Definite Sporting Clays Ramblings

    As I think about shooting sporting clays, I gain an appreciation of how difficult it is to write about experiences that will interest other readers and be different from the other materials available on the Internet.  I believe writers call it "brain freeze".  I admit I don't have much of a brain to be affected by this famous phenomenon, but some questions have repeatedly concerned me as I continue to shoot.

• Am I writing this post to give advice to other shooters?
• Is my goal to try to become a tournament sporting clays shooter?
• Am I ever going to be (or want to be) an expert shooter by getting professional instruction?

• How much of this game is physical, and how much is mental?

    The first three are easy to answer.  No, not at the present time, but the answer could change.  The last question has been debated endlessly in any sport or activity and the Internet is loaded with wonderful personal accounts of the writer's perceived bias.
    Let's face it.  Some shooters have more natural ability than other shooters!  I was told once that great athletes make great coaches.  I think great coaches have the ability to channel the athletic ability of their available players to make the team successful. This thinking leads me to one goal for me.  I must use effectively what abilities I have and not become confused or frustrated with all the "gibber-jab" I hear about or read about from others.
    So, here are some mistakes I have made that affected me when trying to become a more effective shooter. These are not intended to be advice, but just my personal experiences.

1. More shot shell power doesn't relate to breaking more targets; usually the opposite is true to a point, of course.  Reloading my own shells has helped.
2. More expensive (better?) guns shoot better because of more consistent functionality and my perceived confidence in them. Poofs and misfires do affect me.
3. Consistency in breaking targets has resulted from using the same choke tubes in which I have confidence.
4. Shooting with friends is less stressful and more fun than shooting with strangers.
5. Shooting a course with the idea of "beating some one's pants off", or getting even doesn't work.
6. Shooting with one eye shut doesn't work for me.
7. Pointing my lead foot too close to, or too far away from where I can break the target affects my score.
8. Trying to calculate the proper lead on a crossing or falling target makes me stop the gun and miss the target.
9. The ability to concentrate on a particular day does affect my score. (Maybe some of that "psycho-babble" is true.)  Rushing home to see my favorite football team play is a culprit.
10. I cannot "spot shoot" unless forced to so by the target presentation.
11. Shooting a different gun or a different gauge of gun keeps me from getting bored and creates a personal challenge.
12. Shooting in too large a squad or too small a squad affects my score.

    These are just a few of my thoughts, and I'm sure you've had similar experiences.  Have I missed some big experiences you notice?  Please let me know of some of your preferences or observations that may be different from mine.

    I can't close without a promised complaint.  Why do some courses feel the necessity of making the course so difficult?  Most shooters come to break targets, not to be challenged to a point of frustration.  "How do you ever get better unless you shoot at very difficult or nearly impossible targets?", you ask.  Not every shooter desires becoming a tournament or professional shooter.  It reminds me of going pheasant hunting as a young boy with members of my family.  We didn't care how many pheasants we saw or got, it was the fun and fellowship we shared that was important.  I would hope that the people who own and set up the courses are trying to get shooters to come back again, not drive them away.  I do appreciate some locations that provide differing levels of challenges for different shooters.
   Sorry to ramble on so much.  Come back and keep shooting.