Clay pigeon shooting is a great team bonding activity, no matter what your level of skill and experience. At our clay shooting range in Bristol, members of our friendly team will be on hand to guide you through the basics, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy yourselves. 

However, if you are keen to sharpen your aim, here are a few tips to help you hit the target on the day. 

Find the right position

A good position will set you up for success in clay pigeon shooting, so spend some time perfecting your stance before you shoot. If you are right handed, then this is likely to be with your left foot forward, taking your weight, and pointing in the direction of the clay target. If you are left handed, then the opposite scenario applies. 

Keep your body relaxed and balanced rather than tense, but be prepared to stay strong and hold steady to absorb the movement of the gun as it fires. 

Get the gun in the correct position

Your instructor will show you how to get the gun in the right position on the day, so don’t worry about this too much. The better your gun position, the more accurate your shot will be, so concentrate and stay focused on their instructions. The gun is mounted on the shoulder so the end fits snugly in the groove of the joint. 

Move your head, not your body

Before shooting, move your head toward the gun as you take aim, rather than repositioning your body. This will ensure that you have the best visibility and will be able to make a strong and steady shot. 

Make time for the ‘forward allowance’

Forward allowance means factoring in the time that the shot will take to reach the moving target. This will obviously depend on variables such as how fast the clay is moving, and your shooting range distance. If you simply take aim and fire as you would in a rifle practice, you will miss (except by a lucky accident of an inaccurate shot).

At first, you will just start with a small lead time and your instructor will talk you through the whole process, so don’t sweat about it too much. As you get used to aiming slightly ahead of the target, the stakes might be raised with faster clays or longer ranges. 

Remember that the weather conditions can also affect the tracking of the clay, so keep an eye on the wind direction and lighting, such as bright sunshine or heavy clouds. 

Keep calm and practice makes perfect

First, just concentrate on staying calm and composed and not rushing your shots. This will make it more likely that you make controlled and fluid movements, and maintain a swing through after pulling the trigger to prevent hesitation. 

It takes time, skill and patience to improve your aim, so enjoy the learning curve and you will soon build confidence and want to return time and again!