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A Brief History of Clay Target Shooting
Shotgun target sports date
back to England in the late 1700's when "box shooting" used live
pigeons released from box traps with a pull cord, thus we have today's popular
call of "Pull!" requesting the release of the target. The first
formal trap shoot took place in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1831, using live birds.
With the advent of glass ball targets, and eventually clay disc targets, the
sport began to take on the popular form of the game known today as Trap.
American Trap uses a single target launcher, or trap, that oscillates left to
right, launching a single clay target, or bird. The shooters position
themselves on one of five shooting positions, or stations. Each shooter
shoots five shots from his current station, then the squad rotates to the next
station. Each shooters shoots five shots from five stations.
The game of Skeet came along
later. It was invented in Massachusetts in 1920, by a man hoping to
improve his wingshooting abilities. There have been many refinements to
the game of Skeet since that time. Typically American Skeet is the variety played
in the United States. In Skeet, only one shooter holds the shooting
position at a time. Each shooters shoots a sequence of birds from 8
stations from a "high house" and a "low house." These
"houses " are simply structures that hold the traps, or target
launchers.
While Sporting Clays has its
roots in Trap and Skeet, it is a completely different game with its own set of rules. The game is
played over a course which may feature varying terrain with several different
target presentations from different locations with varying flight paths. While Sporting Clays was
originally designed to simulate live game scenarios, it has evolved into a sport
all its own. The game is played on a course, made up of stations.
Each station features a shooting stand for the participant to shoot from.
Upon the shooter's call, targets are released. Targets can be thrown as
single targets, simultaneous pairs, or report pairs where the second target is
launched upon the report of the shot at the first target. Unlike
Trap and Skeet, there are a variety of specialty targets in Sporting Clays. in
addition to the 108mm Standard targets. These include 90mm MIDI targets,
60mm MINI targets, rabbits that roll and bounce on edge, battues that arc, and
rockets which are heavy and maintain speed. In addition the presentation
of the targets vary, which is to say they may be thrown crossing from one side
to the other, quartering away, quartering in, inbound, outbound, overhead,
underfoot, or straight up in the air. It is the variety of targets, target
presentations, course layouts and terrain that many find so enjoyable about
Sporting Clays. While Trap in Denver is the same as Trap in Boston, and
Skeet in Tallahassee is the same as Skeet in Sioux Falls; Sporting Clays is
never the same game twice.
Sporting Clays has been referred
to a Golf with a Shotgun. While this may sound odd, it is very true, as
there are several parallels between the games. Golf is played on a course,
as is Sporting Clays. A golf course changes from time-to-time, as does a
Sporting Clays course. Golf is a game of thought, rhythm, smooth movement
and timing; as is Sporting Clays. A golf course consists of a series of
holes, while a Sporting Clays course consists of a series of stations.
Each hole in golf has a Tee, while each station in Sporting Clays has a stand
from which the shooter fires. A golfer will study the hole and select the
proper club for the shot at hand. A Sporting Clays shooter will study the target
presentation and select the proper choke and shot combination for the upcoming shot or
shots. The standard golf course is 9 or 18 holes, while the standard
Sporting Clays course is 50 or 100 targets. In a large golf tournament,
there may be several rounds over several days with the overall scores determining the
results. The same holds true for Sporting Clays, as a large shoot may span
several rounds over several days, with the overall scores determining the
results. Sporting Clays shooters, much like golfers, are passionate about
their game.
Helpful Hints for New Shooters
It can be intimidating to walk
out on to a Sporting Clays course with no real experience. Nearly everyone
who has shot has experienced the same feelings. If you are unsure of
something, do not hesitate to ask. A great way to get started is to ask
someone at the club about the course. If you still have concerns, ask an
employee of the club to see if they know of someone you could "squad
up" with for your first time out. More than likely, you will get an
offer to join a group of shooters. Be sure to let them know it is your
first time out and you would like for them to show you the ropes. In all likelihood,
you'll be schooled on how to use the club's equipment, keep score, and basic
Sporting Clays etiquette. Another likelihood is that you'll make some new acquaintances
that could turn out to be good friends. You can be certain that you'll
have a unique experience. In exchange for their help, all you have to do
is be safe, be courteous and have fun!
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