Has your shooting prowess gaining traction or does it feel more like it’s stuck in the mud? The doldrums of winter are a real roadblock to shooters. The fact we had snowpack on the ground for three weeks certainly hit the brakes hard on not only sport shooting but on outdoor activities in general.
As we move through Spring, enjoying more milder temps and the driving desire to step back into the outdoors, it’s important to review the basics. For the beginner shooter, the most important two things are gun fit and target reading. For the shooter that has developed a consistent mount, a fairly sizable shot inventory and a solid confidence, it’s the minutia in the sport that will add more Xs to the scorecard.
When I have a new student, I mean literally this is the first time they are ever shooting a shotgun, they have no idea what I want or how I want them to do it. They are typically anxious about safety and recoil and don’t want to “look” like a newbie. Perhaps they have watched some videos, read a few articles on clay games and have a few preconceived notions about what should be happening in the box. Maybe they have a friend or family member with more experience joining them on the lesson for moral support?
One thing that drives me a little crazy on these lessons is that 9 times out of 10, their cheerleader, a passerby or even they themselves will comment about foot placement. I gently explain that they aren’t using their toes to pull the trigger and as long as the hips and feet are somewhat positioned correctly, I’m more concerned about their ability to use their eyes and properly obtain a cheek weld. You know, since this is a visual game and you have to see it to shoot it.
Remember, the two biggest roadblocks for a brand-new shooter are gun fit and target reading. We must keep the recoil to a minimum and make sure they are shooting where they are looking and they have to understand how to correctly respond to what the presentation is asking of them.
Now, for the guys and gals that have several thousands of clays under their belt and perhaps are competitive shooters or hunters, your feet absolutely do matter! These shooters are looking for that competitive edge to add those much needed few clays to their scorecard so they can punch up. Or they are trying to dial in better for doves or ducks or pheasants so their dog will be proud of them. Whatever the reason, it’s far more crucial to make sure the feet are correctly planted. Improper stance will cause the hips to lock which in turn causes the shoulder to drop once the shooter has maxed out on the rotation.
So how should you stand? Simple. For sporting clays, assume a relaxed but slightly forward posture with feet shoulder width apart and lead foot pointed toward the break point. This allows you to have a bit of leeway if you should end up having to take your target past your break point. If you splay out (have your legs too far apart) it shortens your abdominal muscles and severely inhibits your ability to cleanly and quickly rotate with the swing. The gun doesn’t move because it’s in your hands. The gun moves because you are pushing with your core.
The skeet and trap competitors are having a minor meltdown with my previous paragraph. Please realize that different disciplines will require different setups. Sporting clays features a wildly varied array of presentations while skeet and trap targets are fairly benign and consistently in the same area. That’s not the game of sporting clays by a long shot. Now, no amount of fancy footwork will save you from a miss if you don’t know how to correctly read your target. Understand the bird in front of you and be flexible and mobile.
Be sure to share time in the box with a friend or family member and remember to work more on their sight picture and ability to hold the gun correctly before manipulating the minutia of the sport.
Kate Ahnstrom, owner of Virginia Shooting Sports is a certified, professional instructor of the Paragon School of Sporting. She has dedicated her life to sharing her passion for the outdoors and diversifying the dynamics on the clay course and the hunt field. Her tireless dedication to her students’ success is obvious in each and every lesson. Kate is on the pro staff for Syren, the resident pro at Bacon Farms Preserve, Artemis Ambassador, regional coordinatHer for HerUpland, department editor for Woods & Waters magazine, and contributing editor for Women’s Outdoor News. She and her husband, Mike enjoy their small farm in central Virginia where they have a menagerie of animals and plenty of room to train and work their beloved GSPs. Kate loves getting behind the barrel of her Syren Tempio Sporting 20ga for all things clay and feathered.
