Woot!!

[RussellDyck]

Today, for the first time since starting, my skeet shooting score got over 20, actually a 21 and a 20!, did 4 rounds this afternoon the first 2 were at my average 15 & 16. I just started this thing called shot gun sports late this June, with a 6 week hiatus in aug/sept.
Dang it all! Right from the get go I was hooked, really hooked! It is getting to the point that is all I am looking forward to doing now and if I had my way I would be doing this full time Don't know what I am gonna do if they shut things down for the winter months.
I havn't really noticed anything that I am doing different other than I am finding that things are becoming more of a second nature to me now/not really thinking about the shot, and it has been pointed out to me that I seem to miss less when I can bust the clay as soon as possible after calling for the pull.
Mmmmm can't wait for next sunday, lol.

Russ

 

[Covey Ridge]

second nature to me now/not really thinking about the shot,

There are some who write books about getting to that no thinking part

Congratulations on your improved scores. You don't have to wait til Sunday. If you ever want a change of scenery, drive a bit north, drop in to the aheia range south of Calgary. Tuesday to Saturday noon til 5 you will find the skeet range open.

 

[beretta boy]

Keep at it !

Lots of ammunition and a good coach who actually "knows" (as opposed to a cheerleader) will help a lot, as will solid technique, good gun fit and balance.

Once it all seems to be second nature and effortless, the "straights" will come. You'll find one day you're about to walk off Station 8 after shooting 8 Low and someone will have to remind you to come back - and shoot your optional.

 

[florin]

Good shooting - keep it up!

And try to do what beretta boy said -- good advice... I would add: patience and the perfect score will come.

BerettaBoy: LOL I love your "cheerleader" - may I use it?

 

[beretta boy]

BerettaBoy: LOL I love your "cheerleader" - may I use it? [/QUOTE]


Florin:

Be my guest ... There seems to be lots of advice freely given (and generally well-intentioned ) at Gun Clubs ... but a lot of it, even perfectly applied, may
be more "misinformation" that it is actually help.

I recall watching a tape of an old episode of the former "Great Outdoorsman" T.V. show, which had the host shooting with one of the "Pros" at the Rue de le Roy down near Hemingford. The Pro's advice about gun fit was right on ... but in actuall shooting, the camera caught a clean miss from the host on the first shot at one station, ... to which the Pro intoned .. "You're behind". Being inquisitive, I rewound and advanced the tape, frame-by-frame. You can clearly see the entire shot swarm pass well in front of that clay target ... too far in front (or too fast a swing) but very definitely NOT BEHIND. Well-intentioned free advice, but WRONG ! The host/shooter then proceeds to build in more & more lead on that station ... for a clean "goose egg" !

Occassionally, a little "cheerleading" or encouragement is also beneficial, but I'd hardly call that coaching, per se !

Regards... BB

 

[Covey Ridge]

"you're behind" "You were high" "You have to lead that one 4 and a half feet"

None of that is coaching

Identifying the mechanical problem that caused one to shoot behind or caused the shot to go high and suggesting corrections is coaching.

 

[hnachaj]

I have had the priveledge of watching some of the best coachs and trainners at Orvis Sandanona, this past two Orvis Cups. Definetly the Brits are far away the best. They first will fit the gun. They will also explain the proper foot and hand positions before even going to the range. I watched as Roddie (owner of West London Shooting School and where the worst and the best learn to shoot) teach this couple I met the previous year, how to shoot the tower in a major downpour. They started to hit from close to way out there (60 yards!). Chris Batha is another highly technical instructor that I would highly recommend.

Regarding hand positioins, just look at the French shooters holding the frame in their leading hand while the British shoot a more relaxed style. Richard Faulds was two squads ahead and I manged to get a number of good shots of his shooting technique. It is in my website under the Storefront, Galleries, World 2008
http://www.sportingphotosshop.com
There are also pictures of the Orvis Cup. I wrote a feature about the Orvis Cup and it should be in the next issue of ClayshootingUSA.

Now back to bird hunting............

Henry

 

[Covey Ridge]

I have had the priveledge of watching some of the best coachs and trainners at Orvis Sandanona, this past two Orvis Cups. Definetly the Brits are far away the best. They first will fit the gun. They will also explain the proper foot and hand positions before even going to the range. I watched as Roddie (owner of West London Shooting School and where the worst and the best learn to shoot) teach this couple I met the previous year, how to shoot the tower in a major downpour. They started to hit from close to way out there (60 yards!). Chris Batha is another highly technical instructor that I would highly recommend.

Regarding hand positioins, just look at the French shooters holding the frame in their leading hand while the British shoot a more relaxed style. Richard Faulds was two squads ahead and I manged to get a number of good shots of his shooting technique. It is in my website under the Storefront, Galleries, World 2008
http://www.sportingphotosshop.com
There are also pictures of the Orvis Cup. I wrote a feature about the Orvis Cup and it should be in the next issue of ClayshootingUSA.

Now back to bird hunting............

Henry

I opened it up, but how the heck can I tell which one is Richard Faulds? BTW, who is Richard Faulds? I have lead a sheltered life shooting only the Alberta circuit

 

[RussellDyck]

Yup everyone at the club here in Lethbridge are a bunch of really great guys and will jump in to help with corrections and advice or encouragement. And when it is another fellow novice that is getting help I have found my self wandering over to listen to what is being said when I am not up to bat.
Now if only I could start getting extra points for getting hitting both clays on the doubles with one shot:, still haven't found away to convince the score keeper yet


Russ

 

[Covey Ridge]

Now if only I could start getting extra points for getting hitting both clays on the doubles with one shot:, still haven't found away to convince the score keeper yet
Russ

You should try sporting clays. You would score a pair and save a shot.

As far as skeet goes, if you frequently break a pair with one shot, the machines are not set right or you are not shooting the target in the optimum spot.

 

[beretta boy]

Type-in Richard Faulds ... into your MicroSoft/MSN Search ... you'll find a whole bunch of stuff to read. Hard to quantify whom is "No. 1" at any given time, but he and George Digweed are likely seeded as the current top pair of F.I.T.A.S.C. (International style Sporting ) Shooters in the World. IIRC, Richard competed at Bejing this past summer, but just missed the podium in
Doubles Trap, at which he held the World Record score for a number of years.

 

[beretta boy]

"you're behind" "You were high" "You have to lead that one 4 and a half feet"

None of that is coaching

Identifying the mechanical problem that caused one to shoot behind or caused the shot to go high and suggesting corrections is coaching.

Russ:

Covey Ridge hit the nail right on the head for you !

The real challenge in "free coaching advice" .... is howto separate the Bears**t from the Buckwheat ... and even if the guy is the local Hot Shot, Club Champion or Legend in His Own Mind, (or just plain Nice Guy and a Good Shot ) he may still not be an effective coach.

Gun fit, basic mechanics and identifying defect, cause and implementing correction is most of the basis of the traditional British method of shotgun coaching (see Henry's comment re: Chris Batha ... a displaced Londoner) which has been so widely copied into an almost "seminar junkie industry" here in North America. There is no shortage of books, video's, DVD's and seminar session by every conceivable kind of shooting "pro" ... just choose your coach carefully, listen, (really listen !), implement the lessons and assess your improvement against the goals you set for yourself.

 

[hnachaj]

Richard is the little shy guy with the Rolex in the middle of the group picture, in the cover for the gallery. He has an old blue shooting vest on. He shows no emotion and is a bit shy. He comes from a well to do family and is very well educated. He is very polite at ALL times and does not perform any outburst like certain other good guns.

The two top clay shooters would be George and Richard. George has won his second World ALL ROUND. He is also 16 times World Champion in Parcours de Chasse. Richard has an Olympic Gold, a world record and several World Championships. The two have completely different styles and characters. But both are true gentlemen! I know a good number of top guns and none come close to these two for being just, thruthfull and having good manners. There is a lot of crap in the cream at the top!

Best regards,
Henry

 

[Covey Ridge]

Henry,
Thanks for pointing out Richard for me. Yes I bet there is a lot of crap in the cream at the top, but the cream is still cream and I would also bet there is more s**t in the wannbe cream a bit lower down

 

[RussellDyck]

Russ:

Covey Ridge hit the nail right on the head for you !

The real challenge in "free coaching advice" .... is howto separate the Bears**t from the Buckwheat ... and even if the guy is the local Hot Shot, Club Champion or Legend in His Own Mind, (or just plain Nice Guy and a Good Shot ) he may still not be an effective coach.

Gun fit, basic mechanics and identifying defect, cause and implementing correction is most of the basis of the traditional British method of shotgun coaching (see Henry's comment re: Chris Batha ... a displaced Londoner) which has been so widely copied into an almost "seminar junkie industry" here in North America. There is no shortage of books, video's, DVD's and seminar session by every conceivable kind of shooting "pro" ... just choose your coach carefully, listen, (really listen !), implement the lessons and assess your improvement against the goals you set for yourself.

I am always willing to try out a tip from someone here and there, I have noticed so far from most of the things being passed my way is that I have never missed more than before I tried that bit of advice, but those few other tid bits have made a noticable improvement. Take for instant, a few weeks ago there was a fella being givin pointers on form and mounting his shot gun, one thing that really stood out was that he should try and keep his elbow up, I watched him the next few stations and there was a very noticable improvement so I aplied it to myself, and wouldn't ya know it I started missing fewer clays, especially at stations 3, 4, and 5, so now I am making more of an effort to keeping my elbow up alittle higher.
The biggest thing still is I lack the experience and the practice which of coarse will come in time, and right now I am having a heck of great time, a bad day of clays is still by far better than a day at work Every Sunday afternoon when I go I go with an open mind, to go and to have fun, to injoy a few hours outdoors with fellow shooters, and of coarse to win...... someday
As for gun fit, I feel a little lucky there, the thing just feels so right when I bring it up to my shoulder, this past month or so I have really been feeling very comfortable and pleased with the CZ that I bought in June, it seems that we are becoming one....... er..... um........ you know what I mean.

Russ


P.S. Oh nuts! This might cost me alot more money in the future, isn't it?

 

[beretta boy]

Russ :

"Gun Fit" has a lot more to do with the shotgun "shooting where you're looking" - than just feeling comfortable.

One of my all-time favourites is watching some guy repeatedly (and inconsitantly ) shouldering a shotgun, aiming at some imaginary point and proclaimly loudly to all who will listen "She shore-nuff comes-up nice !" (Whatever the hell that means !) Likely hasn't a clue where it will pattern when he does shoot it.

By all means, if you find trying different things gives you positive results, try them.

Best recommendation is to get some help with gun fit by patterning for Point of Impact : Changes to LOP, Pitch, drop at comb at drop at heel and cast to get the gun to shoot where you look will yield more positive results than just banging away at the local Club for a few months until you get the hang of it..