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Dr Duk

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've shot skeet for the last 30 years. I seem to be going backwards in my scores.
To compete, you need to be shooting close to 100 in all gauges.
I've started shooting trap in the last 6 weeks.
I can pretty much shoot a 24 or 25 every round. (16 yard line)
I suspect that a 98/100 will not win you anything, just as in skeet.
Am I correct? I am a mediocre trap shooter??
Trap, to me is easier than skeet.
 
#3 ·
There is a saying out there:
" Trap is easier to learn, but harder to master, where Skeet is harder to learn but easier to master"
If you can maintain a 98-100 from the 16 you'd be surprised how many winning circles you'll be in.
 
#4 ·
If you are can carry a 98 average, you will be in the top 3% of trap shooters. It is a very hard average to maintain. One 96 and 2 97s out of 10 rounds means you have to shoot 1, 100 and 2 99s and 4 98s all on 10 different days and probably different fields at different clubs.

Having competed in AA and AAA for that last several years I can tell you that 98s in either class seldom win unless it is a very small shoot. All of the AAA shooters run 100 regularly anywhere from 2-4 round out of 10. Virtually all AA shooters are capable of running 100. At most shoots of 100 shooters or more, about 5% of the scores will be 100s.

Of course, you won't know how good a shooter you are until you compete and you actually have to stand there and break a target every 30 seconds.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Jim Tyner said:
If you are can carry a 98 average, you will be in the top 3% of trap shooters. It is a very hard average to maintain. One 96 and 2 97s out of 10 rounds means you have to shoot 1, 100 and 2 99s and 4 98s all on 10 different days and probably different fields at different clubs.

Having competed in AA and AAA for that last several years I can tell you that 98s in either class seldom win unless it is a very small shoot. All of the AAA shooters run 100 regularly anywhere from 2-4 round out of 10. Virtually all AA shooters are capable of running 100. At most shoots of 100 shooters or more, about 5% of the scores will be 100s.

Of course, you won't know how good a shooter you are until you compete and you actually have to stand there and break a target every 30 seconds.
Click to expand...
That's what I thought.
Need to consistently break 100s to be "good"
 
#8 ·
Jim Tyner said:
If you are can carry a 98 average, you will be in the top 3% of trap shooters. It is a very hard average to maintain. One 96 and 2 97s out of 10 rounds means you have to shoot 1, 100 and 2 99s and 4 98s all on 10 different days and probably different fields at different clubs.

Having competed in AA and AAA for that last several years I can tell you that 98s in either class seldom win unless it is a very small shoot. All of the AAA shooters run 100 regularly anywhere from 2-4 round out of 10. Virtually all AA shooters are capable of running 100. At most shoots of 100 shooters or more, about 5% of the scores will be 100s.

Of course, you won't know how good a shooter you are until you compete and you actually have to stand there and break a target every 30 seconds.
Click to expand...
I'm just wondering, how long does a shooter own his bad scores? Do your beginner's scores count for the rest of your life or is the average based on something like your last 1000 targets? Are abnormally low scores thrown out or does the shooter own them?

Oh, and putting statistical theory to use:
A 96% shooter has a 36% chance of 25 straight, and a 1.69% chance of 100 straight.
A 97% shooter has a 46.7% chance of 25 straight and a 4.75% chance of 100 straight.
A 98% shooter has a 60.3% chance of 25 straight and a 13.3% chance of 100 straight.
A 99% shooter has a 77.8% chance of 25 straight and a 36.6 chance of 100 straight.
 
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#9 ·
ATA averages reset each year and maintained or updated every 100 targets during the year. All scores are recorded for a lifetime and publically available.

While the 16 yard line is very easy (skeet easy), handicap is much more difficult. Especially from long yardage. Doubles will also be more challenging. Compared to standard American skeet vs doubles skeet or international.

Trap singles teaches or measures discipline. 100 can outright win small shoots, but more likely gets you into a shoot-off. A challenge to your focus, mental composure and strength.

