With Big Shoot vouchers selling like warm mince pies this Christmas we expect a lot of you will be heading out on your first shoot very soon – lucky you! So to help you make the most of every single second at the shooting ground here’s a look at what to expect from your first clay pigeon shooting experience..
Upon arriving at your first ever clay shoot you’ll be given a full safety briefing by a qualified instructor, and then kitted up with all the essential safety equipment including ear and eye protection. Your safety is always of paramount importance to our instructors, so before you smash a single clay they’ll make sure you’re safe to shoot and happy to head out to the shooting range.
Next up they’ll help you determine your dominant eye, which is key to successfully smashing your first clay. This is a really simple process though and can even be done whilst you’re reading this blog post! Just point your finger at an object across the room, now close your left eye. Is the object still at the end of your finger? If so then you’re right eye dominant. If the object’s moved, repeat the process but close your right eye. Hopefully the object should now appear back at the end of your finger meaning you’re left eye dominant. If not we’d probably recommend a trip to the opticians!
Once that’s out of the way, it’s time for the real fun to start which of course means taking aim at your first clays. Before you pull the trigger though you’ll be shown how to hold the gun, adopt the correct stance and perfect your swing. With the basics mastered all that’s left to do then is put what you’ve learnt to the test, and with the help of our instructors you’ll be breaking clays in no time.
The clays you’ll face will come from a variety of angles but usually our instructors like to start with something simple to ease you into the action. Not only is this a great way to get your eye in, it also gives you the perfect opportunity to smash your first clay and with one broken clay under your belt your confidence will soar.
As your experience progresses you’ll work your way round a variety of shooting stands taking on even trickier targets, and with our instructors on hand throughout you’ll receive all the tips you need to perfect your technique. You might even get to take part in a friendly competition or two – and trust us nothing beats being crowned top shot at the end of the day!
Your shoot comes to a close when you’ve faced all of your clays, then all that’s left to do is tot up the scores, pose for some quick snaps and head back to the clubhouse to take stock of your incredible experience.
Sound like your dream day out? Join the thousands of first time shooters we welcome every year by booking your first shoot here.