Hold Points

Posted On: 10-25-2021

Over time working with youth shooters this has become one issue I see lacks understanding.  The range of confusion runs from having no idea what a hold is, to placing those arbitrary hold points in concrete. 

For the basics there are five hold points starting with the left edge or corner of the trap house and migrating in 20% increments across the top pf the house with points between the center and the left edge and a point between the right edge and c enter of the house. 

The idea here is to give the shooter a starting point of holding their gun aim point prior to the target being released.  So the left edge of the trap house roof on station one prepares the shooter in seeing a straight away hard right or a hard left.  The same is true for station five where a hard left is a straight away. 

What I see though that sometimes gets youth shooters in trouble is their inability to move the gun around hold points to better see the target release.  In some cases a right eye dominate shooter  on station one might easily see the target  release to the right, but the barrel may block them seeing the target release to the left.  Therefore, shooters need to have the allowance or option to raise the gun slightly or to move the gun slightly left of the normal hold point. 

My point here is when teaching hold points it is normal to begin with the normal accepted hold points, but coach beyond that to ensure the shooter understands that a need may arise to move the gun slightly.  Over time they may lock into more comfortable and agreeable hold points that allow them to shoot better.  Remember to reinforce that the target emerges from the center of the house and have a limited arc of 22.5 degrees right and 22.5 degrees left of center.  Give youth shooters practice in raising hold points and extending hold points right and left to let them understand how they see the target. 

Hope this helps.  Here are a few video links for your viewing pleasure:

David R. Vaught, Ph.D.

Executive  Director