Ask The Instructor: Take A Stand!

Question: “I have seen and heard you say to take your stance for the left target (say your left foot, right hand shooter).  I have not heard an explanation as to why. As a right-handed shooter my range to the left is much greater than my range to my right?"

Answer: There are three principles that are foundational to understanding the recipe for a good shooting stance: 1) You must minimize bodily tension at both breakpoints of a given pair, 2) when in a natural and relaxed stance, the angle of variation between the left and right foot will be different from person to person. Some will stand with feet more parallel and others with a more open angle. 3) The shoulders should remain level throughout the movement to both breakpoints. Dipping the shoulders has the potential to cause a miss. Given these assumptions, a proper shooting stance should be based on the orientation of the lead foot in relation to the breakpoint, with the back foot at whatever angle is most comfortable. However, the balls of the feet should be slightly closer together than shoulder-width apart. Naturally, this will vary with the size and build of the shooter. The lead foot (left foot) of the right-handed shooter should be oriented at approximately 1 o’clock, of the left-most breakpoint, with the breakpoint being at 12 o’clock. For the left-handed shooter, the lead foot (right foot) should be at about 11 o’clock of the right-most breakpoint. You are correct that a right-handed shooter will have more physical flexibility when swinging left past the lead foot, as will the left-handed shooter when extending right past the right foot. Depending on the flexibility and athleticism of the shooter, the range-of-motion that limits bodily tension is usually about 30 degrees to the left and 30 degrees right of 12 o’clock, with 12 o’clock being the breakpoint (right BP for LH Shooter, left BP for RH Shooter). There is perhaps slightly greater range-of-motion toward the back foot. In order to maintain level shoulders throughout the movement to both targets, both breakpoints should be within this 60-degree range. This is almost always possible for a sporting clays pair given the left and right limits of the shooting stand.