As a joe blogs average sporting shooter i know that lessons from a top coach would improve my abilities, however!!! Approaching a coach and instigating the process causes anxiety due to their level and achievements. Probably a man thing? Am I on my own.
Hi Simon,
Like you, I'm a 'Joe Bloggs' shooter who's just trying to improve - I have goals in shooting, but these are conservative and, realistically, I don't expect to be winning any event's High Gun any time soon. That's just where I am with my shooting. I've only just reached a stage where I'm consistently batting mid-60s in reg comps, but it wasn't all that long ago I was batting in the late 20s-early 30s ex 100.
So the realisation was: do I just keep turning up for both reg comp's and practice days and fling lead down a range, and just
hope to improve, or do I do something about it and seek the advice of someone who has probably forgotten more about shooting clays than I'll ever know? Someone with the pedigree of winning major events and with whom I'd progress?
There is, frankly, only one answer to these two questions: I needed a coach if I was to improve.
Don't be intimidated or "anxious due to their level and achievements" - remember, like the rest of us, they had to start somewhere, too. Grasp the nettle and get yourself a coach - it's amazing the progress you'll have made after only one half-day session.
And remember, coaching is like any other endeavour: you can't expect to speak fluent French or drive a car safely after only one lesson; take a series of lessons and you'll watch yourself improve.
As to which coach you should use, my only advice is take soundings from other shooters whom you respect; those who've used a named coach and can tell you about how they've made progress. I chose my coach on that basis and have seen my scores improve. I'm confident yours can too with the right coach.
Good luck.
