Why You Are Missing Targets!

[@hammyh1165]

I miss when I start thinking too much.

[@charlessmith4242]

* That's because when you try to hard to break a target, your muscles have a tendency to tighten up which will cause you to slow your swing. Concentration and the muscles that control your swing have to compliment each other. This can be difficult to understand what is happening. If you have someone that is experienced, ask them to stand behind you as you shoot. They should be able to see where your shot column is going in relationship to the target, and if they're knowledgeable they can see if your gun barrel is slowing just prior to the shot. Most misses are behind the target. Bring able to concentrate on a target and still allow your muscles to operate freely is vital. With enough practice, you'll get to the point that you'll feel when you have failed to keep your gun moving. A lot of people don't seem to understand this, they'll just say that you shot behind, or that you stopped your swing. They don't seem to understand the reasons a miss might occur. When you practice, don't just shoot at the target, pay attention and work on keeping your swing moving freely when you are shooting your target. You want to establish the correct muscle memory that will work proficiently in spite of what is happening between your ears. I hope this will help you.

[@gadgethunter5732]

This is the best instruction I have seen dealing with what to do with the gun between visual pick up and the shot.

[@tonymuschara7756]

David, I have been shooting sporting clays recreationally about three years, and I want to become more consistent in breaking targets. To date, the books, articles, and videos I've consumed tend to generalize the "movement" to a target. This segment is by far the best, most informative desription of how to pinpoint the break point, pickup point, and hold point for breaking clays that I have come across. Thanks.

[@MartShoots]

Some of the BEST advice I’ve seen so far. New shooters, watch and rewatch this video, its golden.

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

Glad I hear you say everyone is different. My last lesson I was way in front of the rabbit target apparently, although I was leading only moderately. Instructor said try aiming straight at it, and I hit it. Weird. My son is similar - doesn't need as much lead as other people. Nice vid, thanks

[@tom12146]

The content in this was brilliant. The lighting in the video was perfect because i could see the clays and where they were being broken. Thankyou David

[@vonAhnen1]

Thanks for filming the targets visible. Keep it also for future videos!!

[@douglasbell2448]

Well done David, good coaching video.

[@flyfishing101]

I'm so lucky to find your vids here as I was struggling to hit the targets and more struggling to understand why I missed or hit sometimes. Because no one told me and analyzed why it's missed or hit. Now I understand the method of how I should plan and section the sighting columns and pictures before the shooting, so I am better prepared for that killing zone and moment. Much appreciated!

[@the45er]

Did anyone notice that at the target he was shooting at seven minutes the three he shot were hit way before his announced breakpoint?

[@Akifardoulis]

Thanks!

[@gregs9218]

As I've learned from your advise at your Shooting grounds today, I was overthinking and I was looking at it wrongly. Great stuff and proud to be a member :) G S Crisp

[@warrigaljohn]

your detail was superb David. One detail I do that is different to what you have said is, I pull the trigger at the kill point and keep the gun moving. I dont know Im doing this always because of my body is still swinging from where my feet are in the middle of the kill points following the target as yours are. very well presented.

[@JayJayBS]

i heard from instructors is correct to always follow the target even after you took the shot.

[@TheJohnnyCombat]

@@JayJayBS It’s called ‘swing on’

[@MichaelJones-tu9gi]

Thanks for turning me onto the Yildiz! Proud owner of two, 12 and 20 gauge. Excellent quality for the price.

[@alanbally1871]

Thanks Dave., Very useful instructional tip. You must having been watching me missing clays last Thursday and struggling with lead - I thought I was doing it right! You're never too old to learn. Many thanks. Alan Bally.

[@johnturner6677]

Fair play - that's some good instruction and good shooting!

[@Patrick-sw2qk]

Nice shooting, mounting the gun while keeping the barrel in view is a great tip thanks

[@alexanderpaul7965]

Best coach David.👍👍👍

[@tonymorgan3526]

Great video, I think if you had used a shot cam as well, that would of helped 😀

[@RabidMortal1]

I am puzzled as to why the actual "kill points'" are consistently earlier that the one the shooter keeps setting up--for example, on the right-to-left crosser the shooter is setting up a kill point far to the left but is consistently killing the bird barely after his hold point. I'm also extremely skeptical of the advocating of taking ones eyes of the bird and looking into empty space--for an uncluttered background you may have some success, but it seems prone to introducing errors if there is (for example) a close in tree line.

[@joewilkins8248]

You're right; he consistently breaks the target way before his selected kill point. I went back and watched a couple of right-to-left crossers, and he kills the target twenty yards earlier than anticipated. His advice is completely correct, but he is not exactly illustrating it with these shots.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

Cheers David 👍👍

[@petergrice1946]

More like this please, very useful.

