Before You Call “Pull”
I published this on Shotgun World and thought you should read it:
We find the biggest single factor in missing targets and perceived eye problems is the shooter mounting the gun too close to the target. This causes a reaction to the target.
On the surface, I’m sure you would say “And what’s the point??” Well, on the surface it does seem that reacting to the target is what we’re doing. However, reactions are always quick and rarely smooth and controlled.
So my question is “Do you feel rushed? Do your targets seem faster when in the cage shooting them, or do they seem slow both in the cage and out of the cage?”
My guess is that your targets seem faster more than slower, and the barrel keeps getting in the way on different targets on different days. I’d guess you tend to want to push the muzzle out farther in front at the end of the shot. All of these symptoms are caused by playing inside the lead on the target.
As soon as you understand that playing farther in front of the target and seeing the targets farther behind the barrel and matching the speed as they close to the gun and the lead, then the targets will slow down and the brain will begin to suspend the image of the barrel and clean up the picture.
We have found that being able to anticipate the target from farther in front and letting it come to the lead as we merge the muzzles with the target is much easier and more consistent. When you begin to anticipate the arrival of the target, then the muzzle is already in the picture and the brain no longer wants to know what that thing is that has just merged in front of what it is looking at. It’s the gun coming in at the last instant and being inside the lead that creates the problem.
In our game, you can be in front and behind at the same time. You really can see this and how it comes together on the Knowledge Vault.
Remember, you want to be really clear to the brain what you want it to do with the information before you call “pull.” When your preload and the reality of the shot are the same, the brain really learns fast.
