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There has never been a more important time for sportsmen to learn safe gunhandling and proficient shotgun marksmanship. This is one of the very few books intended to be read by shooting instructors and other advanced shots. In setting down a complete (but notably flexible) teaching system, Michael Yardley puts the greatest emphasis on safety, and he discusses the problems inherent in shooting because of individual fallibility. He sets out a "layer principal"--a series of checks and procedures to be used at all times--that provides a positive framework from which to build a solid, secure technique. After considering game- and clay-shooting safety comprehensively, he goes on to consider gun condition and proof (vital subjects for the instructor), and he explores shooting vision in unprecedented depth. In further chapters he analyzes the components and development of shooting technique by pointing out the styles of great instructors such as Percy Stanbury and Robert Churchill as well as the shooting techniques of some of the best-known modern competitors. There is practical advice on gunfit and on gun and cartridge selection. Yardley sets out principles that can be adapted to an individual instructor's style, and he always advocates flexibility and awareness of the individual client's needs. His chapter on psychology is unique and written from the perspective of a regular competitor who is also a qualified psychologist. He devotes a chapter to exercise and nutrition and another to the challenge of teaching beginners and shooters of more advanced ability levels. Yardley considers specific shooting disciplines, both from an instructional and an individual perspective. The book is amply illustrated with photos and drawings. Here then is a major book--the result of a lifetime's experience--that aims to raise the standard of shooting instruction for an amateur or for a professional shooting instructor. It is also a book that will be advantageous for all shotgunners who would like to improve their shooting technique and safety through a deeper understanding of themselves and their uniquely challenging sport. |
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SHOTGUN - A Shooting Instructor's Handbook