To watch the target (or not)?

[Dog Tyred]

Maybe a strange question but I'll ask it anyway.

When shooting trap (ABT,UT or OT) and the target emerges (particularly a sharp angled target) do you

A) using your broader vision establish the target direction but then effectively loose the target as it passes out of your peripheral vision and then swing the gun in the target direction until you catch it up (but always effectively stay looking straight ahead i.e straight along the barrels)

or

B )     keep your eyes firmly on the target (keeping your eye on the ball as it were) and then bring your gun to the target at which point your brain then reconnects barrels and target?

I've tried to work this out while shooting but it all happens so fast I can't make my mind up.

I realise its completely different with sporting as you always look at the target and bring your gun where you are looking but with trap the gun is fixed position and the random target buggers off from where you are looking.

DT

 

[** Pending Removal **]

If you lose the target....you are dead. The minute the target leaves you vision....even for a part of a second.....it's a zero....!!

 

[ips]

The latter

 

[PhilS]

From the brief foray I've had into trap, I agree - the latter.

Sent from my Desire HD using tapatalk 2

 

[Dog Tyred]

Hmmm...thought as much but...... to follow the target flight (particularly on wicked angles) means moving your eyes away from the barrels (target moves faster than the barrels initially so you cannot focus on both) so you loose the connection between eyes and barrel. As the barrels catch up with the clay you need to reconnect eye and barrel (peripheral vision) before you pull the trigger.

I guess the brain works it all out in a split second (or not in my case).

DT

 

[ExSCA]

I am no trap expert - having only shot it a couple of times - so these are just the observations of a rank amateur.

I am 'blessed' with quite quick reactions, and the first few shots I took on ABT, DTL and OT - I missed because I reacted to the flash of a clay leaving the trap house and without actually 'seeing' the clay, I would swipe the gun through/past the target in anticipation of what I had built up in my brain as a super quick target.

A knowledgeable friend/coach told me that I needed to make sure I got a lock on the target - and told me to slow down and SEE the target before moving (even on OT with the quicker targets).  After I realised that speed was not everything here, I was much more accurate - quick eyes, quick hands but making sure there is a real connection. Hold points are obviously key because you need to be able to see the target at the earliest opportunity.

I'm sure trap shooters will have a much more sensible explanation than that - but it worked for me.

 

[Mark Jones]

I am no trap shooter but have done it for fun a few times. I found this such a hard discpline as in sporting I usually shoot maintained leed. I was struggling with the same as you describe but because i wasn't understanding what I had been told. A bit of time with Mike Williams from CPSA put me right. Being told not to move the gun until you see the clay is only half the instruction, I too moved on the flash as what else do you think the flash is.....not a blackbird comming out the trap house! Wait until that stripe shortens to a solid clay and focus on the leeding edge. Then drive the gun to and through it in a aggressive but smooth manner(controlled and repeatable). So I think yes in answer to your question, I think of it like a rubber band, first my eyes go and then the gun catches up. I do not however ever see the gun during the shot, which i'm affraid i can't explain. A good tip is to follow the largest piece of clay as it breaks ensuring you keep good cheek weld

hope this helps  good luck

 

[Wonko the Sane]

If you lose the target....you are dead. The minute the target leaves you vision....even for a part of a second.....it's a zero....!!

The essence.  I never worry about the barrels catching up.  When I miss a target it is simply because I wasn't looking at it.  Tho I have to admit that coming out of the gun has been a popular means to miss for me as well.  Or both.   :banghead:

Actually I'd guess that I've explored about every way there is to miss a target, but not looking at it is easily the most successful.

Charlie

 

[jwpzx9r]

New to the game but I call for the bird and wait until I see it then swing the barrels up and shoot it just as the bead hits the bottom of the clay while keeping my eyes on the clay at all times. I have heard the mantra don't look at the bead or don't look down the rib, but for all that I look at the clay I always see the bead just before I squeeze the trigger I just can't help it.      My picture of the clay is along the rib and seeing the bead just below the clay just as I shoot the gun. Might be why I miss a lot :biggrin:  . I am somewhat puzzled though and here is a question. I have watch vids of top world cup trap shooters and the best shots at my local club preparing for their shot. Now its a gun up discipline and everyone of them bring the gun up into the shoulder and the comb right into their cheek with usually their elbow at an angle of 90 degrees to their face and looking out over the trap house. Now my question if they are not looking right down the rib of their gun through the bead to the bird at the moment they take their shot WHY do they have the preamble making sure their eye is the perfect rear sight for their shotgun. I say this it is subliminal but at the point at which they squeeze the trigger they are infact AIMING their gun and not pointing it as is so often said. Some of these shooters even have one eye occluded so to correct the eye dominance and others actually close their dominant eye if they need to. You don't need to do that to point a gun at the correct part of the sky its instictive. A tennis player does not look at his racquet when playing a shot he/she looks at the ball BUT he/she knows where his racquet is and its exact orientation to the ball by instinct not by performing some sort of check list ! The point I am making in a very long winded way is that to point a gun into the correct bit of the sky to hit a moving clay a shooter should not need to look down the gun at all UNLESS he is AIMING the gun and I am unanimous in this :biggrin:   Oh merde what have I said!

 

[ips]

It doesnt matter how you explain it neither does it matter what you think or perceive you are seing or doing. The only thing that matters in trap is seing the target as a whole as quickly and cleanly as possible, as long as certain things are correct such as stance, gun fit etc then what happens next is pure instinct and valuable milli seconds will be lost as will the target if you attempt to think about it. When you are shooting very well you will find that you Havent a clue what you did you just saw the target and the next thing you know it broke. This is shooting at its best and the feeling is wonderful unfortunately for most of us it doesnt happen often enough. So iin conclusion ensure gun fits perfectly, ensure stance is correct and finally and most importantly see the target as a whole and allow your natural instinct to take over the final bit ... Simples

 

[Les53]

If you lose the target....you are dead. The minute the target leaves you vision....even for a part of a second.....it's a zero....!!

 Ditto

 

[Les53]

It doesnt matter how you explain it neither does it matter what you think or perceive you are seing or doing. The only thing that matters in trap is seing the target as a whole as quickly and cleanly as possible, as long as certain things are correct such as stance, gun fit etc then what happens next is pure instinct and valuable milli seconds will be lost as will the target if you attempt to think about it. When you are shooting very well you will find that you Havent a clue what you did you just saw the target and the next thing you know it broke. This is shooting at its best and the feeling is wonderful unfortunately for most of us it doesnt happen often enough. So iin conclusion ensure gun fits perfectly, ensure stance is correct and finally and most importantly see the target as a whole and allow your natural instinct to take over the final bit ... Simples

 Yep!!!!