Finding a Focus Point – The Clock Face

Posted On: 03-24-2023

As trap shooters we have to be able to discern the smallest detail of the target.  It is easy to see the full target, but perhaps what we miss are things like, its direction, speed, and percent of the target open to our vision.  Like everything in trap we have a split second to conduct a visual triage of the target, establish a remedy for breaking it and then executing that remedy.  So lets break this down some.

Thinking of a clock face a straight away on station III would require a focus at either the 12:00 or 6:00 placement on the clock face.  As it travels though, we might even see a 12:30 or 6:30 position because we know straightaway targets are bending slightly.  In simple terms the clock face is the direction of the target one must reconcile with in order to break the target.  A hard left on station I though might require us to see a 10:00 or even 9:30 mark as that is the direction the target is flying.  A hard right on station V though would be say 1:30 to 2:00 as that is the direction that target is traveling. 

As an exercise have your shooters stand on the stations and as the targets goes out have them call the time face.  It is important to make sure they understand the direction of flight and the consistency of that direction from all stations.  Another way to conduct this exercise is to have them take note of the time they chose for each flight at each station and then after everyone has rotated through the stations ask them to share their notes.  You are looking for anyone that does not understand the flight trajectory and anyone that does understand it.  Keep in mind they have to react to the same target from each station. 

I have always emphasized how important it is to see the edge or dome of the target instead of just the target as a whole.  If one sees the whole target and not say a 2:00 trajectory they will struggle to get their gun barrels ahead of the target. 

There are other ways to practice the visual focus.  Above we are training the eyes to see detail on the target.  I have used a Vision Training Ball.  The ball is covered with letters and as it swings in front of you follow the letters shifting from letter to letter as it swings.  This is a way to help exercise you eyes and make your visual acuity stronger.  Over time you will start to see details and you will hit more targets.

David R. Vaught, Ph.D.

Executive Director