[Nathaniel Firethorn]

http://www.llbean.com/outdoorsOnline/odp/shoot/courses/oneday_clay.html

Has anyone here taken this? Any other good ones along the same lines?

Thanx,
- pdmoderator

[9mmMike]

It would be (and is) cheaper (than the 250.00 Bean gets) to join a local club. Our local club has a free trap clinic every week, all summer, for members.
I would be surprised if LLBean "experts" were better than our local guys & gals.
YMMV,
Mike

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Thanx, Mike. I'm in the process of joining Falls Twp.

- pdmoderator

[JohnRov]

Our guys took a class from a guy from Missouri, I can't recall his name. He came to PA to give the course. They said his knowledge was amazing and all benefitted greatly. There are too many "experts" at clubs for my taste. Being a good shot does not automatically imbue one with the ability to critique and teach.

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

You can get the opposite effect sometimes. Fer instance, I took a weekend class from a Famous Motorcycle Writer once. Turns out he picks out one student in every class as The Scapegoat, and I was it on that trip. He screwed with my head and it screwed up my riding for the rest of the year. :cuss:

I suppose being famous and having a national column also does not automatically imbue one with the ability to teach -- or with good sportsmanship or gentlemanly behavior.

- pdmoderator

[Dave McCracken]

Good training is invaluable. For the basics, I'm not convinced one NEEDS to go to Bean and spend that much. OTOH, a friend that did a flyfishing school with them raves to this day about how much better he does.

Someone mentioned this already, but not every good shot is a good teacher. Pop was a terrific wing shot but he didn't know WHY he was good.

Once past beginner level, a good coach that can focus you or me on a problem area and show us how to overcome it is a Gift beyond all measure.

[9mmMike]

Being a good shot does not automatically imbue one with the ability to critique and teach.

It also does not automatically preclude one from such skills.

Mike

[JohnRov]

It also does not automatically preclude one from such skills.
Mike

Didn't say it did, it obviously works both ways, but lots of guys who are good shooters don't realize that the way they shoot isn't the only way. I've had guys tell me all sorts of things, such as, "You must use a full choke." (for trap). Or you must shoot lefty since you're left-eye dominant." The ability to teach is a completely different skill than the ability to perform the task you're teaching. I coach DII college hockey. Most of the kids I coach are better than I ever was, but by becoming a student of the game, working on my communication, and being flexible, I have been a successful coach. In my opinion, coaching is a seperate skill than just knowing what you are talking about. I've even found that guys who were REALLY good tend to get frustrated and become impatient because things don't come as easily for everyone as it did for them.

[9mmMike]

I have seen the same thing and worse with paid experts.
My point is that, at least to me, the tenor of your post was that local club guys who could shoot were know-it-all-bad-teachers.
I see this generalization all the time and although I know what drives this reaction, it is still annoying.
Nothing personal. I just dislike the perpetuation of myths, intentional or otherwise.
Most likely just my misinterpretation of your post.
Mike

[JohnRov]

I have seen the same thing and worse with paid experts.
My point is that, at least to me, the tenor of your post was that local club guys who could shoot were know-it-all-bad-teachers.
I see this generalization all the time and although I know what drives this reaction, it is still annoying.
Nothing personal. I just dislike the perpetuation of myths, intentional or otherwise.
Most likely just my misinterpretation of your post.
Mike

Yeah, didn't mean it like that. There is one guy at my club that helps me every week, and I ask him for help. My pet peeve I guess is a lot of the unsolicited advice I get. You end up with 10 people throwing different and often contradictory information at you.

[Red Label]

I think any time you get some training it is a good thing. I just spent the last week in some technical training for my job. Wasn't really expecting much new as I have been doing my thing for almost 20 years. I was pleasantly surprised. It's sometimes those little gems of information that can make a big difference no matter if it comes from an "expert" or just the guy you shoot next to every week. I say that if you have the time and money to attend the LL Bean school by all means do it.!