Shotgun Coach vs. Shotgun Instructor: What’s the Difference?
So many times my students come me with the same complaint: When I was with my instructor I shot really well, but afterwards I reverted back to my old habits and couldn’t hit anything.
Since many wing and clays shooters don’t understand the differences between a shotgun instructor and a shotgun coach, they often end up wasting time and money with little to show for it.
An important reason why is because the student hasn’t clearly defined their goals. For example, a shotgun coach provides life lessons in shooting compared an instructor who focuses on breaking targets.
When newcomers step into the shotgun sports – whether for clays, hunting prep, or a recreational outing – they often book time with an instructor. It’s the most common entry point, and for good reason: instructors are generally certified, safety-conscious, and trained to give beginners a good first experience.
But here’s the catch: most people think they’re looking for a coach when what they actually find is an instructor. Understanding the difference between the two can shape your entire shooting journey.
Let’s define the differences here.
The Shotgun Instructor: Recreation and First Experiences
Instructors specialize in recreational guidance. Their job is to keep things safe, make sure new shooters feel comfortable, and give everyone a chance to break some targets.
- Audience: Families, beginners, youth groups
- Format: 1 to 2 hour sessions, often with 4 to 6 shooters
- Everyone leaves smiling, with a few clays broken and a memory to hold onto
- Self-proclaimed instructors are often a local shooter who is best at the club and becomes the knowledge holder of that gun club. Not very accomplished. Maybe the best shooter of their club.
- Generally that instructor can call the miss and see the shot and all their generally doing is telling you more or less. That’s a symptom. They may not be enough of an advanced diagnostician because t hey themselves simply don’t know.
An instructor may correct obvious mistakes (“you shot behind that one”) but usually doesn’t go much deeper. Their focus is on fun for today, not growth for tomorrow.
The Shotgun Coach: Growth That Lasts
A coach is different. Coaches are guides who help shooters set goals, diagnose issues, and improve over time.
- Approach: The first question is often, “What are your goals?”
- Ongoing Progress: Coaches work with you beyond a single lesson, providing feedback, drills, and “homework” to carry between sessions.
- Diagnostic Skill: Instead of just treating the symptom (“you missed in front”), a coach identifies the root causes such as footwork, mount, visual pickup, or timing, and helps you fix it.
- A coach should be a great communicator. A person who can break down information so you can understand it. But if you can’t take anything in action that breaks it down into subconscious digestible thoughts.
Instructor vs. Coach
| Instructor | Coach |
| Focuses on safety and recreation | Focuses on growth and long-term progress |
| Typically certified; often also a range safety officer | Certified but also trained to diagnose, communicate, and set goals |
| Best for beginners, families, and one-time experiences | Best for shooters who want to improve consistently (competition, hunting, or sport) |
| Aims to give you a fun 1 to 2 hour session | Works with you session after session, with homework and progress tracking |
| Tells you what happened (“You missed behind”) | Explains why it happened and how to fix it |
| Gets everyone breaking clays and smiling that day | Builds a roadmap for short-, medium-, and long-term goals |
| Leaves you with a good memory | Leaves you with lasting skills and confidence |
What Makes a Great Coach?
Not every good shooter makes a good coach. In fact, some of the most accomplished shooters struggle to teach because they rely on ideology or assume others can simply copy their style. A great coach:
- Builds on your strengths instead of tearing you down
- Considers your background and physical attributes (waterfowl hunter vs. clay shooter, for example)
- Demonstrates when needed, because many shooters are visual learners
- Keeps ego out of the lesson, even if it means missing in front of you
- Encourages open-mindedness and questions, because that’s how progress happens
How to Find a Coach
Start with reputation. Ask around at your club, and look for shooters who are known as much for their teaching as their shooting.
The NSCA (National Sporting Clays Association) also maintains a list of certified instructors and coaches. Their certification levels require classroom time, testing, and hours of proven shooting ability—ensuring a balance of skill and teaching.
If your goal is simply to try shotgun sports, enjoy a family day, or introduce young shooters to the fun of breaking clays, an instructor is the perfect fit. They’ll keep you safe, make sure everyone has fun, and leave you with a good memory.
But if your goal is to grow as a shooter—to hunt more effectively, compete, or steadily improve you’ll want a coach. A coach doesn’t just show you how to break clays today. They give you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to keep breaking them tomorrow.
Based in Williamson, Georgia, Cody Matson is an NSCA Level 3 instructor with over 5,000 hours of instruction. Find out more Cody on the Matson Shooting Academy web site at https://www.matsonshootingacademy.com
Based in Williamson, Georgia, Cody Matson is an NSCA Level 3 instructor with over 5,000 hours of instruction. Find out more Cody on the Matson Shooting Academy web site at https://www.matsonshootingacademy.com
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