Witch Doctors, sorry Which Doctors..

[Hamster]

Your still trying to quantify the X factor!!!

Where do you get this "2 birds" from? You may only be talking "2 birds" when you are playing safe, staying local, no pressure, big fish/little pond, not got a 4+ hour drive before you shoot, not knowing that you HAVE to be no more than 3 behind HG at a shoot you've never been to before, let alone shot at, to make the team, not got a burning passion to win so strong it hurts, not going into the last 25 of a FITASC knowing you need to straight it just to make the shoot off, not in that shoot off you just shot 25 straight on the last course to get into with a crowd of strangers and people you know, standing watching, some willing you to win, some willing you to fail.......put yourself in that moment and then tell me you wouldn't want to be as mentally prepared as you are technically prepared!?!? I know I would.........

Apart from Greenfields I don't have a local shoot, Abbey is next closest at 40 minutes, Southdown is 2 hours each way, Horne is 1 hr 25 mins, Caterham a touch closer blah blah. Not sure why this is important anyway, true I've never had to (or been able to have the circumstances) shoot a 25 on the world stage to stay in the game etc, but my small world still has it's challenges. It took me years to learn how to win the odd one in a small pond, I have the arrogance to know I'd have worked a way round the big'uns too, nobody has the monopoly on mind games you know. The ones doing the winning now didn't all have mental tuition, some don't need it.

Incidentally GD has just won a world event with a 199/200 , he won the Jack Pyke missing a single rabbit, won the British with 117/120 a couple of years ago, so not sure why his 97/98's at Horne are so poopooed !? Small ponds are open to everybody, plenty good guys don't always win those so you're wrong if you think they're piss easy. My 2 bird examples are not far off the mark, anymore than that then it would definitely have been technique/know how at fault.

 

[GlenPresley]

Your still trying to quantify the X factor!!!

Where do you get this "2 birds" from? You may only be talking "2 birds" when you are playing safe, staying local, no pressure, big fish/little pond, not got a 4+ hour drive before you shoot, not knowing that you HAVE to be no more than 3 behind HG at a shoot you've never been to before, let alone shot at, to make the team, not got a burning passion to win so strong it hurts, not going into the last 25 of a FITASC knowing you need to straight it just to make the shoot off, not in that shoot off you just shot 25 straight on the last course to get into with a crowd of strangers and people you know, standing watching, some willing you to win, some willing you to fail.......put yourself in that moment and then tell me you wouldn't want to be as mentally prepared as you are technically prepared!?!? I know I would.........

At last someone who knows what the Fooooook they are talking about!

 

[Hamster]

It was Smoker Smith RIP, who said local shoots can be fiercely hard to win as there are plenty of good local boys in their comfort zone . Things are changing but until a short while ago the hardest Sporting shoots to win were the domestics in my opinion as the talent/skill level you can squeeze into a 4 day British over here was/is? higher than some world events that many good guys can't or won't attend for various reasons.

 

[GlenPresley]

It was Smoker Smith RIP, who said local shoots can be fiercely hard to win as there are plenty of good local boys in their comfort zone . Things are changing but until a short while ago the hardest Sporting shoots to win were the domestics in my opinion as the talent/skill level you can squeeze into a 4 day British over here was/is? higher than some world events that many good guys can't or won't attend for various reasons.

True that some can't attend but you still have to do it and there is a bloody big difference in standing on the the first peg of a world stage or european stage or standing on the first peg of your local 100 birder and calling pull!!!

Add the pressure of wearing the GB/England or another country's vest and believe me you need big mental strength. No matter what discipline, to do something big in it, you need mental strength. You gain that from experience and getting in those shoot off positions and learning from it and being as comfortable as you can.

We all get nervous even the top shots do at certain times it just does not show as they know how to channel that into their shooting.

 

[psych4shooting]

I have been happy to watch this post from afar, the key is that Sports Psychology in many cases is common sense, but it is knowing when to use and how to use it. For some people their Everest is getting a straighting 25/75 at DTL, to another it is a County Badge, to another it is World Champion - everyone experiences the challenges and the mental pressure and actually the pressure is no different whatever your level, based on you as an individual. What I enjoy most about my profession is helping people of all levels - I have worked in many sports and at all levels, from 1-2-1 work with All Blacks to 1-2-1 work with an aspiring clay shooting beginner - the key for everyone is an attainment of a goal. I challenge any clay shooter to say that their goal is to get worse!!! It is that that shows that mental strength is needed in all areas.

