Don Currie's Sporting Sentinel

Don Currie's Shooting Tips...

July 26, 2021

Committing to your breakpoints will require a bit of a mindset change but will contribute immeasurably to your consistency. Ready?

Commitment to your breakpoints must be very strong for all targets you engage. This is perhaps one of the most important keys to consistent performance in sporting clays. A great majority of shooters end their shots when it looks right from behind the gun instead of at a specific point along the target's flight path. If you correctly chose your breakpoint during pre-shot planning – based on where you could best see detail on the target or where the target looked most vulnerable – why would you second-guess your breakpoint decision while behind the shotgun? 

Deviation from your preplanned breakpoints breeds inconsistency. More importantly, however, by executing your shot in a spot other than your planned breakpoint, you have, by definition, executed the shot in a place that is less conducive to a strong visual connection. Additionally, since all targets lose speed and eventually start to transition once expelled from the trap, delaying execution of the shot may result in the target descending to a point below your barrel, breaking the visual connection between your dominant eye and the target. As I recall, the target you missed was descending at the breakpoint, a particularly unforgiving presentation if you lack commitment at the breakpoint.

During pre-shot planning, landmark your breakpoint: a tree, rock, branch, etc. Visualize executing your shot at that specific spot while exerting strong visual focus on the target just prior to and through your breakpoint. Watch the target break. To incorporate this into your game, practice on a crossing target such as Station #4 on the skeet field. Identify your breakpoint (the center stake), then commit to and break the target at the breakpoint. Repeat 10 times, then move to another location or another target. 
By committing to your breakpoint, you will end the shot in the same place every time, contributing to your consistency in execution and increasing your chances of running the station. Good shooting!
 
Don Currie is the chief instructor of the National Sporting Clays Association and one of the most sought-after shooting coaches and gunfighters in our sport. Competing in the shooting sports since age 8 and instructing as an apprentice at age 16, Don is that rare combination of Champion, Instructor, Coach and Gunfitter Don regularly propels shotgun enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to breakthrough performance whether in the field or in competition. He also fits and equips shooters for custom shotguns. His instructional DVD “Focus – Movement – Faith” is the #1 rated sporting clays DVD on Amazon.com. For more about Don, visit his web site at https://doncurrie.com.
 
 

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