Some questions for clay shooters

[grrclark]

These questions are really targetted at those who compete in registered shoots or have aspirations to do so, but all responses are welcome.

 

My competition market in Scotland is a little different to many south of the border, in respect to the volume of availability, but I expect that the same thoughts and frustrations may exist.

 

If you are a regular competition shooter, or aspire to be, what are the things that frustrate you most, the things that perhaps inhibit more participation by you in events, what would you like to see done differently, what would excite and motivate you to get engaged or more engaged?

 

In Scotland a lot of what we do is a bit samey, i.e. It's the same ground layouts, same groups or squads of shooters the same banter, the same group of prize winners, etc. Part of that of course is that it is a smaller pool of shooters, so perhaps more familiarity, but it doesn't really feel as though anybody is offering something different. Nobody is really standing out (as yet) as wanting to disrupt the norm.

 

What could shooting grounds do differently?

 

What should the major shooting brands do differently to support the growth and development of the sport be it at ground or shooter level?

 

What disruptive effect or outcome would you most like to see in our sport?

 

My questions are targetted towards the sporting type disciplines rather than skeet or trap.

 

The last 2 questions are what would most motivate you to seek the involvement of a coach and what qualities would be most attractive in that coach?

 

The qualities may be their success as a shooter, the success rate of their students, the commercial rate, industry reputation, perhaps their stature in shooting may put you off trying to engage or whatever else you deem appropriate.

 

Thanks in advance for your efforts in responding.

[shaun4860]

Not really a competitive shooter but do a few throughout the year.

 

I've been to some shoots where it seems to be a free for all, as in this stands busy we will jump it and come back later,

 

The Essex Masters is run as a consecutive shoot, everyone starts on stand one and works their way round, I think it works better that way,

 

Worst gripe is the bully squad, all piping up up "he chipped that mind" when he did no such thing, when you have young scorers sometimes they get intimidated into giving a bird or 2 which were never hit, (never the big competitions but smaller ones)

 

These people should know better, they are only robbing their reputation, same as those that "bend" the rules,

 

Just my tuppence worth

 

[buze]

Personally, I'm a complete newbie in comparison to many, but I can see exactly where you are; same group, same setup, same results.

 

The thing *I* see as interesting to throw a bit of novelty is to change the guns. I saw the 410 'world championship' last year at Mid Wales, and it was heaps of fun! Completely different even tho the targets were 'normal'. Same with the SxS event a EJ churchill last summer, it was actually packed, and everyone seemed to have a great time, regardless of the score.

 

I've been eyeing a 410 for a little while just because of that, just to actually put a bit of 'fun' into a sport that can become a little bit too 'serious'?

[figgy]

More grounds are putting winter series on and putting on more 120 or 125 bird shoots. This I see as a good thing if your traveling to a ground you want plenty of varied targets to make it worthwhile.

You will always get the same squads at grounds as it's a social sport and the top boys will usually win too.

 

Be nice to see some more sporting disciplines regularly like more FITASC and the new versions of compak sporting etc. Some handicap system at some comps would be good to give everyone a fair crack of prize money.

Edited January 23, 2017 by figgy

[grrclark]

Thanks guys, I do have an agenda in asking the questions and it's valuable to get feedback.

[timps]

No birds and trap breakdowns have stopped me traveling to one registered shoot.

 

I used to shoot 100 registered a week but last year I took a break and not shot as much at all.

 

I tried to think of the reason that would make me shoot more again. Probably not much the grounds can do I just needed a rest and will be back shooting more soon.

 

I have in the past shot 2 registered in one day, it's too much of a rush so I think 1 shoot is the most you will get out of me now.

 

The big events could do with some more glamour, I have shot the British and English open for a quite few years now and at times it's just like attending a normal registered shoot. You wouldn't know any difference, that does need to change.

 

This super final and qualifying doesn't excite me, it has actually put me off wanting to shoot the British or English open.

 

The trouble with something different is it works for a while then becomes the norm so people get bored. I have shot a few different takes on sporting shoots after the first time I can't wait to go back, after the second time I am losing interest and after the third time I don't bother and stick to normal sporting.

 

A good run shoot in nice tidy ground seems to work for me.

 

For coaching it has got to be recommendedations from established shooters. Just because you can shoot doesn't mean you can teach and just because you can write books, create DVDs and communicate on the internet doesn't mean you can actually shoot to a good level.

 

My motivation to seek a coach would be a slump I cannot get out of.

[Will Poon]

Just to add, midweek reg esp comps.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Graham

 

I understand your point, I used to travel to compete across the whole of southern England. I got bored by finding the same target presentation after returning to a club maybe 4 or 5 months since the previous visit. I also started to see more lazy presentation and thoughtless siting of stands that caused things to become unsafe.

 

I expect a good warm inviting clubhouse, tea and coffee, reasonably priced food, good clean toilets, ample parking, a refferee on each stand who is an adult and understands what he should be doing, not a 14 year old who is clueless. I also accept the odd no bird which should be called quickly by an attentive ref, but there should not be many of them.

 

We have some very good clubs here in the East Midlands and with Grimsthorpe about to open a new Clubhouse things are on the up.

 

In very simple terms, I want to shoot good targets in a tidy environment and only be beaten by the presentation of the bird.

Just to add, midweek reg esp comps.

 

Will I can't see that happening, it wouldn't make any money, Sunday has always been the traditional day as more shooters are available.

[Will Poon]

Owls lodge shooting school and Mickley hall have midweek reg shoots.

However there is a north south devide in the people who attend midweek shoots due to work and more disposable time by the looks of things.

[grrclark]

Thanks again for the replies folks, some really great comments that offer really valuable insight.

 

I will explain more later about the motivation behind the questions.

[Sian]

I shoot a lot of registered shoots - since 2/5/16 the start of the current period to date I have shot over 12,000 registered targets over four disciplines - the vast majority ESP. That is 120 registered shoots to last weekend. It is a norm to shoot 2 on a Sunday sometimes 3 for me. I am lucky as where I am situated I can get to a good variety of decent grounds and we do travel to experience different grounds around England.

 

Again lucky, mid week shoots are quite plentiful - this week alone I will be shooting on Thursday at Owls Lodge and Friday at AGL. I could have shot on Wednesday at College Farm (Hornet) if I could have had another day off work. Beginning of the month you see EJC on the first Thursday and then you'll get grounds like RBSS who run their challenges and you book in weekday/weekend same as the EJC challenge you do that.

 

Good facilities are always a blessing and most grounds have good enough facilities with one or two lagging. I take my own food and drink and rarely eat at the grounds. Good targets are a must and again lucky to be travelling to some excellent grounds for that.

 

Referees on the whole should be treasured as although they are paid, it is not a fortune to be sitting out in all weathers putting up with grumpy shooters and most are extremely good at what they do. I have no problem being scored by a young person, some grounds I visit have young teenagers who have been trained well and are very polite. I only ask that the referee knows the rules and applies these whatever their age.

 

Going all over the place you get to know a lot of people and obviously see them on a regular basis so when I am on a squadded shoot which really is just one or two grounds for registered and the major competitions I quite like the social interaction.

 

I like the fact that most grounds now have their own websites, Facebook pages, give the results on the same day and that communities of shooters are linked by these social media.

