Shotgun Report

MOVING TOO SOON

Dear Technoid:

I have several friends that shoot Sporting with me. Two of the friends
are forever calling for the bird and then moving the gun before the
bird is seen. They seem to be at a shooting plateau and I think the
faulty gun movement is a major factor. Can you give me a few bits of
wisdom to support my deduction that movement before the bird is seen
as one of my compadre's reason for not progressing?

Sincerely, Woody

Dear Woody,

The "move before you see" problem is more prevalent in American-style
Skeet than in Sporting, but it can be an issue. The problem with the
early move is when you get the timing wrong. The shooter is
anticipating the bird and starting his swing to get a little jump on
the bird. That sounds fine, but he is placing a great deal of reliance
on the bird coming off the trap at the exact time he is anticipating.
If the trapper is a little slow on the pull, the shooter will have
moved his gun too early and his rhythm will be badly out of sync.

It is a far, far better thing in both games to maintain the starting
gun position until the bird is seen to be flying. That way you will
never be tricked by a slow pull. In sporting that may mean that the
bird will have been in the air some time, perhaps hidden by trees,
before you can first see it. The rule still applies. Don't move until
you see the bird. That puts you in control of the swing timing, not
the vagaries of the trapper. Remember, if the trapper gives you a slow
pull, it's not going to ruin HIS day.

As to whether or not fixing the problem of moving too soon will
energize your friends' sporting scores, I don't have an opinion
because I have not seen them shoot. It could be their only problem or
one of many. In my personal case, my shooting sins tend to come in
groups, clusters, hordes and crowds. Seldom am I lucky enough to do
just one thing wrong. Just ask my dog.

Best regards,

Bruce Buck
The Technoid for Shotgun Report, LLC