Sporting Clays 101

Sporting clays offers a unique shooting experience that changes with every visit to a different club. Unlike other shotgun sports with fixed setups, sporting clays courses vary widely, making each round a fresh challenge. At our club, shooters move through 13 to 14 stations, each offering different target presentations and shooting styles. Understanding these variations can help you enjoy the sport more and improve your skills.

A typical sporting clays station with clay throwers and shooting positions

How Sporting Clays Courses Work

Each sporting clays course consists of multiple stations, usually between 13 and 14 at our club. Shooters form squads and rotate through these stations in sequence. After everyone in the squad has taken their shots at one station, the group moves to the next. When the squad reaches the last station, they loop back to station 1 and continue until the round is complete.

This rotation system ensures that every shooter faces the same challenges and experiences the full variety of targets the course offers. The layout and target presentations differ from club to club, so no two rounds are exactly alike.

Types of Shots at Each Station

Each station provides instructions on the type of shots you will take. These usually fall into three categories:

• Report pair: One target is launched and another one after the other has been shot. The shooter fires one shot at each target.

• True pair: Two targets are launched simultaneously, requiring the shooter to fire two shots quickly, one at each target.

  
  

The variety in shot types keeps the sport dynamic and tests different shooting skills, such as timing, target tracking, and quick reaction.

Different Clay Targets

Sporting clays use a range of clay targets that vary in size and flight pattern. Some targets are larger and easier to hit, while others are smaller and more challenging. The targets can also differ in how they move:

• Standard clays: These fly through the air in various trajectories.

• Rabbits: These targets roll or bounce along the ground, simulating small game animals. Shooting rabbits requires different techniques compared to airborne clays.

• Midi's: Smaller than standard clays

  
  

The mix of target types adds complexity and excitement to the course.

Tips for Navigating the Course

Here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of your sporting clays experience:

• Read the station instructions carefully. Each station will tell you what type of shot to expect and what targets will be launched.

• Watch the targets before shooting. Observing the flight path helps you anticipate where to aim.

• Practice shooting pairs. True pairs require quick target acquisition and fast follow-up shots.

• Stay aware of your squad rotation. Knowing when you will be up helps keep the game flowing smoothly.

• Adjust your stance and gun mount for different target heights and angles, especially when shooting rabbits on the ground.

  
  

Why Sporting Clays Stands Out

Sporting clays is often called "golf with a shotgun" because of its course-style layout and variety. Unlike trap or skeet, where targets come from fixed locations and follow predictable paths, sporting clays simulate real hunting scenarios with unpredictable target presentations.

This variety makes sporting clays appealing to shooters who want to improve their skills in a fun and challenging environment. It also encourages shooters to develop versatility, as they must adapt to different target speeds, angles, and distances.

Wide view of a sporting clays course with shooting stations and natural surroundings

A video a club member made to get an idea of sporting clays: