sg1 Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) Would taking off the front bead help me not to look at the barrel or do I just need to trust myself that I'm looking down the rib and just STARE at the bird and trust my instincts? I feel if I can conquer this annoying habbit then my shooting will improve tenfold . I also feel more twisting of the hips is required whilst keeping my eye down the rib and turning my whole upper body rather than tracking the targets movement with just my head(hard to explain) which is obviously making me miss behind mostly. . Does this sound like typical issues people have or am I unique ? :blink: atvb sg1 Edited November 8, 2011 by sg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) The first point I would make is that the gun must fit you so that it will point where you are looking. After that then you must concentrate on hard focus on the bird so you are hardly conscious of the barrels at all.If you have a highly visible front bead then change it for something plain. You should pivot your whole body from the legs upward but keep your head glued to the stock.Make like a gun turret. Vic. Edited November 8, 2011 by VicW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Im at a similar stage to you, so I dont think you are unique in that sense Ive just bought and read (and keep re reading)'If it aint broke, fix it' by Gill and Vicki Ash and I've found it really valuable. Throughout the book they stress the key importance of hard focus on the clay, and although it takes a leap of faith to do this (and to trust your instincts) it does seem to work. I've only been practising it for a couple of weeks so I know I need to keep at it but the more I feel myself 'letting go' and allowing instinct to take over the better it seems to get. The book also explains a lot about stance which will help you with body movement etc as well. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 (edited) Also practice your gun mount (unloaded) and get your muscle memory up which will help in your confidence that the gun is pointing in the right place. I got caught up in thinking about it way to much and it made my shooting worse this seemed to help me in forgetting the bead Edited November 8, 2011 by mpk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg1 Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Thanks guys , It confirms pretty much where I feel I'm going wrong and so I'll put the suggestions into action (starting with dry mounting today) and see how I get on at Goodwood this Sunday. It would be great to get up in the high 30's/40's ,Overheads coming/going-fine, rabbits-fine,springing teals-ok, crossers right to left-ok(kinda), left to right atvb sg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.C. Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Welcome to the club of barrel watchers! Looking only at the clay and not focusing on the barrel could be regarded as the Holy Grail of clay shooting . It takes some people years of practice not to aim at the clay or carefully measure the lead. The previous poster is right in saying that Gil and Vicki Ash's book spends a lot of time on this issue and would be well worth buying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Tricky one....basically you do want some connection with the barrels but only really peripheral vision.If you watch the clay and think 'I am going to brush this out of the sky' you will concentrate more on the target and more on a smooth swing through the target. Imagine a paintbrush and that you are going to brush from behind the clay and paint over and through it..this should make you a)look at the target B) read its line and c)keep a smooth movement through the clay. Body position wise,before you call the clay decide where you are going to kill it,set your body comfortably at this point and 'aim' at this point,then wind your body back to where you expect to first see the clay(like the gun turret analogy above) then call the clay and smoothly uncoil to your kill zone.This method should help with your stance especially on crossers.Aim smooth and slow but fire quick...be deliberate on reading the clay and the mount,and just let your brain tell you when to fire. Basically concentrate on painting the target out of the sky and I think you will find you are looking far more at the target than the barrel. Hope helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 When you go in the stand and call for the clay tell yourself to WATCH THE CLAY every single time.Eventually it will become part and parcel of your shooting.Use your index finger to point at the clay under your barrels and ensure you are not gripping the barrels too tight, your barrel hand should have a relaxed hold as that can also make you miss behind, if you are throttling the gun.Steer with your shoulder not your hand. Good luck from Auntie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 PS SG1 your bogey bird is the crosser from l to r.... This is simples..as a r/h shot r to l is if you like your 'natural' swing whereas l to r feels like you are pushing across your body...well that is because you are!!Without seeing you swing it is difficult to be precise but try this..on all unnatural crossers,which for you is L - R give them 50% more lead than when on your natural swing ie R-L.If you see a 30 yard crosser as say 3 foot of lead when R-L give the exact bird going L-R 4.5 foot.Combine this with the turret advice above so you do not rainbow below it and you will start to build the picture...for me 50% extra is about right for crossers in the 'unnatural' direction try it! ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky T Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Ive just bought and read (and keep re reading)'If it aint broke, fix it' by Gill and Vicki Ash and I've found it really valuable. I've also got the above book and have found it an excellent source of information and advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Shoot some skeet. That'll sort you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Dont mean to hijack it, but what a great thread with loads of great tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Shoot some skeet. That'll sort you out. Errrr yes.......worked wonders for me haha :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky T Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Errrr yes.......worked wonders for me haha :) Don't give up that easily Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Re the crossers- could be a gunfit issue. If your comb is too low your left eye could be taking over as it will have a much better view o the clay, this will end up with you being miles behind. The answer in this case will not be more lead but getting the comb adjusted. This is all theoretical however as without seeing you shoot no one can be sure of the answer. Get yourself looked at by someone who knows what they are on about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Errrr yes.......worked wonders for me haha :) You're just **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Re the crossers- could be a gunfit issue. If your comb is too low your left eye could be taking over as it will have a much better view o the clay, this will end up with you being miles behind. The answer in this case will not be more lead but getting the comb adjusted. This is all theoretical however as without seeing you shoot no one can be sure of the answer. Get yourself looked at by someone who knows what they are on about. I agree with the above, better to spend £60.00 on a Coach than £60.00 on unnecessary attachments and missed clays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 SG1, Does Darren still coach at Goodwood/Cowdray Park?I can't remember his surname..might be Carver(?) If so go and see him,he is an excellent coach,from memory he is reasonably priced too.Google Cowdray Park Shooting,if Goodwood is convenient this is pretty close by(up nr Midhurst). aTB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beretta Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 one member on here had a similar problem and when looked at he was pushing the gun away from his cheek on left to rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg1 Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Thanks everyone :good: , I certainly have a LOT to think about which I'm sure will help me this Sunday when I'll try out the suggestions...suggested , I'll let you know how I get on . atvb sg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landyboy Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 get someone to stand behind with a good lump of wood, every time you look at your barrell and miss they give you a swift tap on the back of the neck after 3 or 4 goes trust me you ll stop doing it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg1 Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 get someone to stand behind with a good lump of wood, every time you look at your barrell and miss they give you a swift tap on the back of the neck after 3 or 4 goes trust me you ll stop doing it ! Yeah....thanks for that!! atvb sg1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicky T Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Thanks everyone :good: , I certainly have a LOT to think about which I'm sure will help me this Sunday when I'll try out the suggestions...suggested , I'll let you know how I get on . atvb sg1 So how was yesterday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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