This is a very enlightening thread. You all had me believing it really was the wind, the sun, the clouds, the speed, angle and distance, the chokes, the barking, etc. There is a comfort in that. Now faced with the prospect that it could be me, I’m holding on to the old adage “You can’t teach an old dog a new way to think”. So if we’re ever shooting together and I happen to miss a target don’t be surprised if I tell you flat out “You’re popping your gum”!

If I start seeing these show up at the skeet field or clays...

I was practicing with the 410 a few days before the Spring Shoot at Fredricksburg VA and shot a 99 . So here I am thinking this’ll repeat itself or be one better on the following Saturday . Rolled in Saturday morning with a big head and the wind blowing like hell . Shot the 410 and ended up with a F’ing 69 to say I was livid is an understatement. That pretty much yanked my 410 skeet average for that year .

Clay targets aren't hard to hit, but they sure are easy to miss. Jerry Varn - Broxton Bridge Plantation

John, #3 is spot on!! The events I think I “struggle” in, and yes, I am my harshest critic, I am still usually in striking distance if I keep my head in the game and focus. After the “bad” event I look at the scores and know full well that if I paid attention and broke those one or two birds more that HOA was there for the taking. This is a mental game and if we just run the program we’ll be fine.

That’s quite relatable ! Again I was at Fredricksburg for the spring event and shooting the 410 on the field directly in front of the club house . A fine old gentleman that’s no longer with us and is in the VSSA HOF if I’m not mistaken Gibby Andes was sitting there watching our last two rounds with his wife as he was shooting next . I’d gone clean on the last two rounds , walked off and spoke to them . Gibby asked if I’d gone straight , I replied “no sir I had to break the last fifty just to get a 96” he replied I know the feeling !