So you finally get serious about shooting doubles and get some instruction and begin a practice routine and all of a sudden your normally consistent singles game becomes erratic and somewhat unpredictable... I know this happens because it's happened to me and at least a few of my students and fellow shooters.
So lets look at some of the probable causes and cures for this troubling symptom...
The best singles shooters I know (I'm not one of them...) are very deliberate shooters. They have a disciplined setup and pre-shot routine and are not noted for shooting targets exceptionally fast. Which, in my opinion is the best possible way to shoot great singles scores! If you watch any of the All-American shooters (Like Harlan Campell, Kenny Darroch, Nora Ross or Sandra Jo Jack)...and I mean watch the shooter not just the targets break...you'll see every shot looks like an instant replay of the last one! No rush, ...see the target, ...identify the shot, ...move the gun and ...make the shot. Sootball! Repeat. They have all worked for many years to refine their technique to this level of perfection. Believe me its no accident.
So you have done something similar and have been shooting very good to excellent singles and now it's gone to heck in a hand basket and you're wondering why? What makes a great singles shooter and what defines a great doubles shooter are two completely different things. The deliberateness of the great singles shooter has to be replaced with a seemingly reckless abandon to shoot great doubles! (The great PA shooter, Frank Little, said he does not see the first target in doubles break when he's shooting his best... his eyes move to the second target as soon as he commits to the trigger on the first shot!!). This is not an uncommon thing. It took me a while to learn the technique, but it was well worth the effort!
Here again the All-American (all around great) shooters have figured out how to make the transition mentally from one game to the other. Yes, it's all in your head! (Most of this sport is...) You are trying to break that first doubles target faster than a normal singles target and you have succeeded in doing so...but this same speed is near impossible to duplicate on the oscillating 16 yard targets! Most folks speed up their singles after beginning to become reasonably proficient at doubles. This is where it goes into the crapper! One must make the mental gear-shift back to the more deliberate move that made you so successful at singles in the first place. How do we do this?
• Practice. Singles practice is not everyone's favorite. But, in order to maintain a consistent set up routine and a more deliberate approach to the target, practice is imperative!
• Define your personal set up routine. Write it down...memorize it and own it. Now on the practice trap go through it on every shot and be aware of the timing. Do it exactly the same way each time until you feel its automatic.
• Once you call for the target, DO NOT MOVE THE GUN UNTIL YOU SEE THE TARGET! Doubles shooting over voice releases tends to make us anticipate the target. It's not going to outrun the shot from your gun, so take the couple hundredths of a second to get your eyes on the target! It will dramatically improve your singles (and handicap) scores.
• Remember that the two disciplines are exactly that...two separate and different games with different and separate pre-shot routines and mental approaches. Try shooting targets in your mind and go through the complete setup routine and shot (of course you never miss doing this!) Try to make your singles shooting smooth and a little deliberate. The first target in doubles should be fairly fast and a tiny bit reckless... in other words, don't dwell on the shot. See it and shoot, get your eyes to the second target as fast as you can and let the gun barrel follow your eyes.
With this approach you can now work on each game and perfect your technique. To win those HAA and HOA trophies you have to shoot all three disciplines well. Good luck with this and most of all have fun! Remember that the journey to a goal should be as much fun as reaching the goal itself.
Note:
sandy Jack has an excellent video blog on this subject: https://youtu.be/DLcrxCmKpx0
Shoot well and often!
Bob