last weekend UT

[jwpzx9r]

So Last weekend had my best ever four round score at UT 22,22,23 and 21 for 88ex100 . I was naturally pleased although I have ,as everybody does, had better two and three round totals percentage wise. What I am finding very strange though is my misses! I am making then all usually in the first 5 or six targets?? and then cleaning up the remaining targets. I know it does not matter when you miss them but it shows that I can shoot consistently once I get my head down! I have underlined that bit because I thing this could be my problem and it is only after the miss I redouble my efforts to stop doing it. Another thing that might be causing it is moving my gun to quickly ? But what ever I miss the targets right at the start of the round certainly within the first six there after I am usually first barrelling every target. To the really experienced trap shooters is there anything other than what I have suggested that could cause this? It is really frustrating.

edit

Or is this just the way it is when shooting am I just correcting my fault after it occurs and concentrating more for the rest of the round?

 

[ips]

Sounds like a simple case of not being focused. You then miss a few early on as a result and that is enough for you to pull your socks up and start concentrating. I do not believe it is anything more sinister or indeed complex than that.

 

[jwpzx9r]

I think you are most probably correct Ian . What worries me about the correction is that I think too much about things and foul up the whole issue . I do keep an eye on my sores and it is odd I miss early in the round then its almost like a light goes on and I tighten right down and shoot really well there after... but that is no good it has to start from the first target. I am out as usual on Saturday so I will try to really get in the zone from the first target. I do know I have a habit of lifting my head though and last week the light was not brilliant the sky was very cloudy it could be I did not see the targets well and was lifting my head at the start in an attempt to get a better picture then correcting this fault after realising it? It happened in every round too!

 

[ips]

I think you will find that I am correct on this one john.

You need to take 5 mins or so before you walk to your line to get mentally prepared then stand on your peg and prepare again, do not get involved with chit chat once you stand onto the layout, there is only one shooter on the squad and that is you.

You may be correct about the head lifting BUT this is a symptom of not being mentally prepared, whilst on your peg waiting for the squad to start you must tell yourself what to do and how to do it, in your case for instance "I must keep my head on the stock, see the target correctly before I move then shoot it" or something on those lines.

Competitive shooting is not all about pulling the trigger, one HAS to be fully focused and mentally prepared.

 

[ips]

As an aside.

With regards to letting it happen and or letting the sub conscious take over, i have recently come to the conclusion after various shooting errors that thinking and concentrating work better and more consistently long term than not

thinking about it. I believe that the sub conscious act of pulling the trigger is only possible when much thought and focus is put into play. Throw the gun up and trust in your god will only work on very few occasions from my experience.

Focus, commitment, concentration, and most importantly self belief is imo the most reliable method of hitting many targets.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

If you are shooting for a ex100 score then the first time you pull the trigger should not be in that set.  Shooters need to warm up just like any other physical activity.   Practice round, gun check, whatever - your first shot should never be one that counts!

 NOBODY steps on a stage cold no matter what the performance is about.

You shouldn't either

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Flambé ......always essential.....normally wakes me up.

 

[Dog Tyred]

If you are shooting for a ex100 score then the first time you pull the trigger should not be in that set.  Shooters need to warm up just like any other physical activity.   Practice round, gun check, whatever - your first shot should never be one that counts!

 NOBODY steps on a stage cold no matter what the performance is about.

You shouldn't either

Charlie

Unfortunately practice is not usually available (or allowed?) on the day of a registered comp so the first time you get to pull the trigger is clearing your barrels just before the first round. I never used to bother (as my barrels were already clear?) but have recently started doing this just to get a 'feel' for it without the pressure of a target. Otherwise its straight in! Bang, bang..BLEEEEP!

Is practice usually allowed in the States?

DT

 

[jwpzx9r]

I have come to the conclusion that my problem was related to concentration and the light conditions. I know I have a habit of lifting my head, it is my worst fault, secondly I can be prone to moving my gun to early. I really concentrate to avoid doing these things but with the light being bad on Saturday I think this was causing me to lift my head to see the target better and of course miss. I did make a conscious effort to keep head on the stock and solved the misses but it repeated every round. I think Ian is correct more concentration before starting the round is required, I will really try that bit harder tomorrow and see what the result is. The thing that worries me is I over think the situation and the whole lot fails.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Practice can be had on any range that is not being used in competition......true story.

Several disciplines in UK have practice before the shoots. In sporting it is the pool. In Helice practice is on the actual competition rings before you start.

If you are at NCSC for instance on UT, you can wake up on OT or DTL.

It just depends on a particular grounds facilities.

 

[Dog Tyred]

Practice can be had on any range that is not being used in competition......true story.

Several disciplines in UK have practice before the shoots. In sporting it is the pool. In Helice practice is on the actual competition rings before you start.

If you are at NCSC for instance on UT, you can wake up on OT or DTL.

It just depends on a particular grounds facilities.

Fair point. Just never come across it yet when shooting trap (ABT, UT or OT) comps. I guess a lot of grounds are restricted by the time they can start shooting?

DT

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Fair point. Just never come across it yet when shooting trap (ABT, UT or OT) comps. I guess a lot of grounds are restricted by the time they can start shooting?

DT

Go shoot at NCSC ...they always have a line of OT or DTL on and a sporting stand at the bottom of the hill. You can be shooting DTL at Bisley and whilst waiting go for DTL or OT at the NCSC at the same time. It is only a walk up the hill. :wink:

#happytohelp

 

[ips]

the first time you get to pull the trigger is clearing your barrels just before the first round. I never used to bother (as my barrels were already clear?) but have recently started doing this just to get a 'feel' for it without the pressure of a target. Otherwise its straight in! Bang, bang..BLEEEEP!

I am the opposite DT I used to clear my barrels as it seemed to be the done thing after they did away with the practice target (ABT anyway) but I don't bother anymore as I find it a very odd sensation to shoot at nothing and I do not believe its of any benefit for me personally other than to ensure that the safety is off, I never use the safety but I just check it when its my turn to "not clear my barrels"

 

[ips]

The thing that worries me is I over think the situation and the whole lot fails.

I am guilty of this also john. It is an easy remedy though just like the many other things we know we should not do ..... Don't do it...simples.

You know you lift your head and are convinced it is an issue so dont do it

you know you over analyse things and think too much so dont think it...JOB DONE

 

[** Pending Removal **]

I am the opposite DT I used to clear my barrels as it seemed to be the done thing after they did away with the practice target (ABT anyway) but I don't bother anymore as I find it a very odd sensation to shoot at nothing and I do not believe its of any benefit for me personally other than to ensure that the safety is off, I never use the safety but I just check it when its my turn to "not clear my barrels"

I find it helpful to wake me up.... :wink:

 

[40UP]

Repeat again: people who regulate gun barrels never pattern test clean barrels. Look at the barrel residue of your first shot - always different from the others.

 

[ips]

Repeat again: people who regulate gun barrels never pattern test clean barrels. Look at the barrel residue of your first shot - always different from the others.

well i never.

I don't mind admitting that i had never even considered that.

You learn something new every day.

Of course we could take it extremes as a reason for johns early misses, barrel not warmed up or too clean

 

[Wonko the Sane]

Charlie

Unfortunately practice is not usually available (or allowed?) on the day of a registered comp so the first time you get to pull the trigger is clearing your barrels just before the first round. I never used to bother (as my barrels were already clear?) but have recently started doing this just to get a 'feel' for it without the pressure of a target. Otherwise its straight in! Bang, bang..BLEEEEP!

Is practice usually allowed in the States?

DT

Yup!

You may not see all of the shooters doing it but that the ones who usually win always do.

And you don't have to "shoot at the air" with the gun check.  That is a perfectly good time for visualization, move gun, move body, and shooting a real gun all.

If you were on my team, you would never go to the line cold even if it was only for trinkets

just sayin' .........................

 

[ips]

Charlie as dt says its very rare to have a practice stand in UK apart from dtl comp which usually have a practice stand. You can practice the day before but from my experience this is sometimes irrelevant. For instance 40up and i spent two days training on the layouts at the 1st selection shoot only to be confronted with fog like you have never seen for the comp so waste of time training really