[@petebird7171]

Very useful information. Thanks

[@Bamagolfer35226]

Seen a lot of videos on shooting by far the best explanation on pick up point ,hold point, and kill point well done !!!!!…. I will review this video in the future every time I go shooting …. You taught the basics in 15 minute lesson…

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

Thanks for your great comment.

[@jennyolsson3638]

Thank you for invaluable advice, they have really improved my shooting! Question, How do you stand and point your gun when shooting over pointing or flushing dogs? When you don’t know where the target will come from or the direction, or at least you have to be prepared for som surprises? Any videos of that would be much appreciated! If you don’t have dogs what about a grouse-trap machine where several clays come out at once how do best shoot those? 🙏🏻

[@jacobm.w.]

Hallo Dave. I know it‘s a basic question but I‘ve just started with shotgun shooting and I‘m from Germany so sadly I have no shooting school close by. When do you start moving your gun? Do you let the bird pass your shotgun and than move your shotgun from behind the bird, swing through and shoot? And do you do that consciously? Letting the bird pass your shotgun or does this happen because of the reaction time? Thank you.

[@iantunnicliffe4509]

Really good advice my problem is keeping focused.

[@tomlongbow]

Thanks for the Help. Greetings from Germany

[@ardenpowers7730]

Well said . . .

[@jazzcam2799]

Excellent advice, you’re an absolute pro , thanks 🙏

[@frenchyqbec]

Great explanations Dave, you said that the first clay is shot bottom left, but where do you shot de second ? What I mean is can you describe where to shot targets, if you have a llink to that effect, please share it with use, if not can you make one ?!? I am certain that this would be appreciated ! Again Thank you Dave, you are the best out there !!

[@davidbetts480]

Hello TSC, I have been to Cambridge gun club today for a round of clays and I tried out the Fiocchi TT ONE 28g 7,5 and I was very impressed with them but I thought that they are a little pricey.

[@jeffbachmann7161]

Great explanations and information Following the first target, though with the positioning of the video camera was confusing. From that angle, it looked very different how u showed it with your hands versus where you shot the clays better if the camera was behind you, but thanks for the great tips.

[@moradelhoumir7475]

Thanks 🙏

[@lucastolson3570]

thanks. great job!

[@harrogatedancecentre8728]

Hi. What do you think of the ShotKam for helping with learning? Thanks 😊

[@allandobbs7059]

Good info well presented,😉

[@kevinvajda]

So at any point are you looking down the rib or at the clay all the time ?

[@charlessmith4242]

* Two points I'd like to add. 1) when a shooter is ready to call for the target, keep the muzzle of the shotgun at or slightly below the flight path of the target. You want to bring the muzzle up to the target, not let the target go behind the muzzle. This will improve the shooters reaction time and his swing will be more consistent. 2) I differ with you on where the swing should originate. Your swing should be controlled from your ankles not your waist. Swinging from the waist causes the gun to dip and torque when you are tracking a target. Watch a shooter that only swings with his waist and you'll see what I mean. Try swing your gun by letting your ankles rotate, your whole body will follow, and your swing will be much smoother.

[@TheJohnnyCombat]

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. As a CPSA Instructor I allow the client to experience the difference in rotating from the waist and then rotating from the ankles. The process is smoother and consistent when they discover that the lower down they rotate their body, combined with all the other important points, i.e head on stock etc the quicker the muscle memory takes hold. All the best, John Cummins.

[@martinsteven2643]

I like what I am hearing and will be down for lesson in the New Year

[@MisterBenelli-n1k]

Ein Weitklasse Video. Vielen Dank

[@peterbandje7717]

Dave, i noticed that the guns and ammunition are very expensive at this moment in the nederland. How is that in England. Bij the way i shout with a franchi and a winchester sporting. Very well. Wat do you think of te winchester. Thanks peter

[@theclayshooter]

They look great targets!

[@mark_luna]

I saw you recheek between shots. Is that a pro thing or do you recommend the beginner or intermediate shooter do that? Thanks. Great video.

[@richardpena7193]

Have you heard of Robert Churchill? And what he said about forward allowance?

[@duckbrian7973]

I miss when it’s time for live wild birds. Never really been good at clays but I still have a go.

[@paulreid7129]

If the targets come out in a random manner as your not sure which angle it comes out like DTL, or ABT not able to decide where target is going to have kill point

[@mrsplashboy1]

Hi, not on the topic in question but what brand jacket do you have on in this video

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

This vest David is wearing is from browning :)

[@jacobm.w.]