 

With regard to coaches/instructors - I have been taught by my husband who is actually a qualified coach but has a "day" job as well. He loves teaching and it will be something for his retirement to keep him active when that day comes. There are a number of quality individuals out there for all levels of shooter. For me I would base choosing someone on their ability to teach me as an individual, I will have already established their level of knowledge surpasses my own. I am not dazzled by championships, medals, bragging etc and some would actually put me off having them as my coach and I agree you could shoot like a demon and teach like a numptey and vice versa. I am planning to have some coaching on two presentations - teal and driven as I find these extremely difficult both in terms of technique but also (and don't laugh) emotionally I have a psychological issue with these. For the sake of my marriage and my husband's good health I am going to start with a coach I trust and I know will be able to deal with both problems. My husband knows how to deal with the technical side of my problem, spot on, but I won't let him deal with the emotional side because he is too close to me.

 

I think in terms of our CPSA - I think perhaps the way in which averages are worked out in terms of how many times they are done a year should be reconsidered and re-done more regularly.

 

I have to say that the whole clay shooting world has improved vastly over the last ten years or so in terms of product and service.

[MITCHF]

-More Reg comps mid week & Sat.

-Scorer/Trapper, no matter gender or age, are briefed and know what they are doing. Missed "pull" slow "pull" .

- No other competitor in the cage when a shooter is shooting. Standing in my space waving your bloody thumb in the air😡

- have a novice course, within 100 ESP organisers offerthe easiest stands as a reduced target shoot for beginners to attempt, maybe 50. (I said easiest, not easy, before you start 😉)

Edited January 25, 2017 by MITCHF

[cromwell7]

I shoot a lot of registered shoots - since 2/5/16 the start of the current period to date I have shot over 12,000 registered targets over four disciplines - the vast majority ESP. That is 120 registered shoots to last weekend. It is a norm to shoot 2 on a Sunday sometimes 3 for me. I am lucky as where I am situated I can get to a good variety of decent grounds and we do travel to experience different grounds around England.

 

Again lucky, mid week shoots are quite plentiful - this week alone I will be shooting on Thursday at Owls Lodge and Friday at AGL. I could have shot on Wednesday at College Farm (Hornet) if I could have had another day off work. Beginning of the month you see EJC on the first Thursday and then you'll get grounds like RBSS who run their challenges and you book in weekday/weekend same as the EJC challenge you do that.

 

Good facilities are always a blessing and most grounds have good enough facilities with one or two lagging. I take my own food and drink and rarely eat at the grounds. Good targets are a must and again lucky to be travelling to some excellent grounds for that.

 

Referees on the whole should be treasured as although they are paid, it is not a fortune to be sitting out in all weathers putting up with grumpy shooters and most are extremely good at what they do. I have no problem being scored by a young person, some grounds I visit have young teenagers who have been trained well and are very polite. I only ask that the referee knows the rules and applies these whatever their age.

 

Going all over the place you get to know a lot of people and obviously see them on a regular basis so when I am on a squadded shoot which really is just one or two grounds for registered and the major competitions I quite like the social interaction.

 

I like the fact that most grounds now have their own websites, Facebook pages, give the results on the same day and that communities of shooters are linked by these social media.

 

With regard to coaches/instructors - I have been taught by my husband who is actually a qualified coach but has a "day" job as well. He loves teaching and it will be something for his retirement to keep him active when that day comes. There are a number of quality individuals out there for all levels of shooter. For me I would base choosing someone on their ability to teach me as an individual, I will have already established their level of knowledge surpasses my own. I am not dazzled by championships, medals, bragging etc and some would actually put me off having them as my coach and I agree you could shoot like a demon and teach like a numptey and vice versa. I am planning to have some coaching on two presentations - teal and driven as I find these extremely difficult both in terms of technique but also (and don't laugh) emotionally I have a psychological issue with these. For the sake of my marriage and my husband's good health I am going to start with a coach I trust and I know will be able to deal with both problems. My husband knows how to deal with the technical side of my problem, spot on, but I won't let him deal with the emotional side because he is too close to me.

 

I think in terms of our CPSA - I think perhaps the way in which averages are worked out in terms of how many times they are done a year should be reconsidered and re-done more regularly.

 

I have to say that the whole clay shooting world has improved vastly over the last ten years or so in terms of product and service.

