Cheek Pressure - Go Shooting Shotgun Coaching Videos - Series 3 #3

Just how hard should you press your cheek down on the comb of your stock? Olympic Gold Medallist, Russell Mark, shares his views on a very commonly asked question.
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Go Shooting’s KZbin channel is designed for all shotgun shooters that want to improve their skill level. Our coaching videos are aimed to easily understand the basic fundamentals of the sport. They are perfect for all the disciplines of the clay target sports, hunters or simply recreational shotgun enthusiasts wanting to gain a little more understanding on how to hit their target more consistently.
Go Shooting is owned and operated by Olympic Gold Medallist Russell Mark and his wife Lauryn Mark, a two time Olympian and triple Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist.

[@Sudhakar4Sharma]

Thank you for these useful tips. While shooting trap with shotguns, some of the guns punch harder on the cheek as compared to others, using the same shot loads, while I apply similar cheek pressure. Is it something to do with the weight of the gun or any other reason? Is there any technique that will help to reduce this slap on the cheek by adjusting the comb/cast? I will appreciate you sharing your feedback Thank you.

[@GoShooting]

Have a look at the video we did on “Cheek Slap”

[@Sudhakar4Sharma]

@@GoShooting Thank you, will definitely have a look. Keep up your good work.

[@TheShane45]

I have just subscribed to your channel because, (and I'm not knocking all the others), but you have a way of explaining all the essential details in a way that is not "too" technical (boring) and is very easy to follow and logical. thank you from a new member to the shotgun shooting family.

[@weissrw1]

Excellent! I mistakenly thought there was an absolute right or wrong cheek pressure, but I couldn't find an answer. I finally (by default) went with a medium firm (but comfortable) pressure because "too hard" seemed to put too much tension in my swing and "too soft" -- I just couldn't hit anything. The best part of the video was showing us what you see looking down the rib. The "visual" that works for me is the front bead sitting on top of the mid bead (so I am seeing some rib, but it's just a short triangle topped with the bead). It's comfortable and I can get the same feeling visual pre-mounted or mounting on the fly. Thanks for the confirmation of what I ended up with!

[@GoShooting]

Thanks Ronald, glad it was of some help. Shoot straight

[@gbharara]

Another nice video from the olympic champion. Thanks Russell, this is helpful.

[@GoShooting]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@gregoryschmidt1233]

Thank you! btw, i like your billy set up.

[@Jolly56Roger]

Yes this is a good topic ,I have my comb pretty high but my cheek has just enough pressure and I know its right by feel ,hope this makes sense .👍🏻

[@charlessmith4242]

* I find this topic somewhat amusing, especially in this day of adjustable combs. With trap and skeet ( not international skeet ) the shooter has the time to cheek his gun as he pleases. I suspect that some of the shooters that are checking their stocks tightly is due to their inability to position their eye correctly unless they really squeeze down on their gun stocks. IMO, it's more important to have a gun stock that fits the shooter as opposed to the shooter having to be concerned about how much cheek pressure he must employ in order to achieve the proper sight picture. When a shooter knows the angle, how far, and how fast a target will be travelling, the shooter can shoot his shotgun more like a rifleman shoots his rifle. He can really lock himself into the stock, so he eliminates as many variables as possible before calling for the target.

[@BCNW1]

Hello and thanks for the fantastic videos. Moderate cheek pressure is definitely the best feel for me, but I find that I shoot best when I really pull the gun into my shoulder with firm pressure. It keeps me in the gun, manages recoil (especially for follow up shots), and prevents any flinching inputs. Is this normal, or am I creating a bad habit that will hinder my progress down the road? I haven't found any top shooters talking about how firmly they mount the gun into the shoulder and wondered what your thoughts were on this topic. Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks again and best wishes.

[@GoShooting]

The only issue I have with what you described about pushing your head down hard is if you don’t see your target well then there may be a tendency to lift your head slightly off the stock to “look” for the target better. This of course will alter where your impact point will be in relation to your point of aim Glad you like our videos. We will have a new series beginning in a couple of months

[@BCNW1]

@@GoShooting hello and thank you so much for the reply. I think you misunderstood my question though so my apologies for the poorly worded question. I wasn’t referring to pressing down hard with my cheek but my hands pulling the stock into my shoulder with very firm pressure. I’m just curious as to how much you pull the gun into your shoulder? Thanks again for the help.

[@GoShooting]

@@BCNW1 ok no problems That part I don’t have an issue with as long as you pull it into your shoulder the same each time. In Trap that’s easy, but in Sporting Clays for example, that can be difficult

[@BCNW1]

@@GoShooting That makes sense. Thanks again for the reply and I'll look forward to your new series.

[@yveslandry6985]

Thank you sir. You are always of good advice. It is really appreciated.

[@GoShooting]

Always welcome

[@bluesix2843]

Very well demonstrated and explained. Particularly liked the fact you used the set location of Mad Max to film it 👍

[@GoShooting]

You may get a shock at just how close all three of the locations in this video are actually to parts of where the original Mad Max was filmed.

[@xiaominsong]

consistency is the key

[@JohnGrit]

Can you guys make a video on doubles? What type of shot(1oz? /speed) and choke they use? Ask all the champions that question. I'm curious because I'm getting mixed answers.

[@GoShooting]

I think we did one with a Shotkam in series 1

[@JohnGrit]

@@GoShooting cool I'll check it out!

[@ogstopper]

Thank you Russell and Lauryn. Love the background setting at 3:05. 😂🤣

[@GoShooting]

lol we liked it also

[@Plainsimple67]

I THINK THAT'S IN SOMALIA!!🤔 BLACK HAWK DOWN! SHOTGUN UP. 😉👉

[@scopemate-Cam]

ScopeMAte NVS90 has combine the night vision and Shotkam into one, do you want to test? Thanks.

[@GoShooting]

Yes please!

[@AntonioMoraesBR]

Thanks!

[@skyhighactiondrones5453]

Great video thank you. What are your thoughts on cheek bruising. This mainly happens to our more experienced higher scoring athletes. Thanks

[@GoShooting]

The most common faults are too much drop or not enough pitch in the shotguns stock. There are certainly other factors involved though. I think we have done a video on this topic, maybe in series 2

[@skyhighactiondrones5453]

@@GoShooting thanks, I’ve looked at your vids, by chance would you have the link to the correct video in reference? Appreciate it very much.

[@GoShooting]

@@skyhighactiondrones5453 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4OZoZ-Eqt1-b9U

[@skyhighactiondrones5453]

@@GoShooting thanks a bunch

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

Great stuff , thanks Russell 👍👍

[@GoShooting]

Very welcome

[@tommyleemaddox1033]

Oh crap Russell now I have to watch this again and refigure...and hit the pattern board on Thursday!

[@bgjb-r1499]

Russell when I lighten up on stock pressure without changing anything else I seem to shave the bottoms off targets, if I try to lighten up too much I miss underneath. I like the idea of only applying moderate to light pressure as it is easier on the face, but my best scores have always come from hard to moderate cheek pressure. Just curious, why do you think my pattern drops when I apply less pressure on the stock? Thanks.

[@GoShooting]

It is a good question that really defies logic, but it is not that uncommon. I think it generally is caused by trying to compensate for the higher shooting comb that has come about from you lightening the pressure. Have you tried proving this with the aid of a pattern board?

[@bgjb-r1499]

@@GoShooting Thank you for the feedback. I too would like to see a pattern using very light pressure on my stock. I have patterned my gun using hard pressure and I get a range of 55/45 to a 60/40 pattern (depending on gauge) which is acceptable for skeet.

[@pietroattanasio9308]

@@GoShootingHai perfettamente ragione.! Nel tiro di stoccata si appoggia la guancia e si spara direttamente facendo poca pressione. Nel tiro ragionato(o quando hai piu' tempo) riesci a premere di piu'...quindi si dovrebbe trovare un compromesso..?Ma io che ho circa 61 anni ti dovrei ringraziare per tutte quelle cose che m'hai insegnato con i tuoi(Vostri con la tua compagna) Video che in Italia ci Sogniamo.Grazie ancora Pietro

[@GoShooting]

​@@pietroattanasio9308 Grazie Pietro, siamo felici di sapere che trovi i nostri video educativi. Stai attento