Hello Dave. I've watched a lot of videos about different guns like 525, 725, Mk38 S3, M38 T3, and Beretta... Because I wanna buy my first gun, but as said in the last comment I do not have a shooting school close by to ask so I wanted to ask you. Because I think you have the expertise to help me. What is the best-performing new gun at a price range between 2000 to 3000 pounds for sporting clays? As far as I know in this group there are guns like Browning 725 S1 adjustable, Mk38 S3, and Mk38 T3. I do not know which Beretta gun fits that range because the regular Silver pigeon is a little bit less. Not that the gun has to cost 2000 pounds minimum just guns in that price range are a little bit better than guns that cost 1500 pounds for example. Also, that is not always true. That's why I'm asking you. I do not care about brand or wood grade. I prefer "real" wood over laminated, but If a laminated gun performs better than all the regular wood guns in that price and performing range I will be happy to buy a laminated one. If I get a suggestion from you I would like to know which is better, 30-inch or 32-inch barrels, and for similar guns like the Mk38 grade 3 limited trap or sporter. For me, performance is the most important thing obviously together with the gun fit but you probably can't help me with that so I just would like to have some suggestions for best-performing guns for sporting clays.

[@hinterseerherold]

I don't miss. I feel bad about it sometimes because I know I should.🤣

[@dylanredmond759]

One question I have is if you were using a semi auto for your clay shooting all the time what would be the choke would you use for a all round choke ?

[@davidpyper82]

3/8

[@hammyh1165]

Totally agree, 3/8 , it's what I've found best.

[@stonefly514]

@@davidpyper82 CYL

[@dave_724]

1/2 is what i use in all my autos but i’ll be going to 3/8 or 1/4 when i start shooting again 1/2 will do even the longest targets

[@tonymorgan3526]

I always used 1/2 choke, never changed at the layout, just use to change my shot size, any close birds put in no 9s, it worked for me

[@closedclosed4753]

Your instructions are very good but you never mention which chokes you use ?

[@markjohnson5137]

you could have demonstrated them as a sim pair at the end.

[@shawnbarry3893]

You make it looks so easy 😂

[@phildavis1282]

Interesting you shot the first target before your kill point can you explain?

[@welditmick]

He still had a plan in place and that is the key to consistency. He just executed it sooner.

[@giorgialeksandria6665]

thanks a lot for this great video.

[@emzzy81]

hi david i am having trouble with this two

[@kelvinalderton6607]

Why are you killing the right to left target at your hold point?

[@michaelplank8966]

I don't miss why I go though a slow easy routine

[@Dave-RobGriff]

every time you say that your kill point is there ^, and then your hold point is there ^, you never shoot at your kill point its always before that why?

[@tommygray2870]

I have the this problem

[@dandylion1987]

Because you dont have a ten grand gun of course , but yourself a Perazzi and you'll never miss 👍😅

[@davidpyper82]

That's true

[@hotshot2177]

Or a yildiz………..

[@davidpyper82]

@@hotshot2177 I've seen people miss with yildizs tho 😀😭

[@bentleyfatheree1616]

You can't get a

[@davidpyper82]

@@hotshot2177 sorry that's correct I was mistaken 😜

[@michaelplank8966]

No I'm shooting well with my Charles daily sinchetic 20 gauge greatest 300 iv ever spend

[@malcolmmacmillan2169]

And what class are you?

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

David is AA class

[@danielbosch5512]

Sometimes I'll hit the quartering targets, &miss the straight away,ugggghhh,,torqued me off...

[@bentleyfatheree1616]

Same speed at the end!!!! For most shots your barrel needs to be moving the same speed as the clay

[@charlessmith4242]

* Depends on what lead system an individual shooter uses.

[@michaelplank8966]

No I'm hitting everything why gun fit

[@michaelplank8966]

Your missing because your not having a gun that really fits you the more the gun fits the more your hit moving your head of the stock will make you miss do you have a hold point shooting at a woodcock no its instinctive that's the only way to shoot and move with the tarkett

[@bartram33]

I miss because I’m rubbish.

[@mattnewman12345]

Googly i’s

[@acoyne174]

Am I the only one who can't even see the target??? 😂

[@nigelbaxter7050]

What target! 😊

[@michaelplank8966]

No I'm not missing why because I have A gun that fits me that's 80 percent of missed birds

[@taffpatch1]

I wish you'd tell the woodies to fly straight 🦤🦤 , great video, any tips on shooting pidgeon ??

[@TSCTheshootingchannel]

There will be a Pigeon shooting film coming out soon.