Miss in Front

I hope you enjoyed the holidays and had a chance to rest and recharge. It’s the annual resolution setting season, and after a year of big changes, I took some time to consider 2016. It’s also hunting season, which made my mind start to wander. I remembered a few years ago when I was in the middle of a longer-than-usual shooting slump. There is nothing unusual about that, especially since my time at the range is quite limited, but it did remind me of some valuable advice I received soon after I picked up a gun. I was introduced to shotgunning by my Uncle. As soon as I showed interest in the sport, he was always helpful and generous with his time, and this has led to my addiction to bird dogs and wingshooting.

We met for a round of sporting clays at a course in western PA. For those who aren’t familiar, Sporting Clays is well described as golf with a shotgun. You move from shooting station to shooting station, and each location affords multiple opportunities to miss by presenting targets in myriad of ways, each intended to simulate shots that one might encounter afield. Station one may have a single crossing target followed by a single incomer, station two may have a rabbit followed by a springing teal, and so on. Shot as single targets or pairs, the possibilities are endless.

Each and every shot requires tracking the target and putting the pellets where the target will be, which can only be done by relying on the uncannily accurate ballistic calculator between our ears. We need to practice of course but it’s all built on our unique ability to identify and track a moving target without having to sit down with pencil and paper to work out the angles. Add a well-fitted shotgun and a practiced gun-mount, and you can start to turn clay disks to dust. Sounds easy until you try to bring it all together.

We were working our way through the course and I was consistently missing straightforward shots. When that happens, I try harder, tense up, overthink it and make the problem worse. After watching this happen one too many times, my exasperated uncle said simply, “This time, try something different. Miss in front of the bird.”

You see, the most common reason for missing a flying target is to shoot low and behind. We shoot where the target is when we pull the trigger and not where it will be by the time the shot swarm gets there. We like to see the target and so tend to keep the barrels too low. The prescription is to trust yourself more, relax, and be more aggressive. You need to try to miss in front if you’re consistently behind.

“Pull!” The next target launched, sailed into the field of view, and I pulled through the target for what seemed like an impossible lead. Bang! Puff. The target was dust.

A second time. “Pull!” Bang. Puff. My score improved noticeably through the remainder of the course.

I think about that advice a lot, and it is still part of my mental preparation before stepping into the shooting box or heading afield. It’s good advice for anyone trying to reach a goal. We have to stretch a bit, because only by reaching through what we think we can achieve to grasp at what we hope to achieve that we begin to realize our success. That, plus a whole lot of practice.

And so we find ourselves here at the dawn of the year. From coast to coast people are buying gym memberships that will go unused from February on, or starting a book that will soon start gathering dust. We’re quick to set goals and just as quick to forget them. This year I’m setting my goals but if I miss them, I’ve promised myself that it won’t be because I shoot low and behind.

My wish for you for 2016 is that you set your goals, swing through them, and try to miss in front. Happy New Year!

Please see this and my other blog posts at www.aaronspak.com!