Skeet shooting is a sport in which participants use shotguns to shoot at clay targets tossed into the air at high speed by spring devices called traps, which are located in small structures called houses. Two houses – one high house on the left and one low house on the right – are set facing each other at the two end points of a semicircular skeet field and launch targets when a shooter gives a call. Seven shooting stations are located along the semicircular arc of the field and the eighth one midway on the chord joining the corner stations 1 and 7.
The high house launches targets from a height of 10 feet and the low one from a height of 3.5 feet, to reach a height of 15 feet at a distance of 18 feet away from station 8. This point is called the crossing point, the point where targets from the high and low houses cross each other.
The targets are flung diagonally across and directly away from the field of vision of the shooters, who are positioned at one of the eight shooting stations. The fundamentals of skeet shooting are quite simple and consist of learning the following lessons:
- Handling the gun
- Body position
- Leading targets
- Follow-through
- Shooting
Gun Handling Fundamentals
The fundamentals of gun handling include learning how to handle a gun safely, how to make sure that the gun fits you properly, how to hold it and position it properly without injuring your arm and neck muscles, and finally how to load it and fire it. Only once you finish learning the gun control and gun handling fundamentals will you be ready to learn the skeet shooting fundamentals. And this may require months of practice.
Body Position Fundamentals
Once you know how to hold, load and fire a shotgun, the next thing you need to learn is the correct body stance. Proper stance implies that your body would be in a comfortable position for shooting. This entails setting your feet in accordance with the spot where you expect to hit the target and then turning at the waist to your hold position – the spot where you point the gun when you are ready to call for a target. Your feet position will determine where the gun is pointed at the time of firing and where the shot will be fired. This is directly related to the crossing point, or the middle of the skeet field.
Your feet should be positioned in such a way that the target can be shot comfortably over the crossing point, allowing for follow-through. The feet should be roughly shoulder width apart and parallel to each other, allowing proper weight distribution: 60% on the front foot and 40% on the back foot. After shifting more weight to the forward foot, lean the shoulders and trunk forward and bend the front knee slightly. From this position you can unwind while tracking the target to your breaking spot, which is usually near the midpoint of the field. This stance should be used on all stations.
A proper stance will allow you to absorb the recoil without loosing balance. Before each shot, make sure that you have the correct foot position and gunpoint position. And when calling for your target, it is very important to be mentally relaxed yet physically alert.
Leading Targets Fundamentals
Lead refers to the time compensation required in order to hit a moving target. The skill lies in anticipating how far ahead of the moving target to aim and shoot while tracking its trajectory. There are three ways to get your lead.
- In a swing-through lead, you start with the bead behind the target, you overtake it and then fire as you swing through and out ahead of it.
- In a pull-ahead lead, you start with the bead on the target, pull out in front of it, obtain your lead and fire.
- In a sustained lead, you start ahead of the target to begin with, adjust your lead and fire.
Follow-through Fundamentals
Regardless of what lead style you develop, moving the gun to a point ahead of the target and stopping as you fire would probably mean a lost target. Your gun must be kept swinging smoothly and follow through after the trigger is pulled on every target. Follow-through contributes to good shooting fundamentals by maintaining your lead. Stopping the gun abruptly causes the shot to pattern behind the fleeing target.
Shooting Fundamentals
The fundamentals regarding shooting are:
- Try to shoot with both eyes open because binocular vision gives a better depth perception. You will have a better sight of the target as well as of the bead on your barrel. Moreover, you will also feel more relaxed with both eyes open.
- Always keep your gaze focused on the target, not on the bead. You should see the bead only as a reference point, either on the target or out in front of it if you are leading it.
- Remember that you must fire as soon as you have obtained and checked proper lead. If you start rechecking your lead to be doubly sure of it, you are bound to slow down your swing and miss your target.
- Never forget to follow through. Especially on those tough middle stations, 3, 4 and 5, a really positive follow-through is a must.
- Maintain a stance that allows you to swing at the hips.
- Lead the target (in other words, shoot in front of it).
- Lastly, don’t get bogged down by problems like flinching and freezing, however frustrating they might be. Though these problems are a result of involuntary reaction of your subconscious to the anticipation of recoil, all that you may require to overcome them could be a slight fine-tuning of your mental setup.
If you grasp these basic skeet-shooting fundamentals thoroughly and follow them during the game, you can really enjoy this wonderful sport to the full. And as a bonus you learn a very useful life skill, the skill of focusing your mind and ignoring distractions. In short, a great recreational adventure sport that can be turned into a profession too!