I know you said don't laugh but what's emotional about clay shooting ?

[Sian]

I know you said don't laugh but what's emotional about clay shooting ?

I didn't say clay shooting itself was emotional although if you've ever had a bad day on the clays it could be. I was talking about my inability to deal with teal and driven. I really feel very negative when I have to shoot these especially driven and it is very very deflating when you lose 12 clays for example on those two birds. My technique is all over the place and I shoot with one eye. The emotional part is I carry it with me to the next stand or worse still through the whole shoot. Teaching me isn't going to be easy for thee two birds and best done by someone else - it's a bit like it's really better not to teach a family member to drive - to easy to lose it. You can laugh if you like for me or at me because I really don't find it funny, it's my Achilles heel and I hate it. It's stopping me progressing.

[100milesaway]

I didn't say clay shooting itself was emotional although if you've ever had a bad day on the clays it could be. I was talking about my inability to deal with teal and driven. I really feel very negative when I have to shoot these especially driven and it is very very deflating when you lose 12 clays for example on those two birds. My technique is all over the place and I shoot with one eye. The emotional part is I carry it with me to the next stand or worse still through the whole shoot. Teaching me isn't going to be easy for thee two birds and best done by someone else - it's a bit like it's really better not to teach a family member to drive - to easy to lose it. You can laugh if you like for me or at me because I really don't find it funny, it's my Achilles heel and I hate it. It's stopping me progressing.

Hi Sian

PM sent. KInd regards Lyn.

[grrclark]

Sian, i totally understand where you are coming from, as someone who obviously has talent and potential, evidenced by your progression and results, these targets have become a mental block for you and that is emotional.

 

There are times where technique and technical approach are over ridden by something else and this has happened for you with those targets.

 

You will conquer them though, you know that you are good enough, you just need to find the right key for you to unlock the barrier.

 

Thanks for the very complete contribution too.

[Sian]

Thank you grrclark. You will be happy to know that today at Owls Lodge, I managed a stand of teal on report lowish driven quite well, missing first two driven and first teal. I had been doing very well to that point so with a bit of extra security that missing these would not be the end of it and the support of my good friends, I just went for it. Finished on 85/100.

[Westley]

Thank you grrclark. You will be happy to know that today at Owls Lodge, I managed a stand of teal on report lowish driven quite well, missing first two driven and first teal. I had been doing very well to that point so with a bit of extra security that missing these would not be the end of it and the support of my good friends, I just went for it. Finished on 85/100.

 

Well done YOU !

[Sian]

Thanks Westley

[100milesaway]

Excellent, that lass.. from Auntie.

[grrclark]

Well done Sian, proves the point that with the right guidance, willingness to try and belief then pretty much all challenges can be overcome.

 

Remember to celebrate your success with yourself.

[Sian]

Excellent, that lass.. from Auntie.

Thank you Auntie and grrclark, a way to go yet but a good feeling nevertheless.

[cromwell7]

Good job 👍

I have the opposite problem I can hit almost every bird presented but sometimes never more than once.

To be honest on the stands where that happens I'd rather not hit one, knowing I can hit the bird frustrates me as to why it can't be hit time after time.

Oddly though I find driven and teal the easiest.

Quartering away however I find myself wildly slashing at them and sometimes get lucky.

[bakerboy]

Thank you Auntie and grrclark, a way to go yet but a good feeling nevertheless.

Sian, you didn't do too bad today.

Terry stand 7

[Sian]

Sian, you didn't do too bad today.

Terry stand 7

Thanks Terry good to see you today. I felt it was a poor performance today, didn't concentrate enough and the shoot needed that. Good targets I thought and I was glad it wasn't as cold as the day before. Got a couple of driven, thanks to Phil Easeman who just came up behind me and told me to just shoot earlier, I was on it. Just love the community of shooters I know, all willing to see you do better. Edited January 28, 2017 by Sian