Sleep is a Commodity You Can’t Do Without
There's a direct correlation between preparation and performance. We can get by when we're on the road with less-than-ideal nutrition or exercise. But we have to have sleep. Sleep is a commodity, and once you get behind on a four or five-day trip, you never get...
Fixing Unforced Errors
“I've been shooting for two years and should be shooting better than C class. I have too many unforced errors. Thoughts on my dilemma?” This shooter wants to know: is it focus? Is it routine? Is it commitment to the breakpoint? Is it overthinking? Is it...
Taking a Six-Week Break
When people shoot year-round and compete in winter tournaments in Florida and Arizona, somewhere between June 15th and July 15th, they hit a wall and plateau out and go down. It takes them until the end of August or middle of September to work their...
Accepting the Visual Confusion
Brian set an especially deceptive set of targets at American Shooting Center one time, and I did a clinic on how to read targets. He had a pair coming from the left and the traps were real close together. But somehow, he figured out a...
Minimizing Visual Confusion
“When a true pair is thrown, either close together with similar flight paths or crosses early in their flight path, are there some general practices to minimize the visual confusion? Move pick-up points? Hold well under targets? Any guidance would be appreciated." The biggest thing is...
Force the Brain Out of its Comfort Zone
Most people practice in their short-term memory, but you’ve got to force the brain out of its comfort zone to put together a new circuit. The more you do that, the better it becomes at recall. So, when you see a pair or a target you've...
Practicing Slower Moves
I had a student who was really good out to about 30 to 35 yards, but when a target was any further than that, he wasn’t so good. “Okay, tell me what kind of targets are giving you problems,” I said. “If they're fast, I can hammer...
Flipping Negative Thoughts
Our brains are wired to focus on the negative. This can be a major hurdle for athletes who aspire to excel in competitive environments like skeet or sporting clays. But the key lies in flipping this tendency on its head. When faced with a disappointing...
You Need a Strategic Approach
I had a client from the Northwest who was advancing well by focusing on single targets, determining breakpoints, and testing her predictions. However, her progress derailed after taking advice from an experienced shooter at a local club. He suggested she shift her focus to the second...
Staying Calm Under Pressure
One trait stands out amongst successful competitors: the ability to stay calm under pressure. This calmness fosters clear thinking and a focus on the process rather than just the outcome. The mental state referred to as being "process-oriented" evolves through trial and error, successes and failures,...