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
A drawing of the layout of a skeet range with the stations would be nice addition.
looking for a lay out on how far to lead skeet target at each station.
Thanks, that was helpful. I definitely found my problem was stopping to shoot, not allowing my swing to continue. Can’t wait to try again next weekend.
VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE. KEEPING BOTH EYES OPEN IS SOMETHING NEW TO ME. WOULDNT THE SIGHT PLANE BECOME BLURRED WHILE FOCUSING ON THE FLYING TARGET? IM NEW TO THE SPORT BUT ILL TRY IT. CURRENTLY I AM VERY CONSISTENT AT MISSING EVERY SHOT.
Took my new (used) 12 gaug remington wingmaster out today for the first time. I meet up with a 70 old guy who gave me some great advice. When he told me, “don’t use the bead just find the area”, I started knocking them down. Hit 4 of 6 after that.
This is so helpful. I shot skeet for the first time ever and hit 6 (whatever you call them)!! Now I am hooked I will be doing tons of research and will keep this site as a favorite. Thanks so much!
Thanks for the tips. My brother, David, and I are just beginning to shoot skeet some together. It seemed so simple but I can see that it is going to take some practice. The guy handling the skeet thrower told us to keep both eyes on the target, lower the gun some at first and “wink” just before shooting. That seemed to help some. It also helped on #8 to fire quickly. Don’t wait. Pull, bam…
I am sorry I suck. I thought I was some what coordinated, but I just cannot get it right. I am going to continue to try.
Hi Marc,
Keep at it and it should eventually become more natural.
Hello:
New to Skeet Shooting and have a question / comment. I shoot right handed, but am left eye dominent. I have the habit of always closing my left eye because it seems to be easier to “aim” (I know I am not supposed to). It has been suggested I shoot from my left side. I don’t think it will be easy…What do you suggest?
Thanks
Hi Doug,
Sorry for not replying sooner. It is possible to change the dominance of your eyes but it can be a bit frustrating. I also have to admit that I have never had to do this but have it in good faith from other shooters that it can be done. Try searching on Google for ‘changing dominant eye’ and see if you can find a solution that suits you. It would probably be more difficult to learn to shoot left handed.
I tend to stop after I have taken a shot rather than following through. Any hints on either a thought while I am shooting or a way to “visualize” following through?
Hi Russell,
It’s common for skeet shooters to assume that the shot is finished once they pull the trigger. However, the follow through is very important. What I would suggest is get yourself a couple of spent cartridges and load those into your gun so that you actually aren’t going to shoot at all. This will however take the strain off the firing pins.
Next, go out into your backyard or somewhere you feel comfortable practising your swing and pretend you are at the skeet range. Swing the gun and pretend to shoot at an invisible target, pull the trigger and try to remember to follow through. Practice this as much as you can until it becomes more natural.
I just built a skeet range, and I would like to post the safety rules. I’m having difficulty locating them. Any ideas?
Hi Chris,
If you look in the right hand columns you should see an article title called Skeet Shooting Safety - see if that is what you need.
Hi. I shoot an average 20 out of 25 at the range. I’m though thinking that in order to improve, I need to know how much - if any - of the barrels of the gun one needs to “see” once the gun is mounted . For the time beeing , I “see” no barells at all.Is this the right way? Thanks.
New to the sport Fired two boxes hit two birds.No lessons as of yet reading here lead your target and blot it out with the barrel please explain.Also shooting 7.5 shells what is the spread in distance.Ie if I am shooting at a range of 30 feet what is the spread
I took my first skeet shooting lesson two days ago. My instructor did not mention I could keep both eyes open. I shoot right handed and I am left eye dominant. I hit the target less than I missed. Problem was not following through. I also changed the choke on my Remington to a skeet choke.
First time shooting skeet, three rounds today. By the third round I was 50% using a 28 gauge. Lots of fun! Your comments on weight distribution in the stance and the follow through will be helpful next time I shoot. I think I am hooked. j
I’ve only been skeet shooting a few times, but I have found myself to be a natural. I never had any instruction whatsoever regarding skeet shooting (besides basic gun safety), but today was my third time shooting, and i hit 24/26 of the pigeons. I can say that my tips are to as im pretty sure this article says, to keep both of your eyes open, that is really important, and secondly, to shoot the skeet while it is at its highest point, because at that time, due to physics, it will be floating there for a small period of time, in which you can most easily take a shot at it. Overall this is a great article, but it just goes to show, you can learn it on your own. Good luck to everybody!
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