In part three of his series, Matt Hance describes the different methods you can use to break a target

Last month, in lesson two, we looked at mapping out the shot: planning where to hold the gun, where you plan to break the target, plus a lot more. In this month’s article we are going to look at the three most common techniques used to get from hold point to break point. In addition to this, we are going to learn about the importance of finding the ‘line’ of a target, through a drill I call ‘Boxing Targets’.

Before we dive in, it is important to recognise that there are several factors which dictate how and when you might choose a particular method. Perhaps most influential is personal preference. I will shoot the pull-away method on around 80% of targets, yet there are other champions out there who prefer either swing-through or maintained lead as their go-to technique. Any of these three methods can be used to great success.

That said, I would argue that whilst we all have our preferred way of doing things, it is vital that you not only understand each, but also know how to successfully implement all three techniques. I would not prescribe one single method for all of my students; there is no right or wrong default style to use. You will need, at some stage, to use them all whilst navigating your way around a clay course, as just one on its own will prove difficult, given the sheer variety of targets in the modern game.

However, if you are just starting out in the sport you might find it best to focus your training on just one method, until you are completely comfortable with this, before moving on to try another. As someone who has been in the game a very long time, I would encourage everyone to challenge themselves, and try different techniques and styles in order to develop and improve.

The methods that I will talk through in this article, though in no particular order, are: swing-through, pull-away and maintained lead.

Swing-through

Swing-through is perhaps the most traditional technique and is the usual choice of game shots, who are taught the four Bs – ‘Bum, belly, beak, bang!’ – which describes coming from behind the target and moving through it. It nicely summarises the method, which is depicted in diagram 1. Essentially, swing-through requires the shooter to let the target beat the gun, and then move the gun faster than the speed of the clay, so that the barrels catch up and pass the clay to apply perceived lead.