Found "The Zone" yesterday - briefly

Rob!

Rob!

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I'm normally a 70ish shooter - some better days and some worse. Was out practicing yesterday and for a time experienced the zone. 3 stations in a row 20/20, 19/20, 20/20 - all true pairs. Now, for most of you, that probably isn't a big deal - but for a 70% guy it was exhilarating. Of course, once you realize you have found the fabled 'zone', you start trying to define it and it all goes to hell. :rolleyes:

Promptly fell back into the 70s range. Elusive, but I'll find it again - hopefully on a regular basis. :cool:

Rob!
 
At high level sport, the sports psychologist tries to get the athlete into the zone and keep him there.

The top level golfers, tennis players, shooters all have a comfortable mindset of perfect shots.

The trick is to let the sub-conscious do the job. That is what all the repetitive training is about.

You don't know how to think about tying your shoe laces. Your hands do it automatically. That is how you have to shoot. The more you think, the worse it will get.

Get a coach to teach perfect form, repeat a bazzilion times, and perfect scores become the norm.

While the shooting looks easy when someone is in the zone, it actually takes a tremendous amount of concentration and mind control. Not so much to focus on the shooting, but to keep all the extraneous other stuff out.

For example, if you start to think "Only 3 more shots for a perfect score..." the wheels can fall off.

Been there. Done that.
 
Rob! said:
I'm normally a 70ish shooter - some better days and some worse. Was out practicing yesterday and for a time experienced the zone. 3 stations in a row 20/20, 19/20, 20/20 - all true pairs. Now, for most of you, that probably isn't a big deal - but for a 70% guy it was exhilarating. Of course, once you realize you have found the fabled 'zone', you start trying to define it and it all goes to hell. :rolleyes:

Promptly fell back into the 70s range. Elusive, but I'll find it again - hopefully on a regular basis. :cool:

Rob!
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Yeah.... the zone! I get there now and then but not as often as I'd like to. I was there today for a while and beat my opponent by one bird in a friendly match. I do better at long targets than he does and that's all it takes some times.

"20/20, 19/20, 20/20" Are you saying that you have 20 targets on each station? That's a lot of targets, usually the courses I shoot have only 3 or 4 pairs at each one, that's 6 or 8 targets each not 20.
 
Falconflyer said:
Y.....

"20/20, 19/20, 20/20" Are you saying that you have 20 targets on each station? That's a lot of targets, usually the courses I shoot have only 3 or 4 pairs at each one, that's 6 or 8 targets each not 20.
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14 stations on the blue course at Silver Willow. I can shoot whatever I want and 250 - 300 birds is typical. Easy if I'm shooting alone. Similar to a squad of 3 shooting 3 or 4 pairs. Easy birds or stations - yeah I got this. Demons get special attention. I'm not "there" by a long shot - but trying to work on it efficiently. One of the things I've been working on is consistency. If I can break that bird, why can't I break it every time?

Consistency - same pickup - same hold - same breakpoint. Quit second guessing your plan.

Rob!
 
Its amazing how quickly it can come and go. I hadnt shot clays in a long time and me and my buddie were having a friendly shoot and I got right into the zone for one round. Then I was out...Gotta keep at it!!
 
Rob! said:
14 stations on the blue course at Silver Willow. I can shoot whatever I want and 250 - 300 birds is typical. Easy if I'm shooting alone. Similar to a squad of 3 shooting 3 or 4 pairs. Easy birds or stations - yeah I got this. Demons get special attention. I'm not "there" by a long shot - but trying to work on it efficiently. One of the things I've been working on is consistency. If I can break that bird, why can't I break it every time?

Consistency - same pickup - same hold - same breakpoint. Quit second guessing your plan.

Rob!
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Ok, I gotcha now.
 
We all have good days and bad days. I shoot best on overcast days in the mid-teens temperature wise, with the right squad. The dynamic of the squad you're with has a factor too, some squads like to joke and carry-on, others are downright serious and quiet. That dynamic can change how you feel and concentrate, which in effect can affect your scores. Better shooters on your squad can have the effect of making you step up your game as well. A tradition at our club is to shoot a round of Skrap at the end of the day, better shooters jump at the chance to get out of the routine and challenge themselves, which in turn improves your shooting.
 