I agree that experience counts for a large part, but also you can short cut some of that experience too by the use of mental training, specific techniques and working 1-2-1 with a professional. I remember a heated debate some years ago that I had with a larger than life England bowler of West Indian descent - sports psychology is all common sense and I agreed with him - but for him he had inner strength and drive and was happy in himself - but after a serious knee injury he mastered visualisation to aid his recovery (he was introduced to visualisation by yours truly - it was then that he had the need).

Don`t dismiss the relevance of sports science in today`s sporting environment, it is a tool that has huge positive impact for you as a clay shooter - as Ed mentioned , it is probably more powerful than chokes, barrel length and new gun boosts!! In my eyes yes the technical elements of technology help - but they are more through mental confidence as much as a the technology itself.

It is not for everyone, but those that use it see a difference in their shooting - most people fail because they do not stick to what they are doing, look to change and forget to put in the hard graft needed - that graft is a combination of technical, physical and mental work.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

It was Smoker Smith RIP, who said local shoots can be fiercely hard to win as there are plenty of good local boys in their comfort zone . Things are changing but until a short while ago the hardest Sporting shoots to win were the domestics in my opinion as the talent/skill level you can squeeze into a 4 day British over here was/is? higher than some world events that many good guys can't or won't attend for various reasons.

John said many things most of which I could not put on here for fear of offending the precious amongst us. he was a dear friend and team mate.

However for those that do not know......a World or European Championship in any discipline has many many people and is usually shot over 4 days......and I can guarantee you that the best of the best are there, whether sponsored or not.

Until fairly recently 'sporting' was not realy shot on the real world stage apart from the brilliant annual World sporting competition between USA and UK with a few other countries thrown in. Then the ICTSF set up a 'World Championship' thanks to the 'chippy' and few countries turned up. The less said about the ICTSF the better.....

For real sporting with serious shooters from many countries who are there you have to go to FITASC Sporting.......that sorts the men from the boys!! As for affording it.....you want to see just who turns up who can shoot........loads of good shots that are not sponsored because they do not shoot enough at home to catch the sponsors eye........but they save for the 'big' events of the calendar........and go......and hope to win......so they can get recognised for their skill......support then comes 'to' them....!!!!

Other disciplines will have several parts to a major international championship with build up shoots taking place the week before. Some shooters shoot several trap disciplines and this year especially has needed them to go from one major to another major in a different discipline the following week without coming home. (eg the Olympic quota shoots in Chile, then. Sydney, then China where some of our shots were away for ages. Then there was the UT Europeans at Lonato followed by either ZZ at Rome or Olympic disciplines at the Green Cup (near Rome) both directly the following week....meaning shooters split to go to different events after the first event).

So what I am very politely saying is that if the will is there.....the shooter will be there!!!.....and if the shooter is 'that' good.....he will not be 'unsponsored' for long!

But life is tough at the real top (wink).

 

[Hamster]

Well never mind, I'm not even at the make believe top :wink: :.: . The will is not there for me that's the whole point, 25 years ago I may well have made it, were it not for a severe lack of funds or parents that would have thrown money at a hobby. I honestly don't believe I would have pushed for it even then as there just wasn't enough money in the game. If I had my time again and I could choose, it'd be summat like horse racing or cars I'd get into, defo not shooting.

I love the new same shoot pingers term you've invented Nicola by the way. This year I've so far shot 800 Reg Sporting targets at 5 different grounds, noticed you'd managed only 200.............at the same ground. I know I'm never even on your radar and that it wasn't meant for me but just couldn't resist it.

 

[Fuzrat]

Only 800 at 5 grounds Hammy, you must get out more 4400 at 18 different grounds for me

 

[Will Hewland]

18 grounds is a big effort. I usually make 12 or so. Just counted, it's 12.

I do actually think that to get any grade you should have to shoot at least three different venues before it is valid for CPSA average..

 

[Hamster]

18 grounds is a big effort. I usually make 12 or so. Might be a few less this period. 10?

I do actually think that to get any grade you should have to shoot at least three different venues before it is valid for CPSA average..

