Turning Rituals into Habits

Here’s another simple thing that shooters don’t do, and it’s a real game changer from the consistency standpoint. After breaking a target, they don’t stop to replay what they just saw happen so they can use that movie to preload the next shot. As we mentioned earlier, this is called the post-shot routine and it is the most neglected part of improving score and consistency. But shooters just will not implement it.

The majority of wing and clay shooters are chasing the holy grail of consistency by trying to overthink their way through the next shot, and they continue flailing and failing. What they must do first is to learn how to run a visual movie detailed enough so the brain knows exactly where and how you want the target broken and then stick to the plan. This has to happen first before anyone can improve or become more consistent because you cannot think your way through the shot while the target is in the air.

Oh well, you must begin somewhere if you want to improve in the field or on the clays course.

When you finally begin giving your brain clear messages as to how and where you want the next target broken and then actually follow through with your plan to see if your plan was correct, well, you are off. After implementing this preshot visual plan consistently, then you will be able to implement the post-shot routine effectively, because that routine is simply playing in your mind what you just saw when you broke the last target… and so on, and so on.

So, you see, performance is about rituals that can be turned into habits through repetition, mixed with a little patience, perseverance, and determination.