Moving the gun.

How do I keep from moving the gun before seeing the target.I do it right about 90% of the time.On night time targets it drops to about 70%.I have heard all the stuff about hand pulled targets.What is the real solution ?..How do I keep the gun still till the target appears out of the house.I never had this problem years ago when the targets were pulled by the trap scorer.We lived or died with the trap pullers.Do I need to see a shrink ?..I know that this is a mental game and and I am searching on a better outcome.Do you think that Doctor Phil can help me with this problem?.Can anyone recommend any mind enhancing pills to help me overcome this shooting pronlem.Does anyone else have this kind of problem or is it just me?.
I also shoot a Kolar TS.I think it has a mind it's own.You would think it would keep still until the target was visible.It has its own shortscomings.I guess Kolar can't build them any better .They all have quicks built in.Still searching for the answers.

 

You say you're moving the gun before you see the target? I suppose that means you're often moving in the opposite direction. If visibility is a factor you might want to try holding the gun above where the target is nearly invisible because of a poor background. Let's face it-when you call pull, the target should be immediately released so you should be moving in it's direction. Background issues usually create this problem as you're telling us it doesn't happen much under the lights-hold higher! Don't forget to get a good calm eye focus prior to calling for the target too!

 

Shoot hand pulled targets with the puller varying the release from instantaneous to 3 or 4 seconds. Some voice pull systems have this capability as well.

 

Dawgs suggestion is valid, but I personally hold slightly lower, adjust off of that, so I can get a look at the target a split second sooner ( I hold a very high gun to start with) , then make my move ... Think about seeing the target nothing else ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Years and years ago I began reading the trap before the interrupters were in the rules. I developed that terrible habit of moving the gun before I saw the target also.

Years later, and a lot of "lost" targets from moving the gun the wrong way before I saw the target, Chris Vendel broke me of the habit.

Each time I was at the club doing my "Practice" rounds, Chris would grab the pull button when I went out on the line, and when I called for a target he would delay it for who knows how long...

IF I even so slightly moved the gun, he would tell me that he was not going to throw a target until I remained perfectly still.

Didn't take long and he had broke me of that bad habit. I still to this day keep in mind that he may have that button in his hand, although we are 1,400 miles apart.

That "Delayed" pull cured me...I learned my lesson from one of the best....It is worth a try.

 

Shot 100 targets today.Broke one 25.Tried as I could to hold the gun still till the target appeared I still moved the gun before seeing the target.Some times I moved the gun up and it blocked my view if the target and then I had to search to find it.Other times I had to loop the gun because the target was lower than the gun.I did this on position 2 on the left angle.I do a lot better on right angles from position 5 on hard rights because I can see the right angle better , I am a right handshooter.I shoot skeet once a week with my friends with hand pulled targets and ever move the gun.my friends are bad pullers and are half deaf.maybe more than half.three forths..But skeet is a 21yard game.Does having a visual lock on the target part of my problem.Is moving the gun part of a panic reaction ?

 

It's Called Anticipation, On your part, That is bad, I hold a high gun and only move when the target appears.

GB...................................DLS

 

Our club has a very slow puller, his thump is about 1/2 "inch above the button + being hard of hearing, his pulls are extremely slow, When I pull they thank me and say that is the best pulling we have had. When he hears the call he also moves his hand and that adds even more slowness to the pulls.

GB................................................DLS

 

I know what the problem is ,I can't seem to find a cure.It is mostly 16 yard targets.
I shot a release trigger just because of 16 yard targets I dont flinch on handicap targets..I have been invited many times to shoot the live birds at the field trials and have no problem shooting any of the events .over dogs or from a blind.Maybe it has something to do with a mounted gun.very frustraiting..some days I can shoot 95 ,some days it is 85.
It is a good thing that the ATA gives reductions to us 75 year old shooters.Senior Vet is a tough class because of all the experienced shooters.The only thing we old shooters can look forward to it the last pages in Trap and
Field in completed career.We sure will not make the cover.

 

There is always a chance you may not be seeing the target (eye check ) and you start looking thinking its supposed to be there someplace because you called for it,especially from handicap ... If you "Google" moving the gun before seeing the target there are some interesting theories on the possible reasons why so you can take your pick and go from there ... I am usually pretty good about not moving the gun unless for some reason I feel pressured into breaking a target like in a shoot off maybe ... It cost me a gun at one shoot because I wanted to watch the target break and because of that it didn't ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

When I get "antsy" one of the things I like to do is to put a shell in the chamber, close my eyes, mount the gun, call pull and then open my eyes, look for the bird and shoot it. It helps me get over the panic feeling of not being able to find the bird before it hits the ground. It slows me down and reassures me that the shot is moving fast enough to get the bird no matter how "slow" I think I may be at the time. I used to shoot an entire box like that but now I can get away with a station or two so I go back to SEE the bird first, move to the bird next, shoot the bird and sometimes finally say bad words.

 

You have a PM.