The Pursuit of Excellence: Beyond the Gun

OXOXXOOX. Having fun yet?

Me neither. Been there, done that. Don’t know a single shooter who hasn’t. That’s a truth. Here are a few more, a realistic look at how to improve our game. What it really takes to break more targets consistently.

A Tribute to Randy Lawrence

Awhile back, my Editor, Randy Lawrence, wrote a superb magazine article titled "Respect For The Game". This insightful, gritty piece posed some soul-searching questions to those of us who partake of the wing and clay sports. I hope Randy will look kindly on my comments and pray that my remarks will do justice to the bulls-eye relevance of Randy’s observations.

The Blame Game: Accountability

Randy said, “Respecting yourself means that whether you succeed or fail, you’ve given yourself the best chance, doing things the right way.”

Tournament underway, we’re on-deck at Station 3. Frustration emanating from every pore, the shooter swipes at the mini and searches in vain for the second target. Lost, lost, followed by 0XX0. He points accusingly at the menu. It says midi, not mini. The busy scorekeeper apologizes, but also points out politely that the shooter had declined the invitation to see the show pair.

Truth is, his missing had little to do with the menu. While a bit of anguish after a miss is a constructive venting process, it doesn’t include dispensing blame in every direction.

Tournament ended, a shooter approached and commenced to rant. He said the presentations were poor; the scorekeepers were curt and unprofessional; on and on he went. When I inquired about his shooting over the past three days, his disappointment illuminated the underlying force behind his outburst. Shooter accountability? 

The Power of Accountability: Finding Strength in Failure

Randy talks about complacency. “As instructors, it’s on us to help students develop a certain edge toward the gimme target. It’s the difference between pride and arrogance.” Inspiration often separates shooters, and scores, more than skill level.

Missing Hurts

It’s just a flat tire. Fix it and get back in the race. Don’t take it personally. Self-criticism is more exhausting than pushing a refrigerator up a hill.

Of course, missing is forgivable because we’re not perfect. Accepting our accountability for the miss shows our respect for the target, the target setter, and our game.

Chasing the X: Why Fundamentals Matter

Randy reminds us to be vigilant. The lure of the X is seductive, but every shot executed, or taught, without the application of the basics only leads to inconsistency and stubborn skill plateaus.

Commitment to Improve: Between Discipline and Desire

In Sporting, we can’t cheat the miss forever. “A missed target is an action we didn’t perform in a successful way; don’t take it personally.

At Paragon, we wholeheartedly concur with Randy and say this another way. “Take a moment to critique the performance but never criticize the performer.” A missed target reflects an error in strategy or shot execution, neither of which warrants self-reprimand.

To borrow from another book title, Sporting Clays is not a game of perfect. Tournaments will test our ability; our patience; our flexibility and our character. To quote Randy, “…..we have to prepare to break them all, but we have to deal with the reality that we’re not likely to do so.” So you don’t misunderstand, I work hard on my personal skills and, like you, my achievements matter greatly. But fate is fickle and grants us just so many squad times between the raindrops. Wind gusts, and rabbits that zig when they should zag eventually find us, always at what seems to be the worst possible time.

So, Sporting exasperates, rejuvenates, gratifies, rewards, embarrasses, and exhilarates. But it does not punish. We do that to ourselves. We do that because we forget that learning is a process, not an event. We forget that we don’t always get what we think we deserve. Frustrated and distracted we don’t give the target the attention it deserves.

Balancing Commitments and Expectations: How Much Are You Willing to Invest?

We can’t take more out of Sporting Clays any more than we put in…nor should we expect to. The question we must ask when we step into the shooting box: Am I committed, or am I just involved?

In Conclusion: The Shooter's Reflection

My experience has shown that the great majority of shooters do respect the game, in the field and in the box. Responsible, with integrity, they hold themselves accountable regardless of circumstances. I immensely enjoy their company and hope they feel the same.

Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.

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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, as well as 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 and 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 are 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