To me, singles get boring. My 100's or 200's come during large significant events. Where the pressure is at peak. I tend to stay more engaged, not get complacent. When you get to the point of 100's, you expect going straight and the only reason for loosing a target is not staying engaged, following your routine. 100's are mental, not about equipment or being short on skill. You have already learned this from skeet competition. Although in trap far less percentage shooters have the mental strength and skill to consistently shoot 100's.

There is a big difference in averages from those that shoot every opportunity, every weather condition, including big wind. Compared to shooters that shoot for averages only, being on the field during nice weather only, not shooting registered or stay home on bad weather days. They have great ATA numbers, very few awards.

Maltz
 
#10 ·
the way I look at it is: a 98 average is very good; however, if you shoot a 98 every single time you go out, you probably won't win.

If another shooter shoots 100 straight in a tournament, then a 96 in another tournament, he has a 98 average, yet he will at least have a chance to win with his score of 100.

you shooting a 98 at each tournament will most likely get you nothing.

I think that is where some people get frustrated with trap. Just depends on your personality
 
#11 ·
bigeejakes said:
I guess that all depends on your definition of good. Personally I would classify someone shooting 100s consistently a superb shooter.
Click to expand...
Someone had posted a summary of ATA scores from 2008.

4.5% of shooters were AAA
15.2% of shooters were AA

I would consider AA or better (96.25% or higher average), the top 20% of all shooters, to be good shooters. But I think you are really asking a different question.
 
#15 ·
xsshooter said:
the way I look at it is: a 98 average is very good; however, if you shoot a 98 every single time you go out, you probably won't win.
Click to expand...
While that's technically true, in reality, it's very hard to get a 98 average without shooting a lot of 99's and 100's.
Just like it's hard to average 70 mph on a road trip without going 80 or 90 mph a lot of the time.

For a shooter who has a 98% probability of hitting a bird, the probability of hitting:
100/100=.1326
99/100=.2707
98/100=.2734
97/100=.1823
96/100=.0902
95/100=.0353
94/100=.0114

Here are the probabilities for a shooter with a 96% hit probability:
100/100=.0169
99/100=.0703
98/100=.1450
97/100=.1973
96/100=.3711
95/100=.1595
94/100=.1052
 
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#16 ·
Actually, trap can't be reduced to those probabilities because the targets are different from different posts and are affected by target set, lighting, weather and background. Any given shooter is going to have harder targets than others so if they are unlucky and get more of those, then their probability of hitting all one hundred drops.
 
#17 ·
It's best to enjoy shooting. How many Golfer's expect to shoot "Par", none.

The shooting 100 is great, I did it with a 99 and a 100 back to back, as a new "D" shooter with a 80 average. With a S/S in the rain. Never did it again. But I will.

Carry On
Gary
 
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#18 ·
It's best to enjoy shooting. How many Golfer's expect to shoot "Par", none.

The shooting 100 is great, I did it with a 99 and a 100 back to back, as a new "D" shooter with a 80 average. With a S/S in the rain. Never did it again. But I will.

Carry On
Gary
 
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#19 ·
Dr Duk said:
I can break a 25 straight every time IF I stay in the gun.
I find my misses are when I get lazy and don't stay in the gun!
Click to expand...
That`s the mental part of it. I just started shooting trap this past year after shooting skeet on and off for the last 40 years. I find trap much harder than skeet but am enjoying it tremendously because it`s something different and I needed a change.
 
#20 ·
Trapshooting is about competition. Practice only gets old and boring in trap or skeet. In a game of perfection, competition is the driving force. That is why we enjoy moving on to organized shooting. Leagues, derbies, jackpots, different clubs and travel. With ATA or PITA registered the last stop and where the competition is greatest, the participation the most. Bigger events, crowds, and cost. Registered is expensive and only the most committed chase after the major trapshooting events.

This is where the big scores are shot, but by only a very select few. Most competitive registered shooters score no better than you experienced shooters do. A 97 in singles wins nothing unless you count on lower classes. Short yardages in caps.

In both ends of trapshooting we shoot for our selves. The real competition is within. We are beat or win by our own effort and discipline. One target at a time.

Maltz
 
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