Follow the Line
Posted On: 05-25-2024
If there is one thing, I know about trap shooting it is targets follow a line. While not completely linear they do leave the trap machine, and head into the field with remarkable predictability. When I say line, bear with me that all targets exit the house and according to ATA Section XIII-E must:
Singles targets shall be thrown not less than 49 yards nor more than 51
yards. Distance measurements are on level ground in still air. Targets
shall be between 8 feet and 10 feet high, when 10 yards from Point B (Trap Machine). The recommended height is 9 or 9 1/2 feet. The height at a point 10 yards (30 feet) from
Point B is to be understood to mean height above an imaginary horizontal
straight line drawn through the post and Point B.
So that straight line is true about 10 yards from the house and will then begin its arched journey to the ground. A straight-away might seem straight as would a hard right or hard left. Now to my point.
To intersect your shot string with the target you must lead the target both on the X and Y axis. In other words, you must be ahead of the targets on the X axis and on the line with Y axis. Perhaps we spend too much time worrying about getting ahead of the targets and not enough time making sure we have recognized and achieved a barrel path on the line.
Follow the line requires some pre-study and I highly recommend as soon as you get to the range watch a few targets and set in your mind the Y axis path of the target on the background. At some ranges there is a tree line, but on others little may exist for you to set this line. Whatever you do make a point to watch targets and note the path. Once this is understood your wavering of the gun on a path other than one you have studied helps you acquire and hit more targets.
Take a moment and mount your imaginary gun and follow a target. While doing so let your focus draw to the background for reference and you will begin to see a line that the targets will follow. Now for your efforts in preparing yourself for understanding the line, you can now better concentrate on the X axis of getting ahead of the target.
One more little bit of ATA rules from Section XIII-F says:
The correct speed for a singles or handicap target is a minimum of 42 MPH, maximum 44 MPH.
That line we want to follow has a criterion that must be followed in regard to speed. Keep in mind a slower target might rise, but fall faster than a high speed target which will rise quickly and take longer to fall. Speed and the X axis have a correlation in that you must get ahead of the target so once your pre-shoot observation is good with the line, consider the speed as well. Each of these will provide you a better score and more precise understanding of how and why you hit targets.
That line we want to follow has a criterion that must be followed in regard to speed. Keep in mind a slower target might rise, but fall faster than a high speed target which will rise quickly and take longer to fall. Speed and the X axis have a correlation in that you must get ahead of the target so once your pre-shoot observation is good with the line, consider the speed as well. Each of these will provide you a better score and more precise understanding of how and why you hit targets.