depth perception and skeet shooting

p14shooter

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Location
Nova Scotia
I do not do very much skeet shooting, mabey because I am bad at it, but I do enjoy it. However, could part of my lack of skill be due to the fact that I have a hard job judging depth, according to my eye doctor. Last time out I thought I was on fire the first round with 14, then it went to 8, and 8, then 6 and then 5, and then I went home. It is a good thing I do not have to make a living at it.

Paul
 
Good vision certainly is important....as are good reflexes, good hand - eye coordination etc....however before blaming my eyes, I'd want to be sure that I've learned all the basic fundamentals first. If you haven't been shooting long, there may be a whole host of things you don't know yet....or are doing wrong.

If you're just a beginner I'd try to hook up with one of the better shooters wherever you shoot and see if you can get some tips. Down in the US everyone keeps telling beginners to find a good "qualified" instructor. I don't know of too many good "qualified" instructors....at least in Ont where I shoot.

Don't know where you are, but there are some very good shooters in Ont. And I've yet to meet one after being around the skeet game for 30+ years who wouldn't be more than happy to try to help you out.

Now having said that...there are oodles of people around who would be more than happy to try to help you. And they're all very well meaning. Trick is....trying to figure out who you should be listening to because more likely than not....if you listen to too many people...you're going to start getting conflicting advice.

When I first started out, I hooked up with someone at my club who was a AA shooter in all gauges and watched and listened to him. Perhaps might be a good idea for you to try to do the same.

If you can't find a good instructor...and can't hook up with a good shooter....try to get a copy of Todd Bender's video. At least there you'll get a good idea of the fundamentals you need to master...and you'll have it to review from time to time as necessary.

Good luck.
 
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It might be your depth perception but there are a host of others things that it might be including eye dominance, foot position, stance, eye hold point, gun hold point among other things.

I'd agree with Neera's advice about the Bender video and finding a top shooter at the club to show you some pointers. If you were in Ontario I could name some very good skeet instructors but can't suggest anyone in Nova Scotia.
 
p14...I didn't realize you were in NS. Where do you shoot?

I may be able to give you a name to watch for. My old mentor lives in NS now. He's getting a little older now and not the shooter he once was but still breaks the odd pretty good score. And he still knows what he's talking about. As far as I know he hasn't gone totally senile yet. LOL Just kidding DW if you ever read this. LOL

In my early years, after listening to everyone at my club...I finally began to diplomatically block everyone but him out. When you listen to too many people you'll likely get too many conflicting opinions and suggestions and end up with over loaded circuits. When this happens you'll likely not accomplish a whole lot. Or progress as quickly as you might like. But then again...I suppose it depends on what you want out of the game and where you want to go with it. Want to shoot well? When all else fails...if possible shoot with and listen to someone who shoots well...or used to.

I'm not discounting your possible eye problems...that may very well be a major contributor to your struggling. But that's not the first thing I'd go looking at. Not just yet.

Good luck.
 
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Yeah, I know there is a lot that could, can and is contributing to my lack of making clay dust. I do consider myself a good, rifle shot, but it has taken me quite a few years to get like that. So now I am trying shotgunning for nothing else but the enjoyment of shooting, and expect myself to take a few years to get to what I consider good. I shoot in Chester at the Captain Kidd Rod and Gun Club, and the guys there are great. Not serious competitors, but they know there stuff. I just have not been out in almost 2 months, and I am always pondering what I can do to improve on one area at a time and have not had a chance to ask them about this depth perception yet. With that in mind, I am always looking for ways to improve. I do believe that right now, my biggest enemy is my lack of follow through. That has always been a tough thing for me to overcome. Thanks for the help.
 
The more I think about your concern about your depth perception....the more I wonder just exactly how much of an impact it would have. And even if it is a culprit affecting your scores to some degree...it seems to me that it might be relatively easy to overcome. WITH PRACTICE!

I can assure you, anyone who has become proficient in skeet has thrown tons of lead down range. You don't say how long you've been shooting, only that you haven't shot for a couple of months. For someone who's shot alot, a couple month layoff isn't a big deal. A couple rounds and they're back in the groove.

In your first post you stated that "you thought you were on fire with your 14". That indicates to me that you have not been shooting very much...or very long. At least that would be my guess. And based on that assumption, I'd say you have a ways to go yet learning the fundamentals necessary to become a decent skeet shooter.

In my shooting I've personally found that...the more you break..the more fun it is. Breaking 24 is fun...breaking that second target at low 8 is more fun. If it's "the enjoyment of shooting" you're after....learn good habits, and practice good habits. Your scores will improve. As will your enjoyment level.

I don't mean to sound harsh here and I apologize if that's the way it sounds....but don't start looking for excuses (your eyes) at this stage of the game. Trying to rush to that judgement at this stage of your shooting career might be just a little premature.

Just out of curiosity...what kind of gun are you using? If you're trying to learn using something like I started with...a Mossberg 500..30" full choke barrel....or something comparable...you're handicapped right off the bat.
 
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That is why I posed the question to all of you as to the significance of depth preception. If in everyone's opinion, it would casue me undue difficulities, then I would lower my expectations of my score. I just do not know enough to know that I don't enough (what did I just say?). I have litererally only shot a few times this year, (this being my first year) and they were at least 3 months apart. So I do not even pretend to know what I am doing. But as you say, I have a lot to learn about learning the basics. On the other hand, I would rather continue to go up in score, rather than down. And no apologies needed. I am only trying to figure out what some of my problems may or may not be.

Any yes, I am starting out with a handicap with my gun. I am only using a rem. express 12ga pump. I am only getting the skeet in singles for me instead of doubles so that is not a problem for now. But in all honesty to myself, I am not doing this to be #1, or 2 or 3. I just enjoy shooting for the pure enjoyment of shooting. Last does not bother me as someone has to be there.

I know that this will not come overnight as it is only with in the last year that I consider myself to be a good rifle shot against my peers, and I have been shooting that for 12 years now. So patience is a virtue I have, and I am always open for helpful suggestions.

Oh, and my scores were out of 20, not 25.

Thanks for the help. Feel free to give any other ideas.

Paul
 
Paul

I appreciate your candor and your honesty.....and acceptance.

The fact that this is your first year and you've only shot a few times speaks volumes to me right off the bat. That you hadn't shot for a couple of months also leads me to be totally unsurprised by your scores. In the beginning, my scores and those of many other beginners were not unlike yours I assure you. And I had 20/20 vision back then. :eek:

Not having a depth perception issue myself, I'm not sure how it affects how you see the targets as compared to how I see the targets. Whether you see them much differently than I do or not. Having said that, it still seems to me though that it might not be terribly difficult to overcome and compensate for.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you see a specific target....it looks the same to you each and every time doesn't it? It doesn't look different to you each and every time you see it does it? If that's the case, then what you're going to have to learn is just what is the correct sight picture for you as you're leading the target and pulling the trigger. In addition to a number of other things of course.

Without actually seeing you shoot, it's obviously pretty hard to try to diagnose what you're doing wrong. And at this stage of the game, I suspect there are a number of things you're doing wrong. Not because you're not capable of doing them right...but simply because you haven't yet been taught...or found the right way yourself to do it....for you. And believe me...there is no one right way to do it for everyone. If anyone tries to tell you there is only one way to do things and that's the way you must do it...I'd suggest you try finding another coach. ;)

I very much enjoy trying to help new shooters improve. In fact I think helping and seeing new shooters improve and their enjoyment levels increasing is getting to be more fun for me than shooting well myself. I find their excitement and enthusiasm infectious. When starting out with a brand new shooter....I try to get them to do it the way I do it. After a time though...if they are struggling and just can't get it...then it may be time to look for another method that just might work better for them.

However...and this is a big however for me. If you find someone you trust and have faith in their ability to shoot and to coach...listen to what they say and give it a fair chance. Don't be like so many others who try something once....don't meet with success immediately...and they try to move on to something else because what they were told didn't work that first time.

You sound like you have a pretty good attitude towards it all. Pity you're not a member at my club...I'd probably enjoy trying to help you along. You say you have patience? Good. Use it. And give whatever is recommended to you a fair chance. Don't continue to scramble looking for that "magic" secret that's going to provide immediate results. It just doesn't work that way.

Anyway.....I stand by my first advice to you. Buy Bender's video and try to hook up with a good shooter at your club who knows what he's talking about. Learn the basic fundamentals and PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE....if you want to hit more targets and raise your enjoyment level. Skeet's like anything else...the more you do it, the better you're likely to get.

Good luck...and have fun.

And don't be shy about asking questions here if you can't find answers to satisfy you at your local club. From a Skeet perspective...this has been kind of a boring forum since it was started. For me anyway. Good to have something to BS about once in a while. :D
 
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