Target setting: accurate and by the book 

(the ATA rule book, that is)

By NICK SISLEY

We would all love to see perfect trap targets, but maybe too often we've
come to settle for targets that are, by ATA standards, far from perfect or
near-perfect. Dean Bright of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, who heads the target
setting committee at the Grand American, thinks more trap clubs could be
throwing perfect and near-perfect targets a lot more often.

"The only thing gun clubs can offer shooters is good, regulation targets,"
said Dean. "If targets aren't thrown to ATA standards, the shooter doesn't
get what he paid for. Maybe too many of us think of shooters as just
that-shooters. But wouldn't it be better to consider shooters as
customers? Maybe it's that simple a change in club attitude that could be a
major factor toward keeping more shooters in the game."

Bright feels that there has been a tendency to throw targets 1) too far, 2)
too low, 3) too high, and 4) too wide. Clubs who do this make the game
more difficult than it has to be, and this increased difficulty shows up on
the scoreboard. It's simply human nature for shooters (customers?) to
keep going back to clubs that throw targets which result in said shooters
posting their best scores. Likewise, it's natural for shooters to avoid clubs
when past results have shown they post lesser scores at such places.

Bright commented further on this: targets that go too far, too low, too high,
too wide-these are not what the customer wants. When a customer doesn't
get what he wants in any other endeavor, he goes elsewhere, so why
wouldn't he go elsewhere when trap target difficulty becomes an issue?"

And going to another club might not be the only ". . . go elsewhere"
probability. Shooters who face such difficulties long term could and do
actually leave the game. No one is standing over any shooter's head and
commanding them to shoot trap somewhere next weekend. We all shoot
because we want to. Nevertheless, there are many other sports competing
for the shooter's time. There's no denying that it's fun to play golf, go
fishing, shoot silhouette, try tennis. These games attract millions. Sadly,
trap isn't as popular 'is some of these other games. But one way clubs can
compete for a sportsman's time is to throw the best regulation targets
possible.

Is it that difficult to do? Dean Bright is adamant that throwing good targets
is nothing like nuclear science or anything, similarly complicated. On the
contrary, setting targets at the start of the day is very easy. Further,
changing targets during a shoot, due to wind changes or for whatever
other reason, is also easy. Both tasks take minimal time, especially target
adjustment during a shoot-after the birds have been set to standards in the
morning prior to competition.

Club members who do not know how to regulate trap targets should ask
for help. Bright is confident that at virtually all clubs there will be
individuals who can show you how to do this quickly and easily.
Thorough knowledge of ATA rules with regard to targets is essential. First
off, targets may not [should not] be thrown "wider" than a straightaway
from Station I or a straightaway from Station 5. Second, targets must be
thrown a minimum of 48 yards in still air. Target height, measured 10 yards
in front of the trap, is to be within 8 to 12'.

There are only four primary adjustments to any trap target thrower. To
control the level of the target, you adjust the finger on the throwing arm. To
adjust the straightness of the clay bird, you adjust the field lever. To adjust
target height, you raise or lower the trap. To adjust how far the target is
thrown, you adjust the spring tension on the throwing arm.

Bright jumps in again. "If throwing great targets was any more difficult
than this, making one of four adjustments, or even adjusting all four, I'd be
first to admit that we maybe have an insurmountable problem. But this is
not the case. Making any of these adjustments takes seconds, and anyone
with only a minimal amount of knowledge and training can do it."

The first adjustment Bright suggests is making certain the target is being
thrown so it's level. Observe several targets through their entire flight. If
they are "curling" one way or the other (they'll normally do this more
toward the end of their flight path) the target isn't level. If the bird is curling
to the left, pull back on the finger adjustment. If the bird is curling to the
right, push forward on the finger. If you forget which way to move the
finger, simply make an adjustment either way. If the bird curls more in the
same direction than it had previously, you moved the finger the wrong
way. Reverse what you did, going back a little farther the other direction.

