Station one has unique importance to all Skeet shooters. Station one is the beginning of every round of 25 targets, thus it is the beginning of every registered flight of 100 targets. This station is also the beginning and the end of every flight of registered doubles targets. Because all Skeet shooters want a positive start and a strong finish to every event, station one becomes a very important station. Station one is one of the three baseline stations, like station seven we shoot one high, one low and one pair of targets. Let's address the fundamentals of these three target presentations individually. We will discuss stance, hold point, look point, lead and break point.

Station One High House -

The high house target emerges from above the shooters head and under normal conditions is a rising target for about ¾ the length of the field. For a right-handed shooter the stance should be to face the low house window squarely with the feet about shoulder width apart. Southpaws should turn 90 degrees to the left. The hold point should be at the top of the hoop, or 17 to 20 feet above the ground. My preferred look point is five to six inches above the barrel. I don't like to look too high above the barrel because I lose my bird to barrel orientation and I find it difficult to get good focus on the target. The lead on this target, like all other targets, is debatable. As the target descends toward my barrel I will pull the trigger when there is somewhere between four and eight inches of daylight between the two. The break point can be anywhere from fifteen feet before the center stake to fifteen feet after, depending on your comfort level. Remember, the further past the center stake you shoot, the more likely you will be shooting a descending target! Ideally you want to shoot this target with little or no gun movement. Always remember to stay in the gun after the shot. Some common problems with this target are:

1) Holding the gun too high and letting the target get under your barrel. This can make you miss over the top, or over compensate and shoot under the target.

2) Holding the gun too low and shooting under a floating target.

3) Looking too high above the barrel and over reacting to the flash of the target. This will usually make you shoot under the target, or cause you to look back at the barrel.

4) Moving your gun up toward the target on your call. This gives you the misimpression of a diving target and usually will make you react too abruptly and shoot under the bird.

Personally, I like to hold about two feet inside the target flight path. This allows me to get a really good look at the target and make any adjustments smoothly without losing sight of the bird. On the down side, this means I need to move the gun a little to the outside to come in line with the target. This is a trade off I can easily live with.

Station One Low House -

The low house target is one of the games longest incomers, usually considered a fairly easy shot (if there is such a thing)! Stance is the same as the high house. Your hold point should be level with the bottom of the window and approximately eight to ten feet to the left of the opening, I like to look directly into the low house window. When I pull the trigger there is usually 6 - 12 inches of daylight between the target and the barrel. The break point is roughly ½ - ¾ of the way between the center stake and the high house. Remember to stay in the gun after the shot! Some common problems associated with this target are:

1) Riding the target and running out of swing.

2) Lifting your head to get a better look at the target.

3) Measuring the target. Looking back at the barrel to check the exact lead usually results in stopping the gun. Look only at the target.

Station One Doubles -

"Doubles are really nothing more than two singles that are shot really close together". We owe that quote to Todd Bender, he is absolutely correct. Stance, hold point, look point, lead and break point are all the same as the single shots. The difference is in the eye shift that must take place between the first and second shot. Once the first shot is made and you have seen the first target break, the eyes must be shifted down and to the right in order to acquire the second target. The better you get at this eye shift, the smoother you will be at breaking the second target. This is an essential technique for shooting doubles at stations 3. 4 and 5, so you may as well start practicing it here and at station seven. The most common problem with doubles at station one is lifting the head off the gun to get a really good look at the second target. Lifting your head will cause you to shoot over the top of the target. Keep your head down during the shot and stay in the gun until after you see the second target break!

For a more detailed analysis of station one shooting techniques and all of the other stations, plan on attending the Bender - Shima shooting clinics sponsored by the Fairfax Rod & Gun Club each spring and fall.

- Kevin Lutgen