Squadding is a major factor. A squad of good shooters who can form a rhythm and get into a good timing can help you up your game immensely. Especially in the registered games. I personally like a squad that can communicate with nothing more than a look and each shooter is focused on the game not blabbing away about everything and anything while on the pad. I’ve shot my best scores with a good familiar squad. It’s also imperative to have a squad leader who can set the rhythm and restore it if necesaary.
 
the spank said:
Squadding is a major factor. A squad of good shooters who can form a rhythm and get into a good timing can help you up your game immensely. Especially in the registered games. I personally like a squad that can communicate with nothing more than a look and each shooter is focused on the game not blabbing away about everything and anything while on the pad. I’ve shot my best scores with a good familiar squad. It’s also imperative to have a squad leader who can set the rhythm and restore it if necesaary.
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:rolleyes: Trap Shooter ;) (JK)
 
the spank said:
Yes I am and I eluded to that fact in my post. I really can’t comment on sporting clays as my experiences with it have been less than a dozen times on a course and always at a fun shoot or fundraiser. I don’t mind being called a trap shooter as that really is what I am. :wave:
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I hope the emoticons were enough to show it was good natured banter. Shot some trap myself about 40 years ago, but without much success. At our SC club, if you complain to the target setter about a presentation, his answer is often "Quit whining. You sound like a trap shooter". Good natured banter from him as well because his uncle is a rather talented trap shooter.

Different sports for sure though. SC isn't nearly as much fun unless you poke someone (gently) in the ribs with a sharp stick. Mostly on fun rounds, but with the right squad, even in competition.

Perhaps part of the reason I had those three unusually good stations in a row was because I was alone, and better able to quiet my (pesky) mind.
 
Rob! said:
I hope the emoticons were enough to show it was good natured banter. Shot some trap myself about 40 years ago, but without much success. At our SC club, if you complain to the target setter about a presentation, his answer is often "Quit whining. You sound like a trap shooter". Good natured banter from him as well because his uncle is a rather talented trap shooter.

Different sports for sure though. SC isn't nearly as much fun unless you poke someone (gently) in the ribs with a sharp stick. Mostly on fun rounds, but with the right squad, even in competition.

Perhaps part of the reason I had those three unusually good stations in a row was because I was alone, and better able to quiet my (pesky) mind.
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All good! Can’t call myself a sporting clays shooter as I am just not versed in nor terribly interested in the game. I guess I shouldn’t even call myself a trapshooter any more as I haven’t set foot on a field since Sept 2016. I sure seem to have more $$ for fishing since then though.....:confused: :popCorn:
 
As for the games, Skeet & Trap, especially in registered tournaments have a vastly different dynamic to them to practice days, ironically I tend shoot better in registered tournaments. That's serious work. Sporting Clays, on the other hand, is fun change in pace for me, I rarely miss and opportunity to take in a shoot, I rarely get to shoot sporting clays, and rarely get to the same club twice in a row. Every visit is a new dynamic. So for me, I prefer to get together with a squad of the usual characters and we usually spend the day trying to shoot while laughing to the point of tears clouding our vision from the last snide remark. It's a fun day out, not a serious competition for our usual squad the scores are an after thought.
 
Maritime Storm said:
As for the games, Skeet & Trap, especially in registered tournaments have a vastly different dynamic to them to practice days, ironically I tend shoot better in registered tournaments. That's serious work. Sporting Clays, on the other hand, is fun change in pace for me, I rarely miss and opportunity to take in a shoot, I rarely get to shoot sporting clays, and rarely get to the same club twice in a row. Every visit is a new dynamic. So for me, I prefer to get together with a squad of the usual characters and we usually spend the day trying to shoot while laughing to the point of tears clouding our vision from the last snide remark. It's a fun day out, not a serious competition for our usual squad the scores are an after thought.
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I find that I actually shoot just as well, if not better when our squad of skeet or sporting clays shooters is socializing and joking around more. I have had three friends shouting "miss" when I was on a good run at skeet, and I usually shot better.
 
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