The Grand and options

Just a question for those who attend the grand or who have attended...

I have never been there, pretty much because of the time off it would have required, I just couldn't afford to be away from work that long. Now that I am able to enjoy my "golden years" the thought crossed my mind that maybe next year I should go, we all should do it at least once I hear. So I started to pay attention to the program and was kind of surprised at the cost per round, $34 plus $3 to IDNR. I would consider that expensive. But there's always options to help cut those costs down, right? Well I then looked at the payout report for the preliminary week and was real surprised. The payouts look very low unless you are able to win everything. When I've gone to Cardinal I was able to count getting enough back playing the Lewis and 25's to make it a reasonable vacation. So, my question is this, are people just not playing the options at the Grand? Are the costs so high (targets, travel, camping or hotels, meals, etc) that they can't really afford to play the options?

 

Simple. The ATA policies catered to trinket shooters and the money players left the game. Since so many more categories and positions were offered, target prices reflected the cost of the additional pewter plates, shell bags and belt buckles. Fewer and fewer players mean less in payouts. The ATA still hasn't figured out why so many shooters join but disappear quickly. Could it be many feel it's not cost effective to spend nearly $40/100 targets in hopes of winning a pin or flashlight trophy? After the kids fill their trophy cases with useless junk they too disappear. It's obvious the inmates are running the asylum!

 

I am kind of embarrassed to admit I haven't paid much attention to what you and others have been saying for so long about what is going on. It doesn't really seem to have much of an impact at the local club level, most folks I shoot with at ATA events are "targets only" and if the winter weather isn't too harsh shoot in calcuttas. Not a way to make a living, just more of a reward for being among the best of 50 or so shooting that day. And that's fine by me, I enjoy the heck out of it. But now I'm at that time in my life where I thought, in my ignorance, that I could head out to Sparta next year and see what all the fuss is about. But what I am seeing is I'm better off going to local events for fun and the Ohio State and Classic at Cardinal. Just really surprised is all. Thanks for your reply.

 

I won a Lewis payout solo once... my score sucked but just the right amount to take a few hundred dollars home. I spent the Lewis money on something, I can't remember what. But I sure do like my shell box pouch and shooting bag, even 15 years later. yeah, it has been a long time since I won anything.

 

Hello. The Grand, Sparta, and any of the "Big Shoots" are the Trapshooters equivalent of Woodstock...what the hippies called a "happening". The realists among us go to these shoots to enjoy the company of fellow shooters, the vendors, the food, and to be "where it's happening"....few go to win "big buck$". It is an enjoyable experience. Note, I said "realists" who understand you gotta consistently be able to shoot a perfect or near perfect score every time you take the field and then successfully survive a shoot-off of dozens of others who shot equally well in order to win anything $$ or trinkets. Most of us know we can't do that. If you want to gamble your $$, sign up for the lucky number Lewis option. All that said, there are more and more realists who are not into the options games regardless of where the shoot is held. Flame Away and Best Regards, Ed

 

Sure, but it wasn't always that way. I seem to have forgotten people no longer like to gamble-except casino revenue is climbing in many. Just keep under-handicapped professional trapshooters at the 27 yd. line and smart shooters will continue to keep their wallets closed. If trinket shooting is the wave of the future how come so many shooters drop their membership each year?

 

Just ask "N1H1" how bright the future of "trinket shooting" is going to be ..... from cyber-space, far, far, away ..... this "guidance" is always given to a "new shooter", from the person who knows everything, and has the chart/graph to prove it .....

"Do not play the options unless you do not mind being played for a sucker."

"Shoot instead for fun and to get better. A trophy may come your way now and then as tangible evidence that you are getting better."

"I learned early-on that if I did not play the options I could shoot factory premium shells, throw away the empties, and be way, way ahead."

"Neil"

 

unless you are a AAA shooter, never play any of the options at the grand. Also, unless you are a AAA shooter, NEVER even play the lewis class when is setup for three classes paying 50-30-20 or worse yet 60-40. Like stated, take the money and but new shells or shoot more targets. You will enjoy the sport a whole lot more. The ONLY good lewis class that I know of is at the Ohio State shoot singles events. They pay FIVE classes split 60-40. With five classes EVERYONE has a chance to win there money plus back. Log on RJ's website and look at the payoff's at the Cardinal shoots and then look at the lewis payoff's for singles at the Ohio State shoot. Of course if you want to feed the AAA shooters, go ahead and play the options.

 

Old Goat 2,
I was at Woodstock in 08/69 and I can assure you it was not equivalent to any trap shoot that I have ever been to and I've been around the game since 1972. Now if you would like to equate the ATA tournaments of today with your local Lions Club picnic or your wife's weekly bridge club you might be in the ballpark. I also enjoyed the company of my fellow shooters, the vendors, the food etc when I could win a "few bucks" for a 94 0r 95 just as much as in today's game where it takes a 98 or better to even get a smell of the money. The "Dawg" is right on point, until the broken handicap system is fixed and scores get back to reality there is no incentive for the average Joe to open his wallet.

 

Hello 10Guns. Thanks for helping calibrate my understanding of the comparison of large trapshoots and Woodstock. I meant no harm and I appreciate your sharing your first-hand experience. Also your observation regarding the option outcomes is appreciated. Best Regards, Ed

 

The "idea" that the sport of "Trapshooting" will ever have a "growing" number of State and National Competitors shooting "just for fun", is ABSURD .....

 

I know of a few from Mississippi and Montana that disagree.

 

Old Goat 2,
No offense taken. I understand where you're coming from and know many shooters who look at today's game the same as you, my wife being one of them. However, I agree with User 1 (which is an absurdity in and by itself) and "Dawg" that this social concept of trapshooting "just for fun" and/or a trinket for everyone in the major ATA tournaments will only result in the continual decline in attendance/membership. Sooner or later the cost factor will outweigh the social factor and shooters/members will look elsewhere for entertainment. In my opinion major ATA tournaments should be be returned to a competition. Target presentations should be made challenging but fair. Class and handicap systems should be (re)designed such that all competitors at every level have a reasonable expectation of winning "something". And all competitors should be required to have some skin in the game. How that could be achieved would create a lively debate. Unfortunately given the current ATA leadership I don't ever see that happening.