My previous article, The Path to Consistency, focused on mastering control in clay shooting to achieve reliable outcomes by intentionally building precision into each swing. The key takeaway was understanding every aspect of the swing to eliminate randomness and create a dependable technique for consistent results. Building on that foundation today, I want to emphasize why controlling our movements in the swing matters greatly, especially for those standing in front of a scorekeeper.

While we all pursue clay shooting sports with different goals, I think it’s fair to say no one enjoys watching their best efforts fall short. It’s not just about missing targets but about the mystery surrounding each O and X. Why did that outcome happen? Will the next target break?

This brings us back to the first epiphany I shared previously. Sporting Clays offers endless target presentations at ever-changing levels of difficulty. If we can’t visualize breaking the target before stepping into the shooting box, the odds of success at that station go down dramatically. The good news? Learning how to break each presentation is not difficult and available to everyone.

In my professional opinion, the step-by-step basics are non-negotiable to advance your skill level. Why? Because applying the basics leads to precision, and precision leads to consistency. They go hand in hand, mutually depending on each other.

When the goal is fun and entertainment, all you need is natural hand-eye coordination to have a great time on the Sporting Clay, Trap, and Skeet courses. However, if improvement is the goal, the approach must change.

To gain this improvement, one must first learn how to effectively reduce or eliminate random gun movement (RGM) during the swing. Consider the following scenario: On Wednesday at Station 4, you hit six targets in a row—XXXXXX. But on Saturday, at the same station with identical target presentations, the results were inconsistent—XOOXXO. As mentioned earlier, XXXXXX doesn’t confirm a consistent swing. While an inconsistent swing can still break targets, it’s unreliable and cannot be trusted to deliver consistent Xs.

The second epiphany on consistency? Building the same, correct swing twice. Achieving the ability to break that specific target again and again, dependably, with total confidence. This means being able to intentionally repeat the correct swing that promises an X. This is the very foundation of consistent performance.

Real, measurable improvement can only come when the shooter knows specifically why a target was hit or missed. Without that critical piece of information, the shooter is lost and has no plan. So, with the chamber loaded, I ask: How can a shooter improve without this knowledge?

Believe me when I say this—a few basic understandings can make our game so much simpler and a lot easier. Not to mention more successful. Consistent Xs on purpose, one after another. The basic steps outlined in my first book, Take Your Best Shot, have helped countless shooters do precisely that. 

Here’s to the many blessings of this great land we love, the United States of America, and to the camaraderie of clay target sports that unite shooters from around the world. May God bless us all as we continue to pray for peace in our world and in our hearts. Thank you for spending time with us. Cheryl and I look forward to the day we meet on the course and share some time together.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Don’t let inconsistency keep you from achieving your best. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact Dan Schindler on the Paragon School of Sporting website or give him a call at (828) 693-6600 to discuss the best path for you to quickly move your shooting to the next level and take the frustration and mystery out of missing targets.

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About Dan Schindler

Dan Schindler is one of only 60 worldwide members of the Guild of Shooting Instructors (UK) and is one of the most highly respected Sporting Clays and Wingshooting Instructors in the US. Dan is an NSCA Level III Instructor (since 1995) and founded the Paragon School of Sporting with one goal in mind. Whether it be for the advanced competitor or providing the basics to the entry-level shooter, Paragon provides the simplest, most practical and most effective Instruction, Coaching and Mental Training for the Sporting Clays & Wingshooting enthusiast. Dan Schindler helps shooters alleviate a lot of their frustration by taking the mystery out of breaking targets, calling their own misses, and make their own corrections. Lessons are fun, enlightening and our clients learn to shoot better in minutes!  

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) is for shooters of all levels. It is filled with valuable information and clay target truths. It is entertaining and a culmination of three 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

To The Target (Book II)

Beyond The Target (Book III)    Currently Out of Stock