Clay Pigeon Tips

Skeet shooting is a popular activity internationally, both as practice for actual hunting situations and as a sport in its own right. Although skeet shooting may be as simple as “point and shoot” for some, you may want to get more serious about improving your skills if you ever find yourself in a competitive clay pigeon shooting environment. While practice is the key to improving in skeet shooting as it is in any sport, there are also certain tips that you can keep in mind to help take your game to the next level.

  1. Colored Eye Protection

    • You should always wear proper eye protection whenever you go shooting. To improve your chance of hitting the target, try colored lenses instead of clear ones. If the clay pigeons that you shoot at are orange, use light blue or yellow lenses on your protective glasses to enhance the color of the clay pigeons.

    Breathing

    • When you are lining yourself up to take a shot, you want the movement of your body to be as controlled as possible. Breathing can cause slight movements in your upper body, resulting in a missed shot. Take a deep breath, line up your shot, squeeze the trigger then exhale. Remind yourself to resume breathing normally after the shot so your blood remains properly oxygenated.

    Using Your Mind's Eye

    • Observe the flight path of the clay pigeon carefully. Get to know where you see it as a blur and where you see it most clearly. Determine these two points and estimate the point at which you will make the killing shot. When the clay pigeon is released, sweep the gun from your starting position to where you know you will be able to see the target clearly, then make the shot.

    Position Your Body Correctly

    • Stand with your feet firmly planted a short distance apart. Make sure that you are well-balanced and that the recoil from your shotgun does not cause your body to wobble. When you move the gun to set up your shot, swivel your entire upper body, not just your arms and shoulders. As you turn, maintain a balanced stance.