Elizabeth and I got to enjoy a rare practice round of clays yesterday, along with a long time student, top competitor and friend. We so rarely get a chance to visit the local club and 'be a regular shooter', and with the frigid temps, our lessons had cancelled for the day, so off to Rocky Creek Sporting Clays we went! I swear, every round of clays ends up being a learning experience.

As much as we teach that the shooter should be more concerned with 'why' they miss a target, than 'where' they miss, it is sooo very easy to fall into that trap. Fairly early in the round we ran into a tough presentation, and I couldn't reliably break the second bird. The discussion immediately turned to where I was place the shot......I was thinking about it, as were the others around me....it infected us all! After a short break, and mental 're-organization' I realized I was not allowing myself to connect with the second bird visually before delivering the shot, and it was GETTING WORSE because I was obsessing with where I was shooting, which makes it even harder to focus on the bird! I ran my routine, emphasizing the part of the bird that I had to have in focus on each target,  and everything started working just fine.  XX-XX-XX-XX. 

Just remember folks, its much more important to know WHY  than WHERE.

Best,

​Will

Hello to all you shooting friends out there!  It has been a long time since I have written anything and honestly I will have to say that I have never actually written a “Blog” post before.  It seems as a New Year is upon us there is no time like the present to start something “new” and try this blogging stuff…..


Bring on 2018!  The last year was full of changes for me.  First big change of 2017 was that someone came and wanted to buy my house we had been in for three years.  It was in a very trendy neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia with excellent public schools and close proxemics to the private schools in the area.  I had decided with all the travel I was doing with work and dating Will that a townhouse would be a much better choice anyhow.  I accepted the offer and commenced to looking for townhouses in Richmond.  What I did not realize was that I was about to change not only my marital status but my state of residency as well.  Shortly into my search Will proposed, we ran off and got married and of course that changed the momentum and led me to South Carolina.

The next big change for me was kind of a natural progression of sorts.  After almost 10 years doing business as Lanier Shooting Sports I was at another crossroads.  Keep our businesses separate or merge them.  After great deliberation, we opted to merge them and formed Fennell Shooting School.  This was not an easy choice for me as I had worked very hard to create a business model and a reputation in the industry as Lanier Shooting Sports.  Though it was not an easy decision to move my residence to South Carolina AND let go of my individual business identity, I am thrilled to be challenged to build a better business with the two of us in it together.  We share common values and teaching philosophies, really value our clients and students and are looking to offer far more than just individual lessons.

At Fennell Shooting School we are wanting to create individual experiences with lessons and also offer anything form corporate entertainment to family “get (shooting) togethers”.   We have the facilities and ability to create anything from beginner lessons to wing shooting to FITASC layouts and more.  With two shooting fields, a collective 19 traps in South Carolina, several on lifts, and a “Claybot” on each of our two fields, we have great target flexibility, including the ability to throw driven clay birds.  We also have a small pavilion, several fire pits for those colder days or just plain ambiance in the late afternoons, a lounge and a shotgun shop.  We believe your experiences should be comfortable, happy and memorable!

The hardest part?  Letting folks know I am in South Carolina!  We made a decision to continue to maintain the Virginia teaching business, formally known as Lanier Shooting Sports, to remain faithful to the many wonderful students and friends we have in Virginia. When I am available  in Virginia I am sold out most of the time. Now to develop that reputation and a new wonderful clientele in South Carolina! I realize this will be a work in progress and I certainly am keeping myself busy by continuing to develop our facility in the mean time.  I am also working to build  a Southern Carolina GRITS chapter, encouraging more women to get out and shoot for the sheer fun of it!

Though the last 6 years of my life were in a bit of a conundrum, putting it lightly, I am feeling a wonderful sense of purpose and happiness in our new venture/adventures together.  Fennell Shooting School is growing and looking better by the day.  When I sit back and think that less than one year ago most of it was deeply wooded and unusable for our purposes, I now smile and know in my heart anything is possible if you just believe in it and work hard for it!

I have seen lots of talented instructions but am always amazed at Will and his genuine passion for teaching and his ability to convey and deliver.  I am just so happy we can share this joy together and with those we teach.  It goes without saying that we both have so much respect for our teaching peers and so happy we are a part of the teaching and shooting community!  With more than 5 million shooters in the USA, we have lots of opportunities to help grow this sport!

So, in summation I guess I can say “out with the old, in with the new!”  We are ready for 2018!

Happy New Year!!!!

Elizabeth Lanier Fennell

​Cold Weather Shooting Gear!  Burrrrrr!
 
Folks, that time of year is here! Time to get ready for the 2018 season…..getting gear ready, ordering shells, checking gun fit, planning tournament trips, and knocking the rust off your ‘move’. All good things to occupy yourself with during these winter months!
 
But the winter…….that can be a problem. Whether you are in Minnesota, or Florida, its somewhat colder than the shooters that reside in the area like to shoot in……so its time to prepare for the cold, but to do it in a way you can still move the gun and break the clays! Here are a few items that Elizabeth and I rely on to get us thru the winter months…..
 
Suggestions From Will:

Beretta Wind-stopper Sweater. (http://www.berettausa.com/en-us/beretta-techo-windshield-short-zip-sweater/ )
This is an essential clothing item. The Beretta sweater is my favorite item in the Beretta clothing lineup. Super warm, with minimal bulk, and the inside liner is made to cut the wind, and in our experience, and will ward off a light shower. They have a ‘short zip’ and a ‘full zip’ model…..we like the short zip the best.
 

Le Chameau Boots (https://www.lechameau.com/us/mens-chasseur-leather-boot.html?c=283 )
I got my Le Chameau boots back in 2005, and they are still holding up just fine. I never would have thought that I would wear ‘fancy French rubber farmer boots’, but there is a reason they are so popular in Europe, they flat out work! The leather lined models don’t have the ‘clammy’ feel that normal rubber boots have, and the full length side zipper makes them easy to get on and off. They have plenty of arch support. I always have mine with me!
 


Wind Shirt (https://store.krieghoff.com/product/krieghoff-windbreaker-navytan/ )
The wind is your enemy win it comes to cold weather comfort, and I find a ‘windshirt’ essential. I provided a link to my favorite one with the Krieghoff logo, as it happens to be the one I wear the most. Not only does it stop the wind, it hold in the warmth. I find that with a light fleece, and the wind shirt on over it, I can handle the cold wind quite well!
 
Suggestions From Elizabeth: 


Farm to Feet (https://www.farmtofeet.com/)   
Amazingly warm socks! I had not heard of these until a good friend suggested I try them.  I am sooooo happy I did!  not only do they have great support, but they are warm and comfortable!  They are wool not the itchy kind, and have lycra woven in to give added support.  I have not had cold feet since I found these socks and wear them with your LeChameaus (or "Dubbies") and you are ready!  

Dubarry (https://www.dubarry.us/)   
We all know I love my Dubarry boots (Dubbies) and pretty much wear them or LeChameau's from fall to spring.  Waterproof and good looking, they are a staple of  my wardrobe!  Worn with Farm to Feet socks and your tootsies will be happy! 

MacWet Gloves (http://http://www.macwet.com/) 
I used to HATE to shoot in gloves.  I did not feel like I was connected to my trigger when I had them on.  I would shoot driven birds in coldest of temps without gloves.  In Argentina sometimes the gun got downright HOT shooting so much and it was there a friend was wear ing MacWets and gave me them to try.  I loved them, bought a pair in England and sent so many folks to their web site they asked us to be dealers.  Check them out and let us know if you need a pair or two!  You will not be sorry!  (they make hot weather gloves as well)  


Wool Coats
There is absolutely no substitute for wool when it comes to keeping warm.  We love our wool coats and sweaters.  Many folks make wool coats and there are lots of shooting coats available in wool.  Just Google wool shooting coats and choose one you like.  I wear them all the time on cold winter days!  

Hot Hands
Available just about everywhere, keep these in your range bag!  A suggestion, open them up about an hour before you need them!  

These are just some of our favorite items we use daily teaching, shooting and hunting in the colder months. Your Milage MayVary, but we have years of experience with these items, and we use with confidence!


One last item….we both recommend a Big Hairy DAWG to keep you warm and entertained!  Definitely!  

The pre-mounted trap shot is definitively a separate technique from all of my other targets. Goes like this....
 
When there is 'no delay' from the time I first see the target until it gets to my barrel, I am going to 'fully pre-mount the gun'. Head firm on the stock. My hold point is where the target quits being a 'blur'. Not where it comes into best focus, but where it quits being a 'flash'. My eyes are between the gun and the trap....hold point is ALWAYS ON THE LINE. I start my gun moving on the flash of the clay, and deliver when I see edges on the clay. The target should not pass your barrel....if so, it should be minimal. It is over very quickly......most of the work is done before you call for the target. Its quick, because it is very efficient.
 
That is a synopsis. That technique is worthy of a lesson or two to get into all the details and nuances. Let me know if I can help further.

Best,

Will
​Fennell Shooting School
 

​

Shooting Sportsman magazine recently did an article where they interviewed 7 different top sporting shooters, each sponsored by a different gun company. I was featured as the shooter from Krieghoff. What is interesting to me is that while the shooters are all using different make guns, the similarities are astounding.  

Mind you, yes the shooters are all sponsored by the company they represent, we are all free to pick which model gun we would like to shoot. Actually, I should say what format gun we want to shoot. I choose to shoot a K-80 Parcours but I could just as easily picked a K-80 ProSporter or Sporter. They other shooters interviewed could all have picked different format guns than they shoot. The DID choose what they are competing  with.....take a look, and draw your own conclusions.

shootingsportsman.com/seven-guns-from-seven-makers/

​Best,

​Will

I get asked all the time for suggestions of what/how to practice. Generally the student is all excited about all the new things he learned (or re-learned ) during the lesson, and they are eager to work hard to ingrain them into their ‘game’. Sometimes, they are fired up to apply what they worked on during the session, and see it improve their scores. Either way, they need a PLAN.

Well, I teach that there is two types of practice, and you should never mix the two up. There is skills practice and there is tournament practice. Both are vitally important, and all competitive shooters need a mix of the two. The ratio of one to the other will change back and forth over time as the shooter progresses. Unfortunately, few shooters ever do either of these effectively.

Skills Practice is deciding in advance of arriving at the range, a particular skill that needs to be addressed. Let’s say you have having trouble with rabbit presentations. Then head straight to the rabbit station(s) and get to work. Working on rabbits does not involve all the other stations on the course, you are going to ONLY shoot rabbits today. I don’t care if you shoot 150 rabbits…..don’t distract yourself with the other presentations on the course, or with what your buddy’s new gun feels like on crossers, etc. Go to the rabbit station and get to work. Probably by yourself, or at most with one other shooting partners who agrees to work on the same issue. Stay focused on the task at hand. Just think, if you really solved your problems with rabbits( or whatever the presentation/issue), how worthwhile that afternoon of practice would really be!  Maybe it’s working on your gun mount, or footwork between targets in pairs, or your preshot routine….whatever. Working on these issues does NOT involve wandering around the course with your buddies just shooting each station until you are happy (or tired of being heckled by your friends). Go fix one issue, and you will have had a good day’s work.

Next up is Tournament Practice. This is where the rubber meets the road. Again this does not involve a trip around the course shooting targets till you ‘learn them’. Get a score card. If you normally shoot a warm up before a registered round, head to the 5 stand and warm up. Then, either alone, or with a squad that is willing to do the same thing you are doing, hit the course like it is the US Open. No ‘extra view birds’, no ‘do overs’. Rotate the order, score fairly, and move through the course. If you crater a station, deal with it. You cannot stay there until you sort it out…...you don’t get that satisfaction during a tournament. You have to learn to walk away to the next station and get your chin up and figure out the next station. Finish the round, and add up your score. You now have a benchmark. Of course, if you dumped a lot of birds on some station, you can now go back and work on it. This type of round is best done on fresh targets. If your home club hasn’t changed the targets in weeks, drive a bit further and shoot a course you are not familiar with….(and in a nice way, let your home club know that you went somewhere else to see new presentations. Nothing motivates a manager to change his targets like a loyal customer feeling like he has to spend his $$$$ someplace else)....it will be worth the effort.

NEVER mix these two types of practice up. Skills practice will generally put you back into your conscious mind too much for effective subconscious performance in a tournament round. Tournament practice doesn’t allow enough repetition to learn a new skill. NEVER allow yourself to start a Tournament Practice round, get frustrated, and just start skills practice. Finish the round. Otherwise, you are practicing quitting.

How is that for a format of practice to get your season going?

Best,

Will

​

​

Your Own Practice Field?


Why not?  We know that all shooters like the idea of doing whatever they need to to add more X’s to their score card.  We generally think about buying the effect shotgun, coupled with the best performance shells and invest in a lot of lessons.  For less than the cost of most good sporting clay shotguns, you really can set up your own practice area and actually save money in the long run on throwing lots of practice targets.  The average gun club cost per target is in the neighborhood of .37-.45 cents a target.  Targets, purchased in bulk, you can buy standard clays for less than 1/3 that cost.


With that said, have you ever considered doing just this? Just setting up your own practice field, and do it affordably?  It does not require the purchase of a bunch of machines, but maybe one or two machines that effectively could create a great practice area.  


Well folks, we think we have the answer for you. MEC Clay Target Machines and Long Range Target Release Systems have the products that allow you to do just this. You can set up virtually any target presentation you can think of on your own land, and use it on your own schedule, not being limited to a clubs availability.


From my experience putting together shooting fields, both for teaching and personal practice, I have learned the value of having your own clay target field.  Now I know not everyone has the land or can afford to do this on your own but consider getting a friend or two and invest together.  Perhaps you could strike a deal with a local hunting club if land is not readily available. I know several friends that have worked with gun clubs to have their own personal training areas. Use your imagination!


You can set the targets as hard or soft as you wish.  Have a target giving you trouble?  Then YOU can set it and practice all you want and think of the convenience of having it where you can shoot anytime you want and not on someone else time schedule.  Not to mention the significant savings in target fees.  More importantly, you can work on improving your abilities at your pace without the distractions from others on a course.


This folks is a GREAT way to improve your shooting at your own discretion and also build on lessons by being able to practice what you have learned.


Just a few options:


Consider the MEC 100 E Tilt Base machine or the 100 E Wobble Machine(pictured above).  Reasonably priced, very durable and easy to use, coupled with the Long Range (wireless voice release) would allow you to remotely move, and remotely, viva buttons or voice release your targets.  You can set the voice release to throw the same target over and over as well for shooting drills.  

Having your own field to practice on can be the ULTIMATE stepping stone in your pathway to greater performance. Do yourself a favor, and don't be afraid to take the journey. If we can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us!

Best,

​Will 
​
www.mecshootingsports.com/default.aspx
​

www.longrangellc.com/

The 70mm Target

In June, while we were in England, we shot our first 70mm target.  Yup, not a 60 or a 90, but in-between.  The difference in the target?  With a bit less dome and more heft, and it doesn't  slow down like a 60mm does, it keeps it’s speed fairly well, and can be thrown greater distances, creating an optical illusion of sorts.  You are looking at it thinking it is a mini but in fact, it “ain’t” slowing down like one!

So far the targets are only produced in Europe and Promatic is making the machine.  Don’t expect to see them available for sale in the US anytime soon, but they may make an appearance at a championship shoot or two.  

If available, they provide a much better alternative to the 60mm mini because of their shape and weight and feed through the machine more consistently and reliably.  Long term, this could be altogether a great alternative to the 60mm.  

Bring it on!

Best,

​Will