Footwork

Posted On: 04-06-2020

I think we might over look this critical piece of shooting.  The 16-yard line is our mark, but how our feet align with that mark shows marked differences, especially among youth shooters.  I think back to sports I played in school and footwork was no less important for basketball, football, tennis, and baseball than it is for youth trap shooting. 

Drills we executed for the sports above could all be classified as a shuffle of sorts in that we moved right and left by shuffling our feet at shoulder width right and left.  A baseball shortstop moves the quickest by moving their feet in a parallel fashion right and left.  A defensive football player does the same as do tennis players and basketball players.  I mention this because footwork is so important and being consistent and stable in your performance greatly enhances your success.

I can provide one more analogous example and that is how do people stand?  We stand with our feet at shoulder width and typically parallel to our shoulders.  That is comfortable and natural.  We do it without any thought.

So why do some shooters address the 16-yard line with a stance that looks like they are preparing to push a car up a hill?  Why not address the line the same way we stand normally – simply both feet at the line.  We have some restrictions in that the shooters feet must be behind the line and that at least one foot must be on an imaginary line drawn through the center of the post or have one foot on each side of the line.  In short, a shooter cannot load one side of the post with both feet. 

The idea that having one foot on each side of the line and both feet at shoulder width while keeping toes behind the line, is a good fundamental shooting form.  There is some allowance for a slight step-back of one foot, but keep in mind the 16-yard line is always perpendicular to the trap machine.  At post 5 a hard left target is straight away, but having your feet parallel to the line allows plenty of movement to the hard left target.  The same is true for a hard right target out of post one. 

For coaches this may be a starting point for instruction especially when you see a youth shooters in a protracted shooting stance that compromises the shooters ability to be consistent.  After all we want consistency. 

Take a little time at your next practice and without guns have each shooter stand back a few yards from the 16-yard line and then have them approach and set their feet.  Without the gun more attention can be provided for the feet.  Work with each to understand the rules and to pay attention to being behind the line.  One thing I have also noticed is for some reason shooters back off the line and without thinking they are shooting at 17 yards not 16 yards.  Keep the squad moving but don’t allow them to go from post to post without first standing back from the 16-yard line before addressing each post.  Work on being comfortable and stable.  Remind them to press forward and work with them on balance.  In a few lessons they will recognize how easily they can balance without a bracing foot back. 

To ensure confidence, have them stand and push them backwards.  That way they feel the need to press forward to prepare for recoil and be comfortable in their stance.  Over time they will understand eliminating foot placement from the automatic process of the pre-shot routine helps them become consistent. 

David R. Vaught

Executive Director