Coaching Corner
The Deliberate Practice (DP) approach is a structured and focused method used to improve specific skills in Sporting Clays, under the guidance of a qualified coach. It emphasizes activities that are not necessarily enjoyable but are critical for developing specific components of a skill. Central to this approach is the belief that expertise is achieved primarily through targeted practice (the "10,000-hour rule"), rather than innate talent or broader experiences.
Deliberate Practice Procedures (DPP) are detailed strategies that include structured activities, clear goal-setting, immediate and clear feedback, and repetitive drills. Our coaching and training methodology leverages DPP for each of the 42 lessons listed in the Coaching Course List section. These procedures are designed to isolate skills, provide actionable feedback, and progressively challenge the learner, ultimately aiming for continuous improvement and the avoidance of bad habits.
1. Introduction to Deliberate Practice (DP)
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Definition: Practice assigned by a coach, focused on improving a specific skill.
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Characteristics: Not inherently enjoyable, aimed at skill improvement rather than performance.
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Examples: Hold & View Point Optimization, Muzzle-Target Synchronization.
2. Assumptions of the DP Framework
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Performance is directly related to the amount of DP.
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Expertise depends on time invested in DP, not just experience or innate talent.
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The "10,000-hour rule": Indicates the scale of practice needed for expertise, though it is not a strict measure and there are ways of accelerating learning.
3. Deliberate Practice Procedure (DPP) Characteristics
(a) DP1: Structured Activity
(i) Activities are specifically designed to isolate and practice subtasks.
(ii) Includes clear instructions and possibly a step-by-step walkthrough.
(b) DP2: Goal Oriented
(i) The ultimate goal is self-improvement.
(ii) Practice involves pushing the limits of performance.
(c) DP3: Clear Feedback
(i) Immediate and informative feedback.
(ii) Feedback aids in correction and understanding of performances.
(d) DP4: Repetition
(i) Involves repetitive drills to enforce skills.
(ii) Requires high volumes of practice, not just intensity.
1. Head, Body Position and Balance Throughout the Shot ("The Digweed Rules”)
2. Ney Eye Exercises and Managing Visual Confusion
3. Seeing Around and Beneath the Barrel
4. How to Look at a Target Like an Olympian and World Champion
5. Quiet Eye Understanding and How to Apply it to Sporting Clays
6. Target Assessment and Shot Planning: Before You Step in the Cage
7. Pre-Shot Routine
8. Post-Shot Routine
9. Target and Station Visualization Exercises
10. True Barrel Position Shots & How to Better Deal with Incomers
11. One Eye Trains Two - ("The Ney Eye Rule")
12. There Are No Trees & The Spring is King ("The Chuck Frazier Rule")
13. Hold Point Management - Lasering Your Plan
14. Pull-Away (PA) vs. Touch-Feel-Space (TFS)
15. Sustained Leads vs. TFS/PA and When to Use Them
16. Swing Through Targets (Quartering and Stalling)
17. Bruce Ney’s “The Move” - Compound & Combination Approaches to Lead Generation
18. Various Mount Types and When to Use Them
19. Dynamic Mounting - Shrug Mount - Timed to Win (TTW) Mount
20. FITASC M&Ms (Movement & Mounting) Goodies
21. Smooth and Synchronous on Every Shot (Be Kind to Your Mind)
22. Understanding Lead and Forward Allowance & An Introduction to the
ShotgunFACTS “SF Kit” - Know How, When and Where to Use It.
23. Shutter-Worthy, Kodak Training Stations and Dry Fire Rounds
24. Staying Below the Target Line: Curing your “Visual Flinch”
25. Two Eyes vs. One Eyed Shooting: Learn to Shade
26. Individualized Constrained Based Training (CBT) Program
27. Personalized and Adapted Breathing Program
28. Where and What to Shoot
29. Working with a Patterning Board in Sporting Clays
30. Recoil Management, Shell Selection and Compensated Stocks
31. Chokes and How to Select Them
32. Home Exercises to Improve Movement, Strength and Mount Consistency
33. Applied Positive Psychology (APP) - Lanny Bassham and Other Approaches
34. Individualized Short-Term and Long-Term Goal Setting
35. Tournament Prep, Play, Attitudes and Approaches
36. How to Find Shooting Partners
37. Walking vs. Using a Golf Cart (aka "Learn to Love Your Back")
38. Gun and Equipment Review: What's Best for You
39. The Physiology and Anatomy of Shooting: How to Leverage Your Nature
40. Eyewear and Hearing Protection Review
41. Prescription Glasses vs. Contact Lenses vs. Scleral Lenses: What's Best for You
42. Shooting with Friends vs. Training vs. Hunting
Detailed Analysis and Forward Allowance Gaps for Various Shell Speeds
Introduction
This section provides an in-depth analysis of shot shell ballistics, focusing on forward allowance gaps at different distances and speeds. The analysis is based on data from various studies and manufacturers, aiming to clarify the methodology and assumptions used to generate the forward allowance chart.
Data Sources and Assumptions
The data used in this analysis comes from over 100 years of ballistic studies conducted primarily in the UK and confirmed by manufacturers such as Winchester and Remington in the United States. While there are some variances due to shell differences and environmental factors, these effects are relatively small and are not included in the forward allowance tables.
Shot Speed Analysis
Shot Speed Values
The shot speed values at various distances from the muzzle are critical for understanding the forward allowance. The following table shows the shot speeds for four different initial shell speeds (1200 fps, 1240 fps, 1295 fps, and 1330 fps).
Deceleration and Flight Time
Shot Speed Deceleration
Faster shells experience greater air resistance, causing their speeds to drop more rapidly over distance. By 60 yards, the speed differences among the shells are minimal, as shown in the chart below.
Figure 1: Percentage Shot Speed Differences at Various Yardages
Flight Time Calculations
The flight time of the shot is calculated based on the distance traveled and the terminal shot speed. The following table provides the shot time intervals for different shell speeds.
Forward Allowance Calculations
The forward allowance is the distance one must lead a moving target to hit it with the center of the shot pattern. Below are tables showing the forward allowances for various target speeds and distances.
Forward Allowances at Different Distances
Practical Implications
While the forward allowance differences between faster and slower shells are minimal, they can still influence shooting performance. The faster shells might offer a psychological advantage by boosting confidence.
The forward allowance reference is particularly useful as a training tool, helping shooters visualize the necessary gaps to aim for. This method supports various shooting techniques and improves overall accuracy.
This analysis of shot shell ballistics and forward allowances provides essential insights for shooters looking to improve their accuracy. By understanding the minimal differences in forward allowances across different shell speeds and using the forward allowance reference as a training tool, shooters can develop better techniques and enhance their overall performance.
One Step Further...
ShotgunFACTS (SF) is now offering individualized SF Field Kits that are customized for the individual shooter. Just like no two mounts nor stocks and gun set-ups are identical, how we each perceive lead is also specific to us as individuals.
Using our established databases, specific physical and physiologic measurements from an individual shooter, we can now offer custom SF Field Kits that will provide you with precise ballistics based forward allowance measures for all targets from 10 to 70 yards away and from 10 to 60 MPH (SF Field Kits also available in metric measures).
Our proprietary SF Field Kits provide you with information about forward allowance in terms of feet at the target, inches at the end of the barrel, inches at arm's length along with recommended visual and muzzle hold points for various target types, along with goals for Quiet Eye (QE) visual engagement with targets of different speeds.
Please contact us at support@shotgunfacts.com for more information.
Quiet Eye (QE) Applied to Sporting Clays
In shotgun shooting, the quiet eye (QE) interval varies among individuals based on their skill level, and both research and top-competitive experience demonstrates that elite shooters generally leverage a longer QE duration time when compared to their less-experienced counterparts. The QE duration time (or "QE interval") is the final fixation or gaze on the target before the shot, lasting at least 100 milliseconds, and lasting longer in successful shots compared to unsuccessful ones.
This prolonged and stable focus helps shooters execute more accurate and consistent shots due to improved visual tracking and target prediction. For more detailed information on the QE interval in shotgun shooting, please review studies by researchers such as Causer and colleagues in: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
The 2010 paper "Quiet Eye Duration and Gun Motion in Elite Shotgun Shooting" investigates the visual search behaviors and gun barrel kinematics of elite and sub-elite shotgun shooters across three disciplines: skeet, trap, and double trap.
Here’s a summary of the key findings and conclusions for:
Causer, Joe, Simon J. Bennett, Paul S. Holmes, Christopher M. Janelle, and A. Mark Williams. 2010. "Quiet Eye Duration and Gun Motion in Elite Shotgun Shooting." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 42, no. 8: 1599-1608. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181d1b059
Participants and Methods:
Participants: 48 shotgun shooters, divided into elite and sub-elite groups for each discipline.
Measurements: The study tracked the shooters' gaze and gun barrel movements to measure quiet eye (QE) duration, QE onset, and various kinematic variables.
Key Results:
1. Quiet Eye (QE) Duration and Onset:
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Elite shooters demonstrated both an earlier QE onset and longer QE durations across all disciplines compared to sub-elite shooters.
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Longer QE durations were associated with successful shots in both elite and sub-elite groups.
2. Gun Barrel Kinematics:
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Elite shooters generally showed more stable gun motion with lower peak velocities and shorter times from peak velocity to shot compared to sub-elite shooters.
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In skeet, elites had lower horizontal displacement of the gun, indicating more efficient movement.
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In trap and double trap, shorter total movement times and more efficient shot timings were observed among elite shooters.
Conclusions:
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Performance and QE: The findings underscore the importance of stable gun motion and extended QE durations as critical factors for successful performance in shotgun shooting. QE likely provides a cognitive benefit by allowing shooters more time to process visual information crucial for intercepting moving targets.
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Skill Differences: Differences in QE duration and gun motion between elite and sub-elite shooters suggest that these metrics are indicative of skill level and could be targeted in training to improve performance.
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Task-Specific Strategies: The study highlights how elite shooters adapt their strategies based on the specific demands of each shotgun shooting discipline to maximize their chances of success.
Overall, the research contributes to a better understanding of the perceptual and motor skills that distinguish elite shotgun shooters from their less experienced counterparts, emphasizing the role of visual control in highly dynamic and time-constrained sports.
Our ShotgunFACTS Field Kit ("SF Field Kit") Provides a shooter with specific goal oriented QE intervals for sub-Elite shooters (100 millisecond QE times) and Elite shooters (300 millisecond Quiet Eye times) as well as visual hold points for multiple target types based on physiologic visual stimuli response times for individual shooters.
Please contact us at support@shotgunfacts.com for more information.
