I've always thought that perfecting a good shooting technique is paramount in clay shooting, I feel it gives you a good chance of being able to tackle most targets and disciplines to an 'okay' standard. When you find the discipline you enjoy the most and want to shoot on a serious basis ie: Sporting / Trap / skeet then you work on perfecting your technique to suit that specific type of shooting, move to a dedicated gun and have it fitted.
As you work your way up through the ranks you definately meet ' walls' that need good outside help and coaching to break through them. When people feel they're shooting to the best of their ability then it's time to get technical to gain them few extra targets, Specially made and fitted stocks, weighted and balanced guns, etc.etc...all the technical gadgets will enhance a solid technique, not solve underlying problems.
Reading a lot of the posts on the forum it seems a lot of people are 'over thinking' clay shooting or getting too technical too quickly, looking for the next gadget to help them along rather than working on perfecting a solid technique with a good instructor/Coach which in theory will move them forward faster than the latest 'bolt on goodie'.
Regardless of your shooting budget it should still be spent wisely and not wasted, with all the latest guns and gadgets you have to still incorporate " Operator Error" and I think a lot of people forget that they are the "operator"and expect the gun and attached gadgets to do all the work.