Lock the trap to throw straightaway clays (which is what you did to check
for levelness of targets). Have a 48-yard stake. Adjust spring tension so
birds are thrown to, but not beyond, the stake. Keeping the trap in the
locked center position, set your height stake 10 yards in front. Bright feels
the ideal height should be 9 to 9.5, even though ATA standards are 8 to 12'.
Throw an 8' target 52 to 54 yards (i.e., low and fast), and you have certainly
increased target difficulty, thereby lowering the shooter's potential score.
Remember, the idea is to keep the shooter coming back to the gun club by
throwing uniform targets set to within ATA standards. And don't forget
how easy it is to regulate target height-a simple adjustment on the trap
machine that takes seconds.

Finally, set the straightness of the target. Do this only after making certain
the target is flying level. For this, tweak the field lever until the target is 1)
flying directly over the centering stake right in front of the traphouse, and
2) flying directly to the 48-yard stake. If you set the straightness first and
then find the target isn't level. you'll have to 11( back to re-straighten the
target after getting the birds level.

To set the targets for dead level, Bright likes to stand at Station 3 and
watch the straightaway birds. From this position it's easiest to see any
right or left curl. He also says that a level target will fly 1- 1/2 yards farther
than a curling bird. There are a lot of clubs throwing 52- to 54-yard targets.
Is your club doing that? If so, you're throwing more difficult birds than you
need to be throwing, and the end result could be shooters who compete at
your club aren't breaking scores as high as they're capable of breaking at
clubs that throw, say, 9' targets to 48 yards.

Once targets are set in the morning, it's almost guaranteed that weather
conditions are going to change before the end of the shooting day. Many
clubs don't (won't) make any trap adjustments during the day, despite
changes in wind direction and velocity. Bright feels that clubs with such a
no-change philosophy would do better if they did an about-face on this
issue. It takes very little time to verify that target height and distance are
within ATA standards. If targets are not within these standards, it takes
only seconds to bring them within standards. In other words, when a
squad asks for a target change or target check, don't think of them as a
pain in the butt. Think of them as customers-and remember that being
congenial and agreeable on this will keep them coming back. Here's Dean
Bright's one-sentence philosophy: "Try to give every shooter the same
target-all day long!"

Bright would like see more target consistency, not only from club to club
but even from state to state and area to area. Are some states or areas
known for throwing longer lower, more difficult birds? If this is true, and
your club is in one of those states or areas, is it time for a philosophy
change? Throw birds a foot low and five yards farther and shooters
probably are not going to come as often. Or they're going to travel to clubs
where they can break higher scores. Bright feels that throwing 48-yard
targets at 9 to 9.5' keeps people coming back. "Even if you have to change
the targets every half hour, that's what people are paying for-the best
targets you can give them."

Along, these same lines, there are thousands of league shooters who
compete every year, many of whom never end up getting any more serious
about competition trap. If new shooters compete in leagues where targets
are thrown farther and lower, they're probably not going to break great
scores. Are they going to become discouraged enough to try some other
sport? Take it to the bank this happens all the time. Such shooters not
only fail to become more serious trapshooters, they actually leave the
game.

To illustrate this point: for shootoffs at some large tournaments, targets
have been changed from 48-yard birds and the trap placed in the second
hole (for width) during the program, to 50-yard targets and the trap placed
in the third hole (wider angle possibilities) for shootoffs. Some officials
have thought this seemingly minor trap change could shorten the time
required to settle ties, especially in singles shootoffs.

Summary

The goal here has not been to ruffle any feathers but rather, hopefully, to
encourage clubs to throw the most consistent targets possible-all day
long, shoot after shoot. In doing so, target difficulty should be minimized.
Obviously, target difficulty must stay within ATA standards. But it is felt by
many that numerous clubs are throwing targets that are more difficult than
they need to be, and that doing so probably has a long-term negative
effect on shooters and the game itself.