Has Sporting Clays Become Too Commercialized?

    As I was reading a book about how churches, clubs, and other groups have resorted to gimmicks and other advertising ploys to attract people, I realized Sporting Clays shooting has followed a similar path.  Does this sport exist for the shooters? Or does it exist for the gun and ammunition manufacturers, or shooting clubs, or sports clothing companies?  I would think that the shooter would be attracted to Sporting Clays for exercise, fellowship, competition, and mental relaxation.  So, what has happened?
    Magazines, computer chat groups and forum sites, and television programs are littered with people telling the shooter that he must shoot a certain gun, use a certain load, stand a certain way, wear certain clothes, and shoot at only certain sites.  What started out as a service to shooters has become a means for the above groups to make money without regard for the shooter.  Is it right to charge a fee to read some one's personal opinions about how to shoot "properly"?  Just as the church should exist for the people, sporting clays should exist for the shooters, not the other way around.

    So, how does a church, a club, or even a shooting sport continue to exist without creatively attracting new members?  Education is the answer.  In the case of Sporting Clays, the shooter must be provided with opportunities to learn how to mature in their shooting abilities and become a more effective shooter.  Let's face it, we might say that just shooting the gun is fun, (especially when we have a bad day) but, in reality, breaking the targets is the real goal we have in mind when we shoot. 

    A club could provide free shooting instructions, sporting guns demonstrations, reloading demonstrations, and shooting stations designed to be attractive to all shooters, not just the "master" shooters. These activities are not gimmicks because they are designed primarily to help the shooter, not some business.  Word of mouth expressed by satisfied, motivated shooters would increase the participants of the sport at local facilities.  Did you ever wonder why so many shooters participate for a short period of time and then quit?  They become frustrated because they feel they can't learn how to compete on their own.

    As a retired teacher and coach, I found one of the most difficult aspects of the learning process was to motivate the students to learn on their own time, not merely taking notes, going home, and then repeating the process daily.  Education increases success; success increases motivation; and motivation increases participation.   

    I hope you understand the meaning of my ramblings.  Do you agree that the basics of sporting clays as a true "sport" are being ignored and harmed by commercialization?

"My goal is to translate response into results. Some teachers teach for others to learn. That's not me. Some teachers teach for others to accomplish. That is me."
- Anonymous