[Ram Rod]

As you age things don't work as good as they did in younger days.
After years of shooting guns that didn't quite fit it has became engrained to mount and check beads to make sure everything is lined up.
I have recently noticed that if I skip the bead check and stay focused out to the zone where the targets appear I have better visual acuity for handicap.
It doesn't make any difference for singles or doubles.
Is it just me ?
Henry

 

[Pull & Mark]

I check the beads to make sure they are stacked, every time I mount the gun. Then I find my barrels hold point. Then my eye hold point. Then I call for the bird. I do this for all 3 games. break em all jeff

 

[V10]

Is it just me ?

No.

As you age your eye's ability to quickly change focus diminishes.

I found for me that I was better off keeping my "eye" out where the target would be throughout the round.

 

[Rick Barker]

Yes, seems easier to pull focus from middle of field, back to the bird when it appears. Another thing is taking more time on pre-shot routine, check beads, look past the house and take a *couple seconds to let your eyes refocus forward.

*edited to appease someone who is too literal.

 

[Dave S]

I only have the end bead and I check to see if it's there before going out to shoot. Just mount the gun in the sweet spot and look in the target area. get the gun still, then call for the target.

 

[RJG53]

Waiting a moment for refocus makes sense but 5 seconds is a long time after already going through your previous routine and could disrupt squad timing.

 

[Rick Barker]

Waiting a moment for refocus makes sense but 5 seconds is a long time after already going through your previous routine and could disrupt squad timing.

Oh God help me stay sane.

I was speaking figuratively.

For some people, five seconds is 5 seconds, some it is 7-10 others it is 2.3131 seconds.

I’ll change my post to a few seconds so you are not upset with my colloquial use of time.

 

[Harv Shell]

Waiting a moment for refocus makes sense but 5 seconds is a long time after already going through your previous routine and could disrupt squad timing.

Squad timing is a myth that results in lost targets if you get caught up in it. Especially in shoot offs.
I'm not espousing exceedingly long pauses, but you need to learn to cope with it.

 

[pheasantmaster]

.

As you age things don't work as good as they did in younger days.
After years of shooting guns that didn't quite fit it has became engrained to mount and check beads to make sure everything is lined up.
I have recently noticed that if I skip the bead check and stay focused out to the zone where the targets appear I have better visual acuity for handicap.
It doesn't make any difference for singles or doubles.
Is it just me ?
Henry

Quite probable.

Human eyes cannot focus at a close object and then immediately focus at a far objective. Age will increase the time lapse necessary between the two.

I think your fooling yourself about singles and doubles. It's just seems easier to get away with it.

Beads should be observed only in your peripheral vision and never viewed straight on before calling a target.

 

[Dustydoo]

Not sure what yardage you are shooting from, but the farther back you go, the sooner you are able to see the bird leave the house.
A friend of mine, past Olympian, was told exactly how long it takes gorgeous her eyes to refocus from short distance to optimal distance. Hers was like 3.4 seconds when she was shooting 10 years ago.
She pauses,now about that long.

Waiting a moment for refocus makes sense but 5 seconds is a long time after already going through your previous routine and could disrupt squad timing.

 

[jk80]

Waiting a moment for refocus makes sense but 5 seconds is a long time after already going through your previous routine and could disrupt squad timing.

I like shooting on a squad where things move along, but like harv said, you're gonna have problems in shoot offs if you get to hung up on it. Twice in the clay target championship I was on a shoot off squad with shooters that took ages to call for a bird. Its unfortunately sometimes part of the game.

 

[Doc!]

No.

As you age your eye's ability to quickly change focus diminishes.

I found for me that I was better off keeping my "eye" out where the target would be throughout the round.

Yeah that ---- On days I shoot best I find I am seeing the targets better and those seem to be the days my eyes never go down to the gun --- I try not to look down much when I am loading - try to keep my eyes "out yonder" as mush as possible.

 

[Paper hull]

After I shoot the first bird I try to keep my eyes out where I saw the first bird the clearest. Most of the time I just reload my gun by feel. Without looking down until I move post.

 

[Kazer]

Prior to getting a stock made I used to bead check before calling every single time. After the stock, I still checked for a while but soon found it pointless as the gun fit me perfectly and I was able to mount the same every time. I then stopped bead checking. There are a couple people I have seen over the years that don't even have beads on their gun. I don't think I will take it that far personally.

 

[jk80]

No.

As you age your eye's ability to quickly change focus diminishes.

I found for me that I was better off keeping my "eye" out where the target would be throughout the round.

This. If your gun fits you shouldn't need to habitually check your beads, especially as you age. I know my eyes sure don't focus as quick as they used to! I also suspect it can lead to bead checking when you get close to the target.

 

[jk80]

See how easily a thread goes off the rails or inadvertently hijacked? Gone from bead alignment to squad rhythm. Need to start a separate thread for that.

I'm thinking lawsuit. Or at least another thread to point out when a thread goes off the tracks so that doesn't interfere with the original thread!

 

[docbombay]

Yeah that ---- On days I shoot best I find I am seeing the targets better and those seem to be the days my eyes never go down to the gun --- I try not to look down much when I am loading - try to keep my out "out yonder" as mush as possible.

 

[miketmx]

I have deliberately filed my middle bead down to a tiny inconspicuous thing so I don't need it. I believe in the Quiet Eye thing Sort Of. My Quiet Eye period is before I mount the gun to my shoulder.

 

[zeuskab00s]

Broke my mid bead off, just use the front one. My eyes would focus too much on getting the alignment

 

[Rick Barker]

The middle bead is irrelevant when shooting a bird. It’s purpose is to check for proper gun mount before calling for the bird. I never see the middle bead after I call “pull” and only see the muzzle and the front bead in my secondary vision, my focus is on the target.