Missing clays that go left

ErictheRed · May 9, 2013, 07:30 AM

I had the pleasure of going out to my buddy's farm on Sunday and after shooting our handguns for awhile we took out the shotguns. We were using hand throwers so the trajectory of the clays was not the same every time. I was shooting my 870 and also spent some time with a Browning Silver semi-auto a friend brought. Great gun by the way I was impressed.

Before I ask the question I will readily admit:
1. I am not a great shot.
2. I don't get to go out often enough to practice and I never really learned the proper techniques in the first place. So I am sure I have some bad habits.
3. I am a lefty.

Is there any reason that someone would be much better shooting clays that go to their right than to their left? I was hitting most of them that were straight out or to my right but I missed a bunch that were thrown out to my left. I know there are a lot of variables involved, but I was wondering why there would be such a big difference in my accuracy based on which way I was pointing. Any tips or suggestions for practice would be appreciated. Thanks.

rbernie · May 9, 2013, 07:46 AM

I have found that snap targets to my strong side cause me to square off more and targets to my weak side are shot with my body more bladed relative to the target. Due to the way that the comb drops from gun to butt, this means that my head winds up in different places relative to the bore as I shoot.

My fix was to get a gun with a parallel comb.

eastbank · May 9, 2013, 08:25 AM

i,m a lefty too and i find if i position my body a little off to the left, i do better on the hard lefts and still have time to nail the hard rights. for me its keeping the gun moveing thru the bird as i shoot or painting the bird like with a brush. and the better your gun fits the better you will shoot. i don,t shoot much hand thrown birds,but mostly regular trap and i hold low on the roof of the trap house with both eyes open to catch the birds early to asess the birds path. that gives me a little more time to make the shot. eastbank.

DJW · May 9, 2013, 09:32 AM

Odds are your face is coming off the stock as you swing left. When you swing right the stock gets pushed into your face. I had the same problem and found that a conscious effort was necessary to keep my face planted on the comb on hard left targets. In effect you are pushing the stock away from your face on left targets.
Best, Dave

Hunterdad · May 9, 2013, 09:36 AM

Yup, I bet you're lifting your head.

oneounceload · May 9, 2013, 12:42 PM

What DJW said. As a LH myself, it is real easy to move the gun away from your face. Are you CERTAIN of your eye dominance as well?. Just because you are LH, does NOT mean you are left eye dominant.

For basic tips for skeet and trap type targets, read these brochures from Remington

ErictheRed · May 9, 2013, 02:29 PM

Thanks guys that makes a lot of sense. I could easily see that being a problem.

Thank you for the brochures, I will take a look at those for some more help. I am left eye dominant according to the finger point/corner wall test.

oneounceload · May 9, 2013, 04:23 PM

Check your stance as well - you want your off hand foot pointing to there you want to break the target as opposed to trying to swing against your body in some yoga-type twisting move

Jim Watson · May 9, 2013, 04:31 PM

DJW has it, you were swinging the gun away from your face and eye.
As a right hander, I really have to concentrate on staying in the gun shooting hard right angles. A high left elbow will help you as a high right elbow helps me lock into the gun.

hopper810 · May 9, 2013, 06:08 PM

If you are just using your arms to swing the gun you are probably doing what DJW mentioned and you're pushing the gun away from your face.

Need to rotate your waist (think tank turret) and your ankles on similar shots.

xxjumbojimboxx · May 9, 2013, 07:14 PM

might be your eyes, do you shoot with both eyes open? and do you know which eye is dominent? I would try finding your dominant eye (google for instructions) and only using that one.

May 9, 2013, 07:30 AM	#1
ErictheRed Member Join Date: June 8, 2010 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 30	Missing clays that go left I had the pleasure of going out to my buddy's farm on Sunday and after shooting our handguns for awhile we took out the shotguns. We were using hand throwers so the trajectory of the clays was not the same every time. I was shooting my 870 and also spent some time with a Browning Silver semi-auto a friend brought. Great gun by the way I was impressed. Before I ask the question I will readily admit: 1. I am not a great shot. 2. I don't get to go out often enough to practice and I never really learned the proper techniques in the first place. So I am sure I have some bad habits. 3. I am a lefty. Is there any reason that someone would be much better shooting clays that go to their right than to their left? I was hitting most of them that were straight out or to my right but I missed a bunch that were thrown out to my left. I know there are a lot of variables involved, but I was wondering why there would be such a big difference in my accuracy based on which way I was pointing. Any tips or suggestions for practice would be appreciated. Thanks.

