Confidence
will build when you master station six. For
the right and left-handed shooter, feet should be placed parallel to each other,
in the back left corner of the station! The "righty" will be oriented
so that the bellybutton is facing slightly to the left of the low house window.
For the lefty, (I use to be one for 20 years by the way!) take a position that
still has your feet parallel to each other and your belly button slightly to the
left of the high house window!
The
reason for taking this position back left corner of the station, is to maximize
our efforts in slowing the "relative" or "perceived" speed
of the target when shooting the low target! This position also maximizes the shooter's
field of view, which is a definite plus! If we are going to shoot the low target
AND doubles from this vantage point, we might as well shoot the high house from
here!
High House
Break
point for the high house will be approximately half way between station seven
and the center stake. Unless it is extremely windy, try not to break this target
before this point. Remember, we are trying to break our singles as close as we
can to where we have to break them in doubles! So half way between station seven
and the center stake is a good "zone" to shoot for.
Hold point is not going to be as important when shooting the high target as it
will be for the low; however, a good rule of thumb is to start with a hold point
that definitely does not allow the target to blow past the barrel when it is called
for! Depending on your shooting style, you may opt to even hold at the center
stake and start your swing when the target approaches the center stake! This is
particularly helpful for those shooters who have a problem "riding"
a target for an extended amount of time! Whichever distance you choose to make
your hold point, make sure it is NO HIGHER than the BOTTOM of the high house window!
This will keep the target above your barrel at all times and thus, in full view
at all time. Eyes may be focused right in the window or just outside the window
opening! Once you have your gun mounted at your hold point (and you are perfectly
still…) and you have your eyes where you like them, call for the target!
As
the target emerges, focus on the FRONT edge of the target. As the shot progresses
across the field, remember we need to "rotate" through the shot and
NOT sway. This is the reasoning behind having the feet parallel to each other!
If the old adage is used and a shooter positions his/her forward foot pointed
to where they would like to break the target, swaying WILL occur and there is
no physical way around it! This is an anatomical FACT you can't argue with!
As
the target crosses center, finalize the required 1 1/2 foot lead, pull the trigger
when it approaches the earlier described "break zone" and stay on the
gun for 2 full seconds. The follow through ideally will be at the same speed and
on the same flight path as when the shot was fired!
Low
Six
Low six presents some
of the same unique difficulties as high two with the added dimension of most likely
having a "busy" or cluttered background. This target can definitely
cause problems if not properly prepared for.
Let's
look at the dynamics of this target first, to better understand what we as shooters
need to do to consistently break this target! The target basically has the same
perceived speed as a high two, but the angle the target takes to the center stake
is the big issue here here! This steep angle is the major factor for most shooters
missing this target!
Let's
take a look at the most efficient way to approach this all too often missed target.
Assuming
the foot position described earlier, the break point or zone for this target is
ideally going to be somewhere about 2/3rd out from the window and before the center
stake! This just happens to be a good location to place the first target to allow
us a good consistent shot for the high house when shooting our double here!
Hold
point for low six will greatly depend upon a particular shooter's reflexes and
natural pointing ability, however, 21 feet out from the low house window seems
to be a good starting point for most! Make sure the muzzle is not too high! This
will ensure that the target remains enough above the barrel when it emerges from
the window so that a smooth move to the target is possible. Depending on the individual
shooter, this hold point may be moved in or out, but because of the "busy"
background and target flight angle, do not utilize a hold point that is further
in than parallel with the low house structure wall. Doing so will place the shooter
in a position that requires a greater deal of initial gun speed to facilitate
catching the target and thus an inconsistent shot can be easily formulated. Eyes
should be focused at the upper left-hand corner of the window, or just outside
the window! Eyes MUST be fixed in one exact spot and not just placed in a random
area! Remember, anchoring your eyes is as important as anchoring your hold point
before each shot!
When
the target is called for and the instant the target is detected emerging from
the window, start gun moving! Not just any move mind you, but rather a move that
is as parallel to the target as possible! How is this accomplished you ask? By
purposely making your initial move to where you perceive the target is going to
cross the center stake! I tell my students to make a "slant move" or
move "to the crossing point" (where the targets cross when shooting
doubles!) This accomplishes some very important things!
Without
getting too technical, moving on this "slant" or to the "crossing
point" guarantees the shooter that he/she is as parallel with the target
as possible! Why is this important? Because many shooters start their initial
move too flat, that is to say too horizontal from right to left from the low house
window when the target initially emerges. The shooter then finds they have proper
gun speed but because they are too low, then they have to rise UP to the target,
or "vector" to it. This more often than not causes the shooter to shoot
above, or behind the target, even though the required lead looked good!
This
initial move on this good "slant" or to the crossing point will require
the shooter to make a correction only in lead (horizontal component of the shot)
and not the height! (Vertical component of the shot!)
As
with all targets, focus on the front edge of target. As the target comes into
full focus, place the required lead of one foot (daylight) on it and pull the
trigger. Follow through on the same inclined line of flight and at the same speed
for two full seconds. Viola!
Doubles
If
proper approach has been taken when shooting singles, then doubles becomes nothing
more than shooting two singles, back to back, with a smooth move between them.
Set up just as before
with feet in the back left of the box and gun at the proper hold point! Focus
the eyes in one of the two positions mentioned earlier and call for the double.
The moment the target is detected emerging from the window, start gun moving on
your slight "slant" or "to the crossing point" at center stake.
Focus on the front edge of target. As the target comes into full focus, place
the required one-foot lead on it and pull the trigger. As the target is seen breaking,
the high house target will be in full view. Shift the eyes to the second target,
fully focus on the front edge and make the required move to it, place and sustain
the required 1 1/2 foot lead on it and pull the trigger. Follow through for two
full seconds.
All doubles
are made easier when proper "eye shift" is executed! A good tool for
this is to purchase the Decot Hy-Wyd Eye Aerobics Video directly from them in
Arizona!
(1-800-528-1901)
Problems!
Most
problems at six stem from shooters not taking the proper time to identify the
proper hold point for the low house target! As mentioned earlier, the "perfect"
hold point will be dictated by the individual shooter's reflexes and natural pointing
ability! This is easily accomplished with the aid of a qualified instructor! When
proper care and time is given to this target in obtaining an absolute perfect
hold point and proper eye focal area, low six really is not a difficult target.
An important factor to
mention here is the fact that most shooters will have a tendency to move their
hold points out further than needed. For some reason shooters have a desire to
break this target much earlier than needed. By thinking they are breaking this
target too late, they attempt to compensate by moving the hold point out so as
to pick the target up better! This just isn't true. The farther the hold point
is moved out, the more our "window of opportunity" or field is taken
away on which to complete the shot. Additionally, when this hold point is too
far out even the slightest bit, shooting behind this target is very common and
can be devastating due to the need to execute a decreasing lead shot due to overleading.
Instead, try this. Move
the hold point in until the target is definitely blowing by the muzzle. Then move
the hold point out one foot at a time until the perfect hold point is found. There
will be no doubt when you find the correct spot because everything will just gel
and the shot is effortless. Remember, the trick here is to allow this target to
"develop" out near the center stake to further aid in reducing the "perceived"
or relative speed of this target. It is so much easier this way.
Shoot
well!
Yours in
Shooting,
Jose Castillo
NSSA Level 3 and Zone instructor
