Skeet Shooting Basics

1. The proper stance. Whether left or right handed, standing correctly on the shooting station is where it all begins. The "non-shooting foot" or "off foot" (Left foot for RH shooters and Right foot for LH shooters) should be pointed toward the area where you want to break the target. Generally, this would be at or right before the target crossing point. The front leg should be slightly bent at the knee and your weight should be balanced on both feet. You must be able to swing at the hips; rolling your body as you you move the gun across the field will result in you not being able to move as the target moves.

2. Lining up the bead(s). Your eye is the rear sight when shooting a shotgun. After you're in the proper stance, mount and point your gun towards the place where you want to break the target. After you have lined up your eye and the bead(s), swing towards the trap house to your starting point.

3. The starting point. After step 2, you should now be looking beyond the end of your barrel at the starting point. This should be 10-18' outside the trap house window. Your gun muzzle should be pointed at a place that is below the lower edge of the window (this allows you to get a good, unobstructed view of the target as it appears). You should now be looking at the window and not your front bead.

4. Call for your target, swing and lead it, and most importantly: FOCUS ON THE TARGET! When you see a fuzzy bead in front of a clear target you need to shoot, follow through with the swing, and watch the target break! Note: the follow through is the result of a proper swing.

Now work on these fundamentals and adjust to suit yourself. All of the professional instruction in the world won't help if you don't do the basic fundamentals.