Trapshooting Tips And Other Things
Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:59 am
Subject: WHAT DO PAST AND PRESENT GREAT SHOTS HAVE IN COMMO
From: senior smoke
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Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 - 02:32 PM ET
Website Address:
I was a friend of Vic Reinders, shot with him on occasion, and discussed many times what it took to be a great trap shooter and a champion. First of all, Vic was not blessed with above average athletic ability, or above average eye site, as he wore glasses. He was tall, and had a long neck. Vic always said that he could teach someone to shoot well with just average coordination.
From Vic's view, trap shooting took mental toughness. He always said that most trap shooters lost targets from the neck up. If you could control your nerves in competition he felt he could teach you how to become successful in this game.
Some of the things Vic believed in and personally felt that would contributed not only to his and others success is, sticking with the same gun. Vic always told me that a person who likes to purchase and trade guns will never be a top notch shooter. They would be better off becoming a gun vendor at shoots.
He felt wearing the same clothing was also important as he said different clothes including vest allows you to mount your gun differently. He felt for consistent scores you needed to shoot each time with the same gun, and clothing, including shoes.
Vic felt your squad mates were also important. People you choose to shoot with that won't screw up your squad but good. He felt a good squad is one that you can depend on not to talk on the line, makes comments after they miss targets, and they all know the rules of the game, and act as a champions would and should act.
Vic felt when you miss a target, it's over, don't stew over it, you can't get it back. He felt if you continue thinking about that previous miss, you will most likely miss the next target out. Vic felt another aspect of becoming a champion was to know the rules of trapshooting. Vic rewrote that ATA rules in 1958 when he was the ATA president. He knew these rules like the back of his hand. He told me knowing the rule book saved him from losing targets numerous times.
All Vic felt that a person needed to become a champion was the above mentioned things I wrote, lots of practice, and average physical ability and eye site. Vic felt even if you wear eyeglasses and the correction made you 20/20, you could be a champion. The only time wearing glasses could become a problem he felt was shooting in the rain. He said make sure your glasses fit properly so they do not fog up on you while shooting.
The last thing Vic said a shooter needed was the heart of a champion. He felt one's desire played an important role. How badly do you want to win and be successful? Vic felt no one could teach that. You are either born with it or not.
Vic did not put much stock in averages, only for classification purposes. Vic judged fellow shooters on tournament wins. To show you how mental tough Vic was, I will tell you a short story.
Vic and I shoot during the Wisconsin state shoot one year. It was raining and my scores were not good. I started to complain between banks of traps about the rain making my hands slip off my gun. He told me when it rains he never takes his hand off the forend of his gun during the entire 100 targets. Vic actually kept his hand on the forend of his gun from start to finish so rain water would not make the forend slippery.
You may or may not agree with Vic's views on making a champion trap shooter, but I would think that know one can deny he was one hell of a champion trap shooter. Any one doubt what I say, look up the record books and read about the old time shooters. Steve Balistreri
From: senior smoke
Email:
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 - 02:32 PM ET
Website Address:
I was a friend of Vic Reinders, shot with him on occasion, and discussed many times what it took to be a great trap shooter and a champion. First of all, Vic was not blessed with above average athletic ability, or above average eye site, as he wore glasses. He was tall, and had a long neck. Vic always said that he could teach someone to shoot well with just average coordination.
From Vic's view, trap shooting took mental toughness. He always said that most trap shooters lost targets from the neck up. If you could control your nerves in competition he felt he could teach you how to become successful in this game.
Some of the things Vic believed in and personally felt that would contributed not only to his and others success is, sticking with the same gun. Vic always told me that a person who likes to purchase and trade guns will never be a top notch shooter. They would be better off becoming a gun vendor at shoots.
He felt wearing the same clothing was also important as he said different clothes including vest allows you to mount your gun differently. He felt for consistent scores you needed to shoot each time with the same gun, and clothing, including shoes.
Vic felt your squad mates were also important. People you choose to shoot with that won't screw up your squad but good. He felt a good squad is one that you can depend on not to talk on the line, makes comments after they miss targets, and they all know the rules of the game, and act as a champions would and should act.
Vic felt when you miss a target, it's over, don't stew over it, you can't get it back. He felt if you continue thinking about that previous miss, you will most likely miss the next target out. Vic felt another aspect of becoming a champion was to know the rules of trapshooting. Vic rewrote that ATA rules in 1958 when he was the ATA president. He knew these rules like the back of his hand. He told me knowing the rule book saved him from losing targets numerous times.
All Vic felt that a person needed to become a champion was the above mentioned things I wrote, lots of practice, and average physical ability and eye site. Vic felt even if you wear eyeglasses and the correction made you 20/20, you could be a champion. The only time wearing glasses could become a problem he felt was shooting in the rain. He said make sure your glasses fit properly so they do not fog up on you while shooting.
The last thing Vic said a shooter needed was the heart of a champion. He felt one's desire played an important role. How badly do you want to win and be successful? Vic felt no one could teach that. You are either born with it or not.
Vic did not put much stock in averages, only for classification purposes. Vic judged fellow shooters on tournament wins. To show you how mental tough Vic was, I will tell you a short story.
Vic and I shoot during the Wisconsin state shoot one year. It was raining and my scores were not good. I started to complain between banks of traps about the rain making my hands slip off my gun. He told me when it rains he never takes his hand off the forend of his gun during the entire 100 targets. Vic actually kept his hand on the forend of his gun from start to finish so rain water would not make the forend slippery.
You may or may not agree with Vic's views on making a champion trap shooter, but I would think that know one can deny he was one hell of a champion trap shooter. Any one doubt what I say, look up the record books and read about the old time shooters. Steve Balistreri