What to Expect on Your First Clay Shoot
So, you’ve decided to give clay shooting a go – great! But you’re not sure what to expect. Well, here is a brief guide on what to expect at your first clay shoot with Clay Shooting Deal.
Introduction & Safety
Once you’ve met the coach expect to be taken to the clubhouse for an information and safety talk. Clay shooting is a great sport but handling a firearm incorrectly can have serious consequences so this is an important element to keep you, the coach and everyone at the facility safe. Plus, it will help you feel more comfortable handling a gun if you have any concerns.
Fitting a Gun
Just like shoes, it’s not one-size-fits-all when it comes to guns. Many factors including height, build and strength go into selecting a gun that is the right fit for you. Your coach will make an assessment and will offer a gun or two for you to try – once you’ve found one that feels right it’s time to get going!
The coach will also do an eye dominance test with you. Most people will have a dominant eye, the way you see a target will differ depending on whether you are left or right eye dominant so an eye dominance test will determine what you will need to do when shooting to counteract your eye dominance. You may need to close one eye, make sure you remember to shut that eye when you shoot as this will affect your accuracy for hitting the target… just remember to keep the other eye open!
Learning the Target
Once you’re comfortable with your gun, the safety elements and your coach has identified your dominant eye, you will head over to the range.
The coach will explain to you where the targets will come from and what you should do – this will include a recap of how to mount and handle the gun plus and explanation of what to do to hit the target. This may seem obvious at first, but to counteract the fact that the clay is still travelling when you fire the gun, you will need to pull ahead of the target. Once fired you will need to continue your swing even after firing at the target, hopefully as it breaks! Both elements will help you break targets.
Once you understand what to do when shooting at the target, the coach will show you where the clay’s come from by releasing one or two for you to see at each stand.
The coach will ask you to follow the clay target with your arm and pointed finger and then with the gun a few times to help you identify what it will look like when in action.
This will help you to learn the target.
On to the Shooting
Once you feel confident and the coach is happy that you understand the principle of moving in front of the target and continuing to pull ahead and keep the gun moving, the coach will deem you ready to shoot your first target.
The coach will assist you in loading and mounting the gun and will invite you to say ‘pull’ when you are ready for the target to be released. When you are ready, give the ‘pull’ command and follow the target the same as you did with your arm, pull in front, squeeze the trigger, BANG! Hopefully you remembered to keep swinging and, with any luck, hit your first target. Don’t worry if you missed it, the coach will give you advice on what to do to get closer to the target next time.
With the coach’s assistance you will continue to shoot some targets. Once you are both happy with how it is going at one stand you may move to an alternative stand to try shooting from a different angle.
Do ask questions throughout the session, it is important to understand everything that is explained, and the coach will be happy to explain any part of the sport or session that you have questions about.
End of the Session
At the end of the session the coach will give you a debrief with a short recap and some tips for next time and answer any questions you may have.
You can also book in for another session at this time.