Concentration.

[Novagun]

Had my best card of eleven groups at the small bore range. I was shooting groups rather than one shot per roundel. The rifle was an HW77K.
The group core size was pretty good for me, about 10mms but every target was spoiled by a stray shot or two.
They were not flyers, they were a result of momentary loss of concentration and I knew the shot was poor the moment I squeezed the trigger to let off. I did it more than once per group. Each group about 10 shots. I didn't actually count.
My question is this. Do you have to just harden up and force concentration or do the top shots have special tricks they use? 

[mpbby]

Good point! Loss of concentration happens by here, even more when it's seeming easy..
 
So, thinking loud while waiting the masters..

A preventing/rescuing trick could be .. "the next one should always be - better".  And, when things don't seem "perfect", we should have the discipline to abort the shot and restart the checklist.

[ranchibi]

I am by no means a great shooter, but, find my best shots/groups when I go through a set “routine” in each and every shot (learned this from golfing) which to me creates constants that hold up under most circumstances. Mine are shoulder position, eye placement (sight picture in scope), then a slow trigger release once my crosshairs are close to motionless as much as possible with eye focused on crosshair not target. So, yeah, focus but focus in steps for me.

[dcmeyer]

Same with most sports, repeatable precision. And yes as a pool layer for 30 years a shot routine is key. Figure out the key points and put them in an order, rinse, repeat. Doing this will show you your weakness.

[Socaltrail]

When I was younger, I shot clay targets (trap) on world level for about a decade. For this game, when you are shooting a 100 target event, concentration was everything. