Shoot for fun!: Enough said, just go out shoot some of the sports for fun! This includes Skeet, Sporting Clays, Trap and if your club has it - 5-stand. Just have fun!
Physical Fitness: If you thought that your physical fitness impeded your ability to progress in your shooting, you may consider some stretching, exercises and light aerobics that would improve your strength (to turn with your legs and hold the gun), flexibility (to turn smoothly with your weight forward) and endurance (to be able shoot all through the day with no drop off in your scores.) Please consult your physician for guidance as to the level of physical fitness that is best for you to pursue.
Consider Equipment Changes: After reviewing the year, consider if you will make any changes to your equipment and if so, order it or schedule it to be done during your offseason. This can include new equipment such as additional lenses for your eyewear, new molded ear plugs as well as modifications to your gun such as an adjustable butt plate and or comb. When changing the setup on your gun, it is helpful to engage the support of a gunsmith and or instructor so as to assure you have a good gun fit and mount.
Consider Equipment Changes: If you are shooting just for fun and reached this far in the article, there may be no more you wish to do. However, if you are looking to improve your scores and potentially shoot in some local tournaments in the upcoming year then here is where you make a list of what you will do differently next year to prepare, practice and keep records. If you have not in the past, consider keeping a journal of your shooting activities: which includes shooting for fun, tournament conditions and scores as well as outlining your practice efforts. Thoughts on what went well, what you learned and what issues you had that you need solutions to all to belong in your journal.
2019 Tournament Schedule: By now the tournament schedule should be available for your state. Floridians can visit
https://floridaskeet.com/ to find the calendar, shoot flyers and registration page for the first few shots of the year. If you are a registered NSSA member with dues up to date you have access to their website and are also receiving the NSSA-NSCA Target Talk magazine both of which list tournaments planned across the United States. Now is a good time to consider what tournaments you plan to shoot and get them into your 2019 calendar which will then help you align a practice schedule which we will discuss in next month’s article.
Take some time off to review, rest and rejuvenate!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
