Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
TRAP SHOOTING NOv|CEs
MUST AVOID BAD HABITS
Details Overlooked in Education
Will Prove Serious Handi.
cap Later.
MUST WATCH SMALL POINTS
Proper Position and Little Pointers
Are Given by ENpert-How to Aim
by Looking Where Shot Ought
to Go.

Habits. unless they are good ones.
to trapshoo,iug. and very often IL little
detail overlooked at tho start OF q
'ovicc's education will prove very
serious handicap later on in the sport.
For instance, the proper position at
the score"-which. by the way, is the
term tina; describes the mark at which
The shooter stands when shooting at
the target-may seem a mere detail. 1t
is But II is a FAR more important
detail than the average beginner re-
allies. 1t must lie an easy and natural
position. II it is at all "stilted" or
crampcd i; is only logical that ones
SHOOTING ability will certainly be han
dlcappcd.
Watch the expert shooter as he
stands at the score. Note the perfectly
natural position he assumes. There is
nothing TO hinder or hamper his work.
Ills attitude is not strained or awk-
ward. Ills body is poised to swing
easily from his hips lie is ready to
moot any target that is thrown and
his gun swings free and clear under
every condition. Unconsciously his
very attitude allows for every pos
sihlc facility OF motion. And right
Watch tho expert. Try and copy his
attitude Start right and then there
Will I've no cause for regret in after
shoots
ones position at the score. OF course,
depends upon the Notwithstanding
II" is a right or left handed shooter.
ON the whole. however. perhaps this
hint may not he amiss. In taking
position al the score lean slightly for
ward. placing the left foot little in
advance Of the right one. and letting
the body rest chiefly upon the left leg
shock OF the rccoii The left hand
should he placed well out on the bar
70! cf the gun. but not so far extended
IS To- make the arm straight and stiff
r. the right hand gripping the gun firm
" 1T the grip" or course. this APP
but can readily he reversed in the event
Of shooter who is a "southpaw."
Now as to The matter OF how the
personal choice, still practically every
expert brings his gun to his shoulder
n@ r1tSS rSt wnfher the
nland. After this some drop the butt
% the gun slightly, replacing il to their
shoulder when they catch sight of the
target. Others keep their gun TO their
shoulders and lift their head slightly
bringing their cheek back to the comb
=
the clay pigeon. others again never
change their first position once they
are arc. sur they they are looking straight
in trapshootinG Will probably fud the
last mentioned position much better for
their adoption than the two former
ones.
Word About Aiming.
And now word about aiming, Don't
eyes open. The hand holding the bar
rel naturally follows the eye and in
stinc,ively points the gun where YOU
Never mind the sight on the end of
NE barrel II YOU stop to hunt for
that the chances are YOU will never
Use the sight TO discover whether the
gun is properly aligned when in the
shooting position before YOU call pull"
ful in clay pigeon shooting. If you
vii remember the axiom, the hand
on the barrel does the pointing, You
viii soon realize that the most import
amt thing 10 do will he to look ut, the
YOU want to put the load of shot and
your arm will soon learn 10 put your
gun in the position which will insure
Your putting the shot Just where you
want III To 20.
1t may seem rather peculiar to tell
be ginner to disregard the sight OH his
VIII soon Justify this instruction.
The skilled billiard player always
i@%Hs The G Object bail II sight He
cut. Ana incidentally Honus Wagner,
the great slueEer, always keeps his
eye on the ball. He simply uses his
bat TO swing with. Christy Mathewson.
If he looked at the hand which held the
hall instead Of keeping his eye fixed
upon the spot where he wishes to put
the ball, would never have earned his
present reputation as "a pitcher. It's
the same with trapShooting. Look
where YOU think the shot ought 10 go
and II YOU have SHugcd everything cor
rectly it's long odds in your favor that
you'll get your target.