lifetimers ! Even if you do win, coffee's still the same price at Timmy Ho's !!!
Stop thinking & obssessing over things ...JUST SHOOT !
The referee (or trapper) will tell you what your score is when you're done !
But, seriously ... just get out there and do it - often. They're only clay targets, not Boone & Crockett Class once-in-a-lifetimers ! Even if you do win, coffee's still the same price at Timmy Ho's !!!
Claybuster gives some very good advice and one would do well to put many if his tips into practice, that is except for the one about thinking about ### between shots. Hey! That’s one of the reasons that I shoot! So that I will not think about ### all the time! You know there is study that claims most men think about ### about 7 times per minute! Besides one would do better to control the thoughts so that they are easier to dismiss so that your entire focus can be on the target. And as CB says, just your target.
