Shooting in the doldrums

[Santa2512]

Thought i'd have a bit of practce at southdowns today, to see if i can do anything to improve my stagnant performance ...   av 50% c class

Started with a simple R/L looping crosser,  a fairly slow bird by SD standards ...  

Missed the first couple , but managed to take a chip off the  back of the clay on the next one, and used the 2nd barrel to  finish off the large chunk that was still flying ...

So with a suitable sight picture  tried again, and missed completley,,,   then i did the same trick again  chip off the back and clobbered the big. chunk with the 2nd barrel.

I tried various sporting stands down the lane with similar results, either taking the first bird and missing the 2nd, or vice versa, with no discernable pattern or idea what i was doing..

One stand eluded me completley, and no matter hw much or little lead i gave the bird, I hit nowt.

Slightly fed up, i moved to the skeet range, at least here i can work on the  faster crossers .. 

Stand 1,  Took the high and the low bird cleanly, but missed the pair completly.

and  it was a variation on the theme from there on in for two rounds.     I either took the high or the low, and one of the pair, or missed the singles and nailed one of the pair.

Not sure where to go next,   i think a gunfitting session may be in order, and  then some coaching ?? 

:santa:

 

[Hamster]

I think you need to shoot a few courses with a knowledgeable shot who is prepared to watch you closely and point out the mistakes. 

 

[MJJ]

As Hamster said really - No one can give you any advice on how you shoot or what your doing wrong without first, seeing you shoot.

 

[ips]

As above bollox to coaches, experienced mentor / friend required preferably someone who knows how you tick.

Yes I know coaches everywere now calling me names but I believe there is very good advice to be had by shooters with experience and only cost a tea and bacon roll.  

I aont bothered so go on coaches do your worst !!

 

[LancsLad]

What ips means is buy him a cup of tea and a bacon roll and he'll be your mate for life. It might not improve your shooting but you'll have a new friend  :wink:

 

[ips]

Yes that

Cheeky Git

 

[westley]

Santa, what happens if you fire the second barrel first, as you seem to be hitting them with that one ?

 

[Mike L]

I do pretty good at southdown, not sure on %, but I guess 85-90 ish. I am there most weeks, if you want a GTG.

Mike

 

[Guest]

invest in a good coach. He should also be able to have a look at your gun fit, master eye etc. Don't cut corners, there are no short cuts.

 

[PhilS]

Santa, what happens if you fire the second barrel first, as you seem to be hitting them with that one ?

Pmsl

Joking aside, if you are hitting some on a stand, but not usually the first, or 2nd barrelling the chipped clay, could this be a confidence issue?

I agree with ips and others - find someone to go round with that is a reasonable shot to both look at your shooting and offer some advice.

Whichever route you take, don't let a few bad days get you down. We all have them. Keep at it, it will get better so long as you don't keep doing ththe same thing without seking help. Good luck with it mate ?

 

[westley]

I have to agree with the above, get things checked out by a decent Coach. It often takes someone on the outside to spot a bad habit that has developed.

 

[westley]

Do not forget though, that if you are back ending them and middling the piece with the second barrel, 2 things are happening. 1st. the target is slowing down from the moment it leaves the trap, then 2nd your swing is increasing (along with your lead). You may well find that you are looking at your gun in order to measure the lead, in an effort to "just double check" before pulling the trigger. It really does need a second person to see what is going wrong.

 

[Sian]

Santa

been saying it long enough you do need your stock looked at and your more than welcome to come round Southdown with Tony and I.  I won't be much help but Tony would.

 

[Will Hewland]

I could be the best £40 per hour you ever spent! ?​

 

[Hamster]

Do not forget though, that if you are back ending them and middling the piece with the second barrel, 

​Not nekkekkarily relevant to the OP but over the years I have come to take feed back from breaks useful, you can not only make corrections to lead etc, to achieve better breaks but perhaps more importantly avoid misses if you can interpret the clues. 

But certain anomalies do exist, one being slow R-L birds which can actually cause misses in front when rear breaks (with the wrong technique and tempo) are falsely diagnosed as insufficient lead. I believe over thinking/measuring lead and so slowing too much is what's causing the breaks even where the brain/eyes think the barrels are properly ahead of the moving target  :mellow: , eventually when reason takes over you begin to realise your mirage effect so to speak but as mentioned it can cost birds. 

 

[Santa2512]

Pmsl

Joking aside, if you are hitting some on a stand, but not usually the first, or 2nd barrelling the chipped clay, could this be a confidence issue?

I agree with ips and others - find someone to go round with that is a reasonable shot to both look at your shooting and offer some advice.

Whichever route you take, don't let a few bad days get you down. We all have them. Keep at it, it will get better so long as you don't keep doing ththe same thing without seking help. Good luck with it mate ?

​No not a confidence issue, each clay is approached with the its going to break attitude,  however they clay clearly knows somthing i dont!

:santa:

 

[Santa2512]

Santa

been saying it long enough you do need your stock looked at and your more than welcome to come round Southdown with Tony and I.  I won't be much help but Tony would.

​Yes to both     

Thats what i was thinking  re gunfiting,   and yes it would be good to catch up and have some one offer some advice

I see hickstead are doing evening sportrap on a thursday evening  now that the weather has improved ,  might give that a try as i have a couple of thursdays off coming up .. 

:santa: