Proper Stance for each station

Heeringa · Nov 22, 2020

I'm right handed. On post 1, my feet are very open, with my right foot slightly in front of my left foot, with a pretty wide stance. My right foot is pointed through the middle of the traphouse. My left foot is probably 30 degrees open. I feel like this makes swinging to get that hard left a little easier.

On post 5, I'm just about the opposite, very closed, to help make swinging to the hard right just a bit easier. My left foot is just shy of parallel to the cut in the concrete. My right foot is almost directly behind the left foot, just a bit to the right, with my feet at shoulder-width. I usually have my right foot splitting the center line of the post, to comply with ATA rules.

On post 3, I'm set up very neutral, with the exception of having my left foot pointed just a bit to the left. I made this adjustment about 2 years ago after I noticed I was shooting behind left birds from post 3. Having the toe pointed that direction helps my swing happen more fluidly and I'm less likely to be behind a bird going that direction.

My stance on Post 2 is halfway between my stance on 1 and 3. And my stance on 4 is halfway between my stance on 3 and 5.

Bottom line - try a few styles if you're not sure what will work for you. Practice is the only way to improve.

AusAmateur · Nov 22, 2020

badbaddog58 said:
I agree there is no one proper stance for every shooter. but here is a way to figure out what you need. First stand the way you have been on post one and when you shoot your targets pay attention to what is going on when you break them example if most of the targets to the left you are knocking pieces to the left it means your behind them which it means you need to turn you front foot to the left just a little and then re access your breaks again ,and if your hitting those targets and hitting the backs of the right turn your right foot out just a little more ( Get the Idea)?.. and this is what you do for all positions. as some people move from the hips like a turret . I move all the way down from my toes making movement harder, as i don't pivot from my hips. Hope this helps also make small adjustments like this every time this happens as it means your at the end of your gun movement and the gun will now leave your face as your body can't travel any father.

How do you read breaks on a spinning target?

trapwife · Nov 23, 2020

I continue to market Leo’s videos and I also offer follow up. You can PM trapwife if you want more info.

ishoottrap · Nov 25, 2020

rapid86 said:
I don't remember Nora Martin Ross teaching me that way, but whatever she taught didn't work, for ME. Frank Little taught me to have my left foot (I'm right-handed) pointed at the center of the far edge of the trap house for Posts 1,2&3 and at the far right corner for Posts 4&5. That seems to work, again, for me.

In my opinion, this old video has one of the best explanations of foot position. I agree with the basic philosophy of "position for the average target. Whatever your position on post 3 (I like the toes touching a line 45 deg. off of straight away), rotate a little CW going from 3 to 4 and a little more going from 4 to 5. Same thing but CCW going from 3 to 2 and 2 to 1. Geometrically, this always made the most sense to me, targets are all lefts on 1 so being rotated that direction seems that it would make swinging that direction easier and conversely on the right side posts. There is infinite variability in stances but whatever you use, rotate a little on each post.

Amazon.com: Pachmayr's Trapshooting With Ken Robertson : Pachmayer's Trapshooting With: Movies & TV

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Doc! · Nov 25, 2020

denpooch - welcome to the sort of trap shooting and to this forum.
You can receive a lot of good information here and information which will require filtration. All the post above this one have given you good information and referred you to excellent sources of information. After you review said information you will have an idea of where "to start" your foot position. From there you can then tweak your feet position and your stance to allow your body to move the gun within the expected arch of the target from each post. As you age and your body gets stiffer, or develop knee problems, or hip problems, or shoulder problems, do not be afraid to move your feet. This is not position rifle shooting. In position rifle shooting you build your position to set your natural point of aim at the X and you NEVER move that during the string. In this game, after you get the first target and you don't feel right, shift your feet a little and don't be afraid to move slightly if needed.
Just relax and enjoy and try not to fall into the quick-sand pit of "over thinking". Relax and enjoy. Your mileage may vary.

Proper Stance for each station

Heeringa

AusAmateur

trapwife

ishoottrap

Amazon.com: Pachmayr's Trapshooting With Ken Robertson : Pachmayer's Trapshooting With: Movies & TV

Doc!

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