How important is the start point when clay pigeon shooting?

Clay pigeon shooting
JOHN BIDWELL
Make no mistake – positioning yourself properly for every target and knowing where to look before committing yourself to a shot is fundamental to accurate shooting.

There are no hard and fast rules here because everybody’s reaction times are different so all you can do is look at the target and decide where it’s going to be easiest for you to hit.

Once you’ve settled on a kill point, pick a place where you first see the target clearly – an entry point that will enable you to both move the gun smoothly, and mount it without rushing.

You establish the ‘start point’ by watching the target carefully before it’s your turn to shoot.

Make a mental note of where it appears by picking out, say, a branch, a piece of sky or a gap in the trees.

Use that reference point when you get into the stand, but be prepared to make adjustments if the ‘picture’ doesn’t look right after the first shot.

For instance if the bird forces you to chase, try looking a little further out on the flight path.

Similarly, if you find yourself having to wait for the target, look a bit farther back for it.