May 9, 2013, 07:46 AM	#2
rbernie Moderator Emeritus Join Date: January 21, 2004 Location: Plain Ol', Texas Posts: 17,563	I have found that snap targets to my strong side cause me to square off more and targets to my weak side are shot with my body more bladed relative to the target. Due to the way that the comb drops from gun to butt, this means that my head winds up in different places relative to the bore as I shoot. My fix was to get a gun with a parallel comb. __________________ A conclusion is not a destination, it's simply a convenient place to stop thinking. Reading a thing doesn't automatically make it so; repeating it doesn't necessarily make it any truer. If you live in Texas - become a member of the Texas State Rifle Association.

May 9, 2013, 09:32 AM	#4
DJW Member Join Date: October 24, 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 273	Odds are your face is coming off the stock as you swing left. When you swing right the stock gets pushed into your face. I had the same problem and found that a conscious effort was necessary to keep my face planted on the comb on hard left targets. In effect you are pushing the stock away from your face on left targets. Best, Dave __________________ DJW Last edited by DJW; May 9, 2013 at 09:39 AM.

May 9, 2013, 12:42 PM	#6
oneounceload Member Join Date: April 24, 2008 Location: Hot and Humid FL Posts: 10,914	What DJW said. As a LH myself, it is real easy to move the gun away from your face. Are you CERTAIN of your eye dominance as well?. Just because you are LH, does NOT mean you are left eye dominant. For basic tips for skeet and trap type targets, read these brochures from Remington __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” - Aldo Gucci

May 9, 2013, 04:23 PM	#8
oneounceload Member Join Date: April 24, 2008 Location: Hot and Humid FL Posts: 10,914	Check your stance as well - you want your off hand foot pointing to there you want to break the target as opposed to trying to swing against your body in some yoga-type twisting move __________________ "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” - Aldo Gucci

May 9, 2013, 08:25 AM	#3
eastbank Member Join Date: July 30, 2009 Posts: 872	i,m a lefty too and i find if i position my body a little off to the left, i do better on the hard lefts and still have time to nail the hard rights. for me its keeping the gun moveing thru the bird as i shoot or painting the bird like with a brush. and the better your gun fits the better you will shoot. i don,t shoot much hand thrown birds,but mostly regular trap and i hold low on the roof of the trap house with both eyes open to catch the birds early to asess the birds path. that gives me a little more time to make the shot. eastbank.

May 9, 2013, 09:36 AM	#5
Hunterdad Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,572	Yup, I bet you're lifting your head.

May 9, 2013, 02:29 PM	#7
ErictheRed Member Join Date: June 8, 2010 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 30	Thanks guys that makes a lot of sense. I could easily see that being a problem. Thank you for the brochures, I will take a look at those for some more help. I am left eye dominant according to the finger point/corner wall test.

May 9, 2013, 04:31 PM	#9
Jim Watson Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Posts: 16,539	DJW has it, you were swinging the gun away from your face and eye. As a right hander, I really have to concentrate on staying in the gun shooting hard right angles. A high left elbow will help you as a high right elbow helps me lock into the gun. __________________ I have a few facts and a lot of opinions.

May 9, 2013, 06:08 PM	#10
hopper810 Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Posts: 28	If you are just using your arms to swing the gun you are probably doing what DJW mentioned and you're pushing the gun away from your face. Need to rotate your waist (think tank turret) and your ankles on similar shots.

May 9, 2013, 07:14 PM	#11
xxjumbojimboxx Member Join Date: October 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 210	might be your eyes, do you shoot with both eyes open? and do you know which eye is dominent? I would try finding your dominant eye (google for instructions) and only using that one. __________________ Boom boom boom boom. Bang bang bang bang.