Fancy Footwork

Like any other sport, in clay target shooting the basic physical aspects can get you closer to success. You wouldn't drive a golf ball without careful attention to your feet, would you? And you can bet A-Rod, despite his recently-confessed "enhancements" wouldn't step into the batter's box without squaring off correctly. Why should clay target shooting be any different?

There are any number of variations on what experts consider the "right" way to put your feet down, and each works, depending on your circumstance. But here are some basics that pertain to virtually all footing styles.

quail Balance your body weight - center of gravity - pretty much equally on both feet. If a friend can push you off balance with a light shove, your stance is likely too wide.
Your "off" foot can be ahead of your other foot (righties, your off foot is your left). But not too much ... a few inches is about right. You'll need to swing your hips, often dramatically, for crossing shots, and the farther apart your feet, the more restricted your hip movement.

Think about it, and then set up your foot position for where you will break the target, not where you'll start tracking it. Again, this frees your hips and shoulders for maximum range of motion in relation to the target's break point.
On doubles, there are two schools of thought depending on the pair. Set your feet for the second target if you won't have time to move between the two. Or, shoot one "single," then move your feet (and body) for the second "single." I often re-mount my shotgun, too, so the entire process is smoother and more natural.