[riss6270]

im sure im not the only one with this problem but i just wanted to see what some people suggest for the problem. When i practice i have no problem hitting 21 to 25 clays. That stands true for 16 to 27 yds. When it comes down to a league shoot or ata shoot i dont know what happens. I seem only to hit 17 to 23. Anyone have any suggestions on things to try to fix the problem. Theres something about the pulles saying MISS i guess that puts pressure on me.

 

[mixer]

Practice doesn't count so no one cares but you. Don't take the "lost" calls so seriously, it's not a personal attack on you, just a statement of fact. Shoot more shoots that do count and perhaps you'll get over your problem.

Eric

 

[shot410ga]

You put the pressure yourself. Lighten up, don't think at the line about doing all the things you think you should do. Trust yourself, and your abilities.

 

[trapshootin hippie]

Get ya some better ear plugs so that ya can't hear the "pulles saying MISS." They just shoot practice.

Gne J

 

[SMOKEIT]

The best practice is to go to as many registered shoots as you can. No substitute for the real thing. I think you need to shoot on different fields and learn to adapt to different conditions to gain confidence....SMOKIT

 

[stokinpls]

Find the biggest, most prestigeous shoot you can go to, and compete there. Regardless of how you did, when you get back home, the things that made you nervous will be small potatoes.

Also, think, "I'm really only competing against myself.".

 

[Unknown1]

<blockquote><I>"Find the biggest, most prestigeous shoot you can go to, and compete there. When you get back home, the things that made you nervous will be small potatoes."</i></blockquote>

...or else you'll go home completely humiliated and depressed and switch immediately to bowling!

MK

 

[Auctioneer]

There was a guy at a club who who would tease and or torment a shooter or shooters. Trash talk, throw hulls at them as he shot. He would do anything to disrupt their shooting. The shooter or shooters didn't care for it till they were in a shoot off and after winning the shoot off they at that point saw how calm they were. They realized what the old man was doing. Putting presure on them during practice and getting them use to it for the shoot offs.

 

[phirel]

Pressure is OK. If you follow the advice of SMOKIT you will learn how to direct that pressure toward better performance.

Pat Ireland

 

[ivanhoe]

riss6270

"When i practice i have no problem hitting 21 to 25 clays. That stands true for 16 to 27 yds. When it comes down to a league shoot or ata shoot i dont know what happens. I seem only to hit 17 to 23. Anyone have any suggestions on things to try to fix the problem."

Just what I found that helps me is to shoot one target at a time. You are talking about your totals for the rounds. I am talking about every time you mount your gun the rest of the targets broken or unbroken do not exist. Only the target you are going to call for right now means anything. If you think about the fact that you only need to break a couple more targets to go straight even for a split second. The chances are you will miss or have a weak break.

You concentrate on each target one at a time. It doesn't matter if you are shooting practice or for a score in league or ATA. One target at a time total concentration on that target.

Bob Lawless

 

[riss6270]

Went to glen rock today. Did very well. I had a 89 at 16 and 92 on my handicap. I was second in my class. Maybe it was just a good day but ill take it.

 

[butcher]

Tell yourself to relax and slow down then take a couple of deep breaths and call for the target when you are ready and not just because it is your turn to shoot.

 

[Old Cowboy]

SMOKIT's got it, the only way I know to get used to competition is to shoot a lot of competition. There's really just no substitute for the real thing.

A little self imposed pressure is a good thing, it's called the "will to win", just don't let the will to win become a fear of losing......that's a score-killer.

John C. Saubak

 

[new zealand trapper]

One tgt at a time,at least 10 more shells than needed and dont shoot in the number 2 spot as it is a long walk round and to much time to think for last tgt works for me anyhow

 

[grnberetcj]

Stage fright...the more you shoot, the less the affect.

Curt

 

[ONEDOLLARBILL]

ATA, League or pratice the only thing I think about is the bird at hand once its gone its gone !! I also dont keep running though my head a miss count! Id think you would treat every round as a ATA event dont look at it as just pratice round ! And like others I do like going to every club I can ! GOD LUCK !!

 

[JohnR]

riss6270, good shooting, looks like you have started to overcome the pressure you put on yourself when shooting competition. As others have stated I got better shooting competition by shooting more of them, now the only thing I think about is breaking the bird, I no longer worry about my score and I am really enjoying just shooting.

John

 

[Unknown1]

What pressure??

It's not a matter of life or death and you don't have to win to eat!

MK

 

[bobdog]

It's Phil Kiner's "Little Sumbitch On Your Shoulder". Match pressure is internally generated, and it's something you can learn control by shooting registered every chance you get.

Pay attention to what you think about as you're setting up to shoot. Get Kiner's DVD and watch the section about self-talk: get rid of negatives in your internal shot setup. Your mind filters out the negatives and doesn't hear "Don't flinch."; it ignores the "Don't" and only hears "Flinch." I don't think it's pixie dust, but I think he's probably right about that. Use positive words like "Smooth" and "Relaxed", or whatever focuses your mind on breaking the next bird. When the two previous shooters drop a bird, figure out how to break the trend and smoke the next one. It has a lot to do with what you're thinking when you call for the bird.

$.02