TRAP & FIELD

TRAP & FIELD – 2021 August How do we build resilience into our mental strategy? There will always be blocks to our shooting and we need to build strategies to deal with change and setbacks. Bob Palmer throws out ideas on how to do this. Change is a constant part of our lives, especially with beginning shooters and we need to embrace it and to thrive in the face of it. Revisit past triumphs in your mind to remember the “in the Zone” feel. Keep positive and believe the future will be bright with success. When things go south, use self-talk to pump yourself up and stay on track. Think like a top shooter and step into their shoes. Watch videos of them on YouTube. Imagine yourself in a difficult situation and visualize yourself making it through it successfully. Are there situations that sent you into a spiral downward? If so, think how you could have avoided the situation and follow your own advice in the future. Ask for coaching help to get you through downward spirals or how to avoid them. Remember, failure is part of learning and learning how to avoid the bad patches is part of growing your mental game. Ian Darroch speaks on the little things that help his game. Ian likes to hold the gun tightly. This is counter to the advice given for golf and tennis where you hold the club or racket lightly until the moment of impact. Personally I like a relaxed hold on the gun. This avoids tension in the back, arms, and hands. Keeping the gun still before calling for the shot is part of the Quiet Eye technique and Ian believes this is imperative to seeing the target correctly. Weather is something all clay target shooters are aware of if they want to be successful. What direction is the wind? Is it gusting or constant? Is there cloud cover or is it spotty? Is the traphouse centered or are the targets coming out with a bias to the right or left? Is the background affecting how you see the targets? Are they high or low? A shooter must be aware of the physical conditions affecting the target and Ian wants us to recognize this. Finally, be prepared when you go to a shoot. Have all your shooting gear ready and be prepared for any changes you might need to make. Have your squadding in order the night before and get to the trap a squad or two ahead of time. Feeling rushed is not a good way to prepare for a shoot! Like Bob Palmer says, get there at least 20 minutes ahead of time to prepare mentally.