Instruction for the raw beginner

The goal of this instruction is to take a brand new shooter and get them shooting well enough so that:

1. They see improvements in their scores.
2. They keep coming back to the club.
3. They eventually take a clinic from a pro.

I've studied instruction and teaching all my life and learned the trade from a guy named Zig Engelmann. After working with someone who had never even fired a shot gun, I've changed my instruction significantly. It now goes like this:

Step 1 is to get the new shooter(s) to mount a fake gun. The purpose here is to turn the shooter around so that the instructor can see what is happening with the shooter's eyes and to teach basic gun hold skills. The script goes like this:

"Guns up." Instructor models a fake gun hold with pointer fingers pointing at students and one hand tight up against the cheek. "Notice my gun is tight against my cheek and my head is up." Emphasize the tight hold against the cheek by lightly slapping the cheek with the hand up against the face. Give all students a chance to get this right. Help individuals. "Guns down." Repeat until all students can do this correctly first time with the "Guns up." command.

Step 2 is to add in eye control for the ladies. I've had close their on gun eye and try to shoot with the other eye. I start the ladies off by having them close their off gun eye because most either can't see well or have no dominance at all. Include guys that you know have eye problems. This implies pre-testing at the range...

"Now we're going to add in some eye work. You ladies out there need to close your off gun eye and keep your on gun eye open". "Guns up." Correct anyone who is not able to do this. Model it, but let the guys keep both eyes open. "Guns down." Repeat until all students can do correct eye set the first time with the "Guns up." command.

Step 3 is stolen directly from one of Phil Kiner's videos because I believe it is a key skill needed for Step 4. Step 3 goes like this:

"Guns up." "Keep your eye or eyes on this target and catch up to it with your gun." Teacher holds up a target and walks it around in front of students until they can stay on target with their fake guns. "Guns down." Continue by mixing up some target paths; left, right, quarter left, quarter right, until all students can track the target without looking at their 'beads' first time with the "Guns up." command. Use circular target paths if needed.

Step 4 is to shoot the target.

"Guns up." Check all students for gun and eye holds. "Shoot the target. I need to hear you shoot." Move the target and check all shooters to be sure they at least make some kind of noise indicating a shot. Accept a pulled trigger. "Guns down." Bring attention to shooters who keep their eyes on the target and shoot when they should. Correct any who forget to shoot or whose eyes wander from the target.

Take short breaks if it gets long at any point in the instruction. Know what you're going to say at each step and know any and all corrections. Practice with assistant instructor until you can do this whole sequence with corrections. The above is lesson one. Lesson two involves gun fitting. Lesson three involves safety. Lesson 4 involves shooting straight-a-ways.

Joe

 

Are you asking for comments on your instruction technique here?

 

Are you sure you didn't learn all that from Rolin Oswald at Naperville SC?

 

My purpose here is two fold. I'm looking to hear what others think and I'm comparing responses here with responses from the other trapshooting site. Will get back to this later after taking my lovely wife out for breakfast.

 

Joe: Glad to see that your around. If your at St. Charles u can be my guest until they get stuff straight. but I may see u at the "new" Naperville club. This site could use some pictures of your 870. mike

 

Joe, it's great to see your giving back my friend!

HAP