Teach me to follow through!

[Markio]

During my pigeon shooting i seem to have a reasonable amount of time to setup for each shot (more so than when at a clay stand). When i miss it always seems to be when i have too much time to think about the shot but also i'm convinced that i'm stopping my swing when i pull the trigger. I've heard of a penny under the cheek trick to solve/highlight a problem with head lifting but is there any natty tricks to get me out of this bad swing stopping habit?

[fulltimeshooter]

By the sounds of it you have way too much time to think about and have been over-analalyzing your shooting the best bet would be to wait until the very last second then put the gun up and fire witch is a 'snap-shot' witch in my opinion and in other shooters i have had the pleasure of shooting with agree is the best form of shooting! hope this helps FTS!

[Stealth Stalker]

I find the art of a good follow through, comes with a lot of practice.

 

Start the day properly with a nice greasy fry up, then down 12 pints of guinness, next up some beans on toast, 8 more pints of guinness, chicken jalfezi, sag aloo, 1 naan bread, a few more pints of guinness & a kebab on the way home, if you haven't perfected your follow through by then add a few more guinness and try all of the above again.

 

Let me know how you get on?

 

SS

[Hairy Pat]

Go to a clay ground follow a fast crosser and purposely think about following through with the swing, with enough repetition it should become ingrained. Then go on to practice the same technique on other birds or it will become stale and boring. It is one of the essentials that slips if you become complacent.

A cheaper method for practising at home is to follow the join of a wall and ceiling in your house pretend to shoot by thinking the word bang, and then keep swinging.

Are there any shooting coaches on the forum who can give any hints and tips?

 

Pat

[Markio]

FTS: I was analysing my over-analysing when i got into bed last night (yeah i know, i'm a wow with the ladies). I figured the same thing. Only went out for an hours rough shoot yesterday but the one i hit came from a direction almost behind me, i swung into it and through it and it dropped like a stone. Like you said, it was a quick shot, i'm just gonna have to force myself to hang back on the mount.

 

P.S. It was my first outing with Clear Pigeon 30g no.6. Nice carts and look to be quite hard hitters.

 

SS: Not keen on Guinness, would it work if i substitute it for a decent ale? B)

[Down South]

I agree with FTS. I have the same problem, too much time means you end up tracking the bird and then miss. I find leaving it late and snap shooting gets the barrels moving and produces that needed follow through. It worked well for me yesterday shooting high pheasants on a good wind. DS.

[apbuild]

Track the clay, push in front to the required lead, pull the trigger and then count one, two, three whilst still swinging the gun.

 

Should go 'BANG'!, one, two, three. Then stop the swing.

 

Rob.

[Cranfield]

Shooting is something like golf, you are either born with a natural "swing", or you have to practise.

 

There is a difference between taking a quick (no thinking time) shot and a "snap shot".

 

Try to avoid the "point, stop, fire" technique (which usually accompanies a snap shot), it will kill a few birds, but is a nasty habit to get into.

Swinging through your moving target will give you consistent kills.

 

Time spent on sporting clays is the best solution and try taking your shots later, with no premounting of the gun.

If you can afford a session with a shooting Instructor, so much the better.

[caplock]

Ahh Stealth's is the long hard way to a follow through. I find three pickled eggs and three pints of thatchers scrumpy coupled with the merest hint of a cough the following morning always results in a perfect follow through

Good luck and remember practice makes perfect!