You lucky people, 3/4 of my potential catchment area is full of boats. :.:

 

[Fuzrat]

You lucky people, 3/4 of my potential catchment area is full of boats. :.:

Gonna need a bigger gun fella!

 

[psych4shooting]

The greatest thing in all of this is that every single shooter on this thread and probably on this Forum enjoys their shooting be that 200 targets of 10,000 targets in the year - that is the main thing enjoyment and reaching goals whatever the goal is...

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Well never mind, I'm not even at the make believe top :wink: <img src='http://www.shootclayforum.com/public/style_emoticons/default/laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':.:' /> . The will is not there for me that's the whole point, 25 years ago I may well have made it, were it not for a severe lack of funds or parents that would have thrown money at a hobby. I honestly don't believe I would have pushed for it even then as there just wasn't enough money in the game. If I had my time again and I could choose, it'd be summat like horse racing or cars I'd get into, defo not shooting.

I love the new same shoot pingers term you've invented Nicola by the way. This year I've so far shot 800 Reg Sporting targets at 5 different grounds, noticed you'd managed only 200.............at the same ground. I know I'm never even on your radar and that it wasn't meant for me but just couldn't resist it.

I do not write posts for you silly billy thought I have mad this clear before. I might use a quote if it has something to do with what my reply is.

I write my responses for anyone to read.

Pinging is a very old term for shooting.

I do not give a rats ass for how much or little you shoot.....I do not know you and as I have said before you are not on my radar.

You will rarely find scores for me on Cpsa because my discipline is not recorded there.....I only ping at sporting or UT for fun.....(in any country)......

But seeing as you asked.....I mostly shoot abroad in various countries championships only because that is where my discpline is played.....it is nothing in the UK.....lucky if 30 turn up!!! and I am to be found on a fairly regular basis shooting 6 rounds of OT for practice at Owls on a Tuesday and Thursday, (it is ok in order to keep quick reflexes) plus ZZ practice in the uk when I can get it.

Don't you worry about my quantity of pulling the trigger honey....rest assured it is pulling every week for at least 3 days come rain or shine. However when I used to shoot FITASC sporting my scores what ever they were (and they were only middle of the road) would be found on Cpsa for grounds all over the country.....that is how i managed to get on the England team.....selection shots can be anywhere)

Anyway of to airport soon so I will sign off. 18 days of competitions in Madrid and other parts of Spain , two World Cup Finals has left me knackered and this time no great results.......but fantastic fun ....and learnt a lot.....even though I have been at it for years.

Happily 'him indoors' has had great results.....hope the trophies survive the baggage handlers!!

Toddles ......

 

[GlenPresley]

I do not write posts for you silly billy thought I have mad this clear before. I might use a quote if it has something to do with what my reply is.

I write my responses for anyone to read.

Pinging is a very old term for shooting.

I do not give a rats ass for how much or little you shoot.....I do not know you and as I have said before you are not on my radar.

You will rarely find scores for me on Cpsa because my discipline is not recorded there.....I only ping at sporting or UT for fun.....(in any country)......

But seeing as you asked.....I mostly shoot abroad in various countries championships only because that is where my discpline is played.....it is nothing in the UK.....lucky if 30 turn up!!! and I am to be found on a fairly regular basis shooting 6 rounds of OT for practice at Owls on a Tuesday and Thursday, (it is ok in order to keep quick reflexes) plus ZZ practice in the uk when I can get it.

Don't you worry about my quantity of pulling the trigger honey....rest assured it is pulling every week for at least 3 days come rain or shine. However when I used to shoot FITASC sporting my scores what ever they were (and they were only middle of the road) would be found on Cpsa for grounds all over the country.....that is how i managed to get on the England team.....selection shots can be anywhere)

Anyway of to airport soon so I will sign off. 18 days of competitions in Madrid and other parts of Spain , two World Cup Finals has left me knackered and this time no great results.......but fantastic fun ....and learnt a lot.....even though I have been at it for years.

Happily 'him indoors' has had great results.....hope the trophies survive the baggage handlers!!

Toddles ......

How the other half live ay!!! :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[psych4shooting]

Happy to close off this Forum post, it slightly skewed off piste along the way, but was a very interesting debate all the same..