Ask the Experts - February 2011

ASK THE EXPERTS
in association with
ASK THE
Experts
OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS TACKLES YOUR TRICKY CLAY SHOOTING QUERIES
Q
I need prescription glasses
for driving and believe that
prescription shooting glasses would
benefit my shooting. Having used
Oakley’s in various tints for many years
could you advise where I can get Oakley
prescription lenses for my M frames,
or recognised suppliers of quality
prescription shooting glasses?
John Jones, by email
however, it can be very costly to have a
series of different tinted lenses made
each with the prescription part. At least
with an insert, it is easy to change over
tints and they can be reused in future if
your prescription changes. As of yet G26
and HiContrast lenses for Oakley can’t
be made to prescription, although other
lenses like Persimmon, VR28 and G30
can be.
Remember, when spending serious
money on shooting specs, it’s always
important to know that the prescription
going in is optimised for shooting.
ED LYONS
A
EXPERT
Shooting glasses are the ‘icing on
the cake’; I always recommend
that the visual system is assessed in
detail prior to spending money on specs.
Everyone’s eyes are different, and what
suits one does not suit all.
A common problem with
prescription shooting specs is that
often the lenses need to undergo ‘power
compensation’ – the prescription needs
tweaking to make it work properly
– this can’t be done online as extra
measurements are needed with the
frame in wear and omission of this can
lead to clarity problems.
There are many options for
shooting glasses ranging from the
ultra-budget like Top Gun or Jack Pyke
through to premium products like
HiDefSpex, Pilla Sport and Oakleys,
which don’t have an insert – the lens
itself is made with a prescription
part within it and these are popular,
ED LYONS
Ed is a Sports Vision optometrist in
the Midlands. He specialises in vision
training, contact lenses and hightech prescription eyewear. Visit his
websites at www.flintandpartners.
co.uk and www.sports-sight.com.
Do you have a question for our experts?
Top clay shooting coach John King is offering a copy of his book
or DVD to the first two questions
received this month. Send your
questions to asktheexperts@
blazepublishing.co.uk or to the
usual address at the front and the
first two received will be sent a book
or DVD so don't forget to include
your name and address.
CLAY SHOOTING 57
ASK THE EXPERTS
in association with
Q
I am over 60-years-old and
have mainly shot clays
to improve my game shooting,
however, over the last four or five
years I have become more interested
in clay shooting and have been going
on tour once or twice a year with the
local shooting guys and have noticed
a pattern developing for me on these
tours: on the first day I shoot the same
as always over 100-birds about 58 to
60 per cent and always feel I should
do better. The second and third day I
tend to improve to 76 to 80 per cent.
What can I do to improve my first day’s
performance?
Dave, Leicester
A
You do not say whether you are
shooting the same layout on the
three days, in which case you may be
getting to know the targets better and
learning from your mistakes.
It may be that you simply ‘up your
game’ after consecutive days shooting,
rising to the challenge of performing
against your friends. You may be
consciously or subconsciously looking
at how your friends are shooting and
managing to improve on some targets
because of what you see.
Although that may sound like
pure speculation, it is extremely
difficult to come up with an answer
without watching you shoot. You
may have a problem with any one
area or a combination of areas.
Tiredness after travelling on the first
day, stance, gunmount, technique,
gunfit, master eye or even your mental
approach to preparation and shooting
(concentration) could all be factors,
although some of those areas could
reasonably be expected to show all the
time rather than sporadically.
You may be able to look at your
own performance, keep records and
form some opinions from what you
record. You would need to record such
things as target types, scores and the
weather: sunny, cloudy, wet, dry, hot
or cold. However, I would caution you
not to listen to the opinions of wellmeaning friends too much; they may
be able to tell you where you missed,
but not why.
The last thing that I’m going to
say may sound like vested interest,
but if this problem means a lot to you,
then maybe you need the services of a
reliable shooting instructor. Good luck.
CHRIS MILES
58 CLAY SHOOTING
CHRIS MILES
Chris has been an instructor for 24 years
and specialises in Sporting clays, game
shooting and gunfitting. He is a fellow of
the Association of Professional Shooting
Instructors and also a staff tutor.
www.executivedays.co.uk
EXPERT
EXPERT
Send your questions to: asktheexperts@blazepublishing.co.uk
WELL-MEANING FRIENDS MAY BE ABLE TO
SAY WHERE YOU MISSED BUT NOT WHY
MARK BROWNLEE
Mark teaches mental and physical
skills development for clay target
shooters. Mark coaches and conducts
seminars worldwide and will be in the
UK on several occasions in 2010.
mbsportpsych@yahoo.com
ASK THE EXPERTS
in association with
Q
I have been shooting Sporting
for a number of years and I have
recently decided I want a change so
I’ve switched to Skeet and I’m loving
it. The problem I’m having though is
that I keep finding it really difficult
to maintain my concentration for the
entire 100-bird competition, which is
affecting my scores.
How do the top Skeet shots do it?
Richard, Lancaster
Q
There are a few presentations that
always make me worry. I find, as I
approach the stand I start thinking about
times when I shot the same or similar
targets poorly. As a result I usually miss
quite a few of them. Can you help?
Bob Cartwright, Pembrokeshire
A
Unfortunately, most people seem
to think about poor shots and
misses more than good shots. Mentally
replaying the misses reinforces negative
emotion associated with the presentation
and course. It’s likely you have made
Q
How do you keep your mind
uncluttered when you are
shooting?
Carl, Reading
A
some good shots on the presentation
you are worrying about, if not seek out
the opportunity to practise them under
conditions where you will do well.
Then every time you encounter those
presentations you can remind yourself of
those good shots.
The moment you are aware of being
worried, try to replace the negative thought
with clear mental images of a great shot on
similar targets. This requires diligence but
will solve your trouble.
MARK BROWNLEE
between shots. You are in charge of
your thoughts; they are not in charge
of you!
LESLEY GODDARD
Dave is a top international Skeet coach as
well as still shooting competitively as one
of the top Skeet shooters in the world.
Contact Dave for advice and lessons at
davebeardsmore@blueyonder.co.uk or
phone him on 07841 046606
DAVE BEARDSMORE
EXPERT
EXPERT
DAVE BEARDSMORE
I’m not surprised you’re finding
it difficult. Shooting a 100bird Skeet competition takes, on
average, about an hour-and-a-half and
it can be very difficult to keep your
concentration for that amount of time.
The way I tend to cope with this
mental tiredness is while I’m waiting
to shoot my concentration level is just
ticking over. I’ve not taken my mind off
the task completely but I have relaxed
my focus allowing my mind to recover
a little and rest.
Then as the squad member in
front of me walks on to the station my
concentration is increased: I’m using
this time to let my eyes re-adjust, look
at the line of the targets and visualise
the target breaking at my break point.
Then my turn: as I step on to the
station I’m now back to maximum
concentration and focus ready to break
my targets. Once I’ve finished the
whole process starts again, this should
be part of your system or routine.
You often hear Skeet shooters
referring to this as switching the
concentration on and off between
stations. I personally believe that you
can’t switch it on and off, but you can
turn the level up and down. Being
able to do this will certainly help your
mental game.
LESLEY GODDARD
Lesley has been a feature of the Trap
shooting circuit for 20 years. Having
retired in 2009 ranked world number one,
she is now coaching with her skills and
experience in sports psychology.
www.lesleygoddard.com
Send your questions to: asktheexperts@blazepublishing.co.uk
A busy mind can be a problem,
especially if you are thinking
about your scores and how to shoot.
One technique is to sing a tune or
recite a nursery rhyme (in your head),
as this keeps the mind occupied,
not allowing it to dwell on your
performance. I use a ditty, which is
just a couple of sentences – with
positive suggestions included – I
repeat it over and over again, like a
mantra. By doing this there are no
thoughts allowed into your mind
A
CLAY SHOOTING 59
ASK THE EXPERTS
in association with
Q
I am quite new to clay shooting so
I naturally expect advice given by
experts to be correct.
I was recently told by a gunsmith
that I should store my shotgun with
stock up to prevent oil seeping into
the stock and also to insert snap caps
between shoots. I told shooting friends
about this and they said they didn’t
follow that advice.
Is this sound advice? If so, why
are shotguns in showrooms not stored
this way?
John Legg, Verwood, Dorset
A
The advice you have received from
your gunsmith is, I believe, sound,
especially about storing it with the
barrels downwards.
Guns displayed in a gun shop,
either new or second-hand, have
usually been cleaned correctly without
any excess of oil left on them. They
haven’t been out in foul weather with
the possibility of moisture left in them,
however, due to the number of them
usually on open racks, they need to be
stood in the most stable way which,
is of course, butt down. Also, when
a customer is looking for a gun, it is
often the woodwork or engraving on the
action which will attract them, so they
are displayed in such a way as to attract
a potential buyer.
However, at home in your gun safe, it
is always best to store them barrel down
to allow any cleaning fluid or excess
oil to run out of the barrel onto some
kitchen roll in the bottom of the safe,
otherwise the oil will run into the action
and end up soaking the head of the stock
in oil, as you can see in picture one.
Picture two shows what can happen
after a few years
of oil soaking
PICTURE 3
into the wood.
The head goes
very dark, almost
black, and as the
wood swells, it
can crack as there
is nowhere for it
to expand too.
Picture three
is another typical
example of a
crack caused by
oil in the wood,
notice it seeping
around the trigger.
EXPERT
Send your questions to: asktheexperts@blazepublishing.co.uk
PICTURE 2
60 CLAY SHOOTING
PICTURE 1
TIM GREENWOOD
Tim has been working as a gunsmith
for over 28 years and is the choice of
many top British shooters including
Johnny Walker. His business,
Greenwood Gunsmiths, Kent, is wellrespected and thriving.
Snap caps are designed to be used
so you can safely ‘fire’ the gun
allowing it to be stored with the
tension off the hammer springs. Using
them inbetween shoots is generally
considered good practice.
So I would suggest listening to your
gunsmith regarding gun storage and
make sure you use the snap caps in
between shoots to keep your gun in the
best possible condition. Hope this helps.
TIM GREENWOOD