Hold Points

Posted On: 06-23-2022

I have worked with many youth shooters that when asked, “Where are your hold points?” They just look totally confused.  I am sure may have heard of the terms or maybe were quickly instructed as to what hold points mean, but many need a refresher. 

First off hold points are a beginning element of trap shooting.  They are basic to the sport and give all shooters a starting point as to where to hold the gun prior to calling pull.  For some it is the literal and by that, I mean they consider those points the gospel and even when having some experience, they become confused with their eyes because of the hold points.

To start, Station I is the left far edge of the trap house, Station II is just to the right between the middle (Station III) hold point, Station III the middle of the far edge of the trap house, Station IV just to the right between Station V at the far right edge of the house and Station V is the far right corner.  Ok most of us know this so let’s move on.

Hold points for beginners are indeed important, but as we begin to grow in the sport and get better we need to learn to adjust those beginning points to best meet our needs.  For example, a one-eyed shooter typically has to lower their gun below the hold points to be able to see the target coming out of the house over their gun barrel.  Those with more experience may need to move their optical hold point above the pre-determined points or even outside of those points. 

To best sort this out take your shooters to the range and work through hold points.  Have them start with the basic but then have them hold high (what do they see?) or have them hold low or outside the points.  Let them start to “See” the target as it comes out of the house.  In practice, they do not have to shoot, just watch and find a point that allows them the best opportunity to see out going targets.  This might take some time, but I assure you, practicing how to use hold points is important to making them one of the most useful elements of trap shooting.

I mentioned above how hold points can also be confusing, not so much to the shooter but to the shooters eyes.  Soft focus requires us to release our eye(s) into the distance and then draw them into the target as we begin to see it and focus on our shooting point.  What often happens especially for beginning shooters is they look down the barrel at the hold point and them call “Pull”.  Their eyes are not soft focused but rather hard focused to the hold point and now seeing the target is more difficult.  Be sure and practice the idea of soft focus and get your youth shooters to “See” the target so they can move their body and their gun to the shooting point. 

I hope this helps and adds one more opportunity at the range for practicing much more than round shooting.  Break this game down and you will eventually have all the pieces you need to be a great shooter.

David R. Vaught, Ph.D.

Executive Director