Quick fixes for shoot days
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to understand the biomechanical and mental process involved in shooting better. At another level, I am intrigued by the ‘Zen’ of shooting. However, I discovered decades ago that it is not a simple subject.
Thirty years ago, I distilled what I had observed as efficient into a simple, holistic system for shooting clays, which I called ‘positive shooting’ (search for the term on YouTube and you can see a younger version of me demonstrating this). It advocated developing a disciplined mindset and a personal shooting routine – one that would be applied consciously as part of pre-shot preparation or ritual. Three components were required for the perfect shot: sustained visual contact, balance and rhythm.
Practically, it boils down to this simple system, having gathered intelligence on what the bird is and where it is going:
• Align your feet and body to the anticipated break point;
• Wind back, keeping the muzzles just under the line of flight, to the point of first clear visual contact;
• Direct your eyes to the area where you see the target initially as a blur or streak;
• Imagine a kill in your mind’s eye and call for your bird with confidence.
“I distilled what I had observed into a simple, holistic system for clays”
Once the target is in
