Don Currie's Sporting Sentinel

Don Currie's Shooting Tips...

August 25, 2021

When I observe a right-handed student missing a 30-yard left-to-right crossing target, it is usually one of a number of issues. Let’s eliminate eye dominance and gun fit and assume that the issue is technique. First of all, identifying a specific terrain feature to mark your breakpoint is good idea.

When engaging a crossing target, as with any other target, it is critical to identify and commit to a specific breakpoint and observe the behavior or “character” of the target at your chosen breakpoint. If you fail to commit to the breakpoint, you may find yourself shooting a target that is different in character than the one you planned to engage.

Secondly, if you are forced to engage a crossing target at a transition point, where the target is “losing its line”, it is more likely that you will inadvertently occlude or block the target with the barrel of the shotgun. Because all crossing targets eventually lose speed and line, a lack of commitment to the breakpoint can cause you to delay shot execution and get the barrel between the eye and the target as you execute the shot thus disconnecting you visually from the target.

A target that is losing its line or descending slightly at your chosen breakpoint requires a slight modification in technique. 1) Shorten your stroke a bit by moving your hold point slightly closer to your breakpoint and lower your muzzle angle so that your movement to the breakpoint is at a slight upward angle. 2) Start your gun movement early, in plenty of time to beat the target to the breakpoint. We sometimes refer to this as a collapse. If you don’t start your move early, you are likely to speed up your movement at the end of your stroke creating a situation where your muzzle is speeding up as the target is slowing down. This frequently results in a miss over the top. The move I describe above is a cut-off (or intercept) and collapse.

Don Currie is the chief instructor of the National Sporting Clays Association and one of the most sought-after shooting coaches and gunfitter 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 at https://amzn.to/3jEtt1u. For more about Don, visit his web site at https://doncurrie.com.

 

Propel Your Shotgunning to the Next Level With Don Currie’s DVD “Focus – Movement – Faith”

Whether you are an aspiring Master Class competitor, weekend shooter or an improving bird hunter, NSCA Chief Instructor, National Champion and Master Shotgun Coach Don Currie will instantly propel your shotgunning to the next level and beyond.

Don distills the secrets of instinctive shotgunning down to three simple elements essential for crushing targets on the clays course: FOCUS, MOVEMENT and FAITH. The principles of sharp visual focus, subconscious application of lead, synchronized mount and movement to the target, shot planning and the mental game are all clearly explained and applied to guarantee higher levels of performance in competition and in the field.

As a special bonus for the sporting clays and FITASC competitor, Don introduces The OPTIMAL Process®: the pre-shot planning process and pre-shot routine that won him the National Championship title in Side-by-Side Shotgun. As a well-known writer and columnist for ClayShooting USA, Don clearly yet eloquently translates the essential truths of shotgunning into a proven formula and system for success.

Get details at https://bit.ly/3DhUu3u
 

Copyright © 2021 SGL Media, LLC, All rights reserved.

"The Best in Wing and Clays Shooting"

Our mailing address is: