XXXXXX. XXXXXX. The truth now…is there a simple, clear and very straightforward approach to shooting this well consistently? Yes. Paragon teaches a shooting “system,”…an ultra-simple “process” that teaches shooters how to “self-correct” their own swing mistakes. Knowing why that just happened, right-now ends the mystery, the confusion and frustration. Knowing why allows the shooter to intentionally build the swing that breaks the target consistently. XXXXXX…on purpose! It’s not complicated. Shooters of all skill levels are learning the Paragon process in a few hours, not weeks or months.

It begins with this understanding: Consistently good shooting will always depend on the shooter, not the equipment, regardless of skill, whether it be sport-related…work-related…or business-related. Xs can not be bought...not online, not over the counter. Let’s move on.

Here’s my question and the message I spoke of in the beginning: Is there any way we can shorten the time it takes to build our skill, to raise our X count consistently?

Absolutely, unequivocally…yes.

Here’s how. Shell in the chamber, gun closing…stop putting all your attention on “trying to break the target.” Still with me? Give me a few more minutes. 

The gun comes up and the target is called for. Where is our shooter’s attention? On trying to break the target. Of course. Obviously, a silly question. OK…with all the shooter’s attention “out there,” trying to break the target…where is the attention on deliberately guiding the gun? Purposely building, guiding the swing that will decide X or O? 

True story…just one example of what I teach every one of my students.  I’m on the phone with a very unhappy gentleman in Texas. All the time…he’s inconsistent. A word I hear more than any other. Said he didn’t know why. I shared that I did know why. He replied, “You can’t know why, Dan, you’ve never seen me shoot.” I stood by my answer. After a few minutes of polite back and forth, he asked me to explain how I knew what was causing him to be inconsistent.

I said, “You are inconsistent at the target because your swing is inconsistent.” He replied, “It's not. I use the XYZ shooting method.” I replied, “The shooting method is not in question. Your swing is holding inconsistencies that you are not aware of, you are not seeing.” He came to work with me. I moved his attention. I taught him, specifically, what to see…in order to build precision into his swing. To build consistency. He saw what he’d never seen. His inconsistencies. A real awakening. With his attention in the right place, he was able to correct his swing errors on his own. Now, finally, he had a shooting system he could depend on. Shell after shell, target after target, he intentionally built a better swing. Right on schedule, his swing became more and more consistent. His performance became consistent. He broke his targets on purpose.

Let’s look at a miss. Not where, but WHY was the target missed? Because…once the shot string leaves the muzzle by 1,000th of an inch, our control over the outcome has officially ended. This means…the actual, real, and direct cause of the miss took place in the shooting box, behind the gun muzzle. Did our shooter see the swing mistake? No. Why? With the very best of intentions…all the attention was…not on the swing…but out there, trying to break the target. Does anyone see the swing mistake…the step in the swing process that broke down? So the swing error (in the box) can be promptly corrected? So the target won’t be missed again? Not sure? Said again…respectfully…who is guiding the gun?

Here's some good news. The target just broke. Congratulations. Everyone’s happy. Question. Was the swing right? Actually…no…it wasn’t. Major swing error. 100% a very lucky break. Did our shooter see the error so it can be corrected? No. Next shell. Will repeating this same swing break the next target? Had our shooter’s attention been on building his/her swing steps, yes, the error would have been seen. And now corrected. One lucky X followed by XXXXXX. Intentionally. Because our shooter is watching…seeing everything. X or O…knowing exactly why that just happened.

Let’s back up a moment. Important question. During practice (or competition), if a shooter is lost/confused in the box and cannot correct a swing mistake…where can any real improvement come from? 

Which brings us back to…where is our shooter’s attention? To build an X swing asks us to put our attention on that swing. Deliberately. So we can call our own miss. Correct a “lucky” break. Once we know what to look for and put our attention there, good things happen. Really good things. X and O…no more mystery about why. Now we have a plan. A plan we have confidence in. A plan we can trust, and it's simple.

OXOOXO. Folks will tell you…you’re missing because you’re not trusting yourself. That’s not only false but grossly misleading. How can you trust what you don’t know? More missing. Now they’re saying you’re not trying hard enough. Not true. You are trying. The question is…trying to do what? Break the target? They might say I’m teaching “aiming” our shotgun. No comment. Learning to call your own swing mistakes is nothing short of necessary in order to gain any real improvement. How can it be any other way?? 

With the target presentation method and swing steps in hand…coupled with the gun skill…a purposely guided swing will look smooth. Downright graceful. And precise. And consistent. Dependably creating this…XXXXXXXX. And those Xs are not just luck…not just blind instinct…they happen when the shooter puts his/her attention on purposely building the swing that will break the target. It will. 

Focusing our attention on assembling a more precise, consistent swing can only lead to measurable, repeatable improvement. We need to build the skill, which we can then trust and shoot more instinctively. Right there’s the process, the very foundation of a more consistent game and higher scores.

If you wish to break more targets and shoot consistently, you may wish to purchase Dan Schindler's books Take Your Best Shot and To The Target, available on the Paragon website. Unfortunately, Beyond The Target is currently out of stock. Schindler's books are an investment in good shooting and offer invaluable insights, serving as a roadmap for shooters of all levels. Take Your Best Shot and To The Target are available on the Paragon School of Sporting website and shipped worldwide. Schindler's 3 books offer a simplified and uncomplicated approach to shooting, laying a solid foundation for breaking more targets and achieving consistently higher scores. These books offer invaluable information and are the next best things to taking a lesson with Dan Schindler. There's a wealth of information and blog posts on the Paragon website. 

Dan moves shooters — all skill levels — forward fast. Usng the step-by-step shooting PROCESS that he meticulously designed to take the mystery out of breaking targets consistently, providing shooters with the solid foundation to continue moving their game forward. Shooters leave their lesson with crystal clarity, which removes the mystery of why the target broke (or didn't break). No more feeling lost, confused and frustrated.

Shooters who take lessons with Dan leave knowing:

• which shooting method to use for each target presentation
• how to correct their own miss
• how to repeat the successful swing
• how to continue to move their shooting forward

Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.

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XXXX

About Dan Schindler

Tired of being frustrated over missing targets or birds?

Ready to move your shooting forward and shoot consistently higher scores?

Shoot better than you ever imagined.

Schedule a lesson with the esteemed Dan Schindler. As one of the exclusive 44 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK), Dan stands as a beacon of expertise in Sporting Clays Skeet, Trap and Wingshooting Instruction in the US.

Embark on a transformative journey with Dan, an NSCA Level III Instructor since 1995 and the visionary founder of the Paragon School of Sporting. His singular goal is to provide ultra simple, step-by-step, Premier  Instruction, Coaching, and Mental Training for enthusiasts of Sporting Clays, Skeet, Trap, and Wingshooting of all skill levels.

Dan Schindler is a maestro at alleviating the frustrations that haunt shooters. By unraveling the mysteries of breaking targets, enabling self-awareness in calling misses, and empowering individuals to make their corrections, Dan ensures that lessons are not only enlightening but also immensely enjoyable. Clients at Paragon School of Sporting witness significant improvements in their shooting skills within minutes.

Bid farewell to the vexation of missed targets and soar towards consistent excellence in shooting. Whether you're an advanced competitor or an entry-level enthusiast, Dan Schindler's wealth of experience spanning over three decades has empowered thousands of shooters to propel their game forward.

Having certified over 274+ instructors, authored three exceptional books, and thousands of articles and blog posts, Dan Schindler is one of the most highly respected Clay Target and Wingshooting Instructors in the field. 

In your very FIRST lesson with Dan Schindler, you'll learn the Paragon Shooting System so:

• YOU can break targets consistently
• call your misses
• make corrections so your next target breaks
• shooters leave with a solid foundation to continue moving their game forward

"Folks fly from around the world to take lessons with Schindler at River Bend Sportsman’s Resort, his home course in Inman, South Carolina. Clients have included Bush staffers to NASCAR drivers to the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. The approachable teacher has spent 25 years on “gentleman’s coaching” (with social and corporate shooters) and formal instruction (with individuals, groups, and competitors). Schindler has even certified more than 230 instructors using his handcrafted curriculum—a system that signaled his qualification as the first American admitted to the British Guild of Shooting Instructors... “Shooting, like golf, or anything like that, is a mental sport, and he has the mental game down so well.” To find out how he calibrated mind with metal, we head to Japan."

Dan Schindler's Books

"Recommended for shooters of all skill levels, Coaches, Instructors

and parents of youth shooters."

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition is THE Gold Standard Primer It's all about the fundamentals, a requirement for good shooting. This book is used by high school and college shooting teams, recreational and competitive shooters from around the world. Solid, valuable, concise information that has helped thousands of shooters shoot more consistently with higher scores.

To The Target (Book II) Builds on the steps outlined in Book I. Emphasises Gun Management skills when the trap fires, creating a consistent, reliable, trustworthy swing.

Beyond the Target (Book III) Currently Out of Stock is for shooters of all levels, filled with valuable information, clay target truths. Entertaining and a culmination of 3 decades of Dan's life's work as a teacher, competitor, published writer, and much more.

Here's what Shooters, Coaches and Clay Shooting USA saying...

Take Your Best Shot (Book I), 3rd Edition

THE TRUSTED PRIMER

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III) Currently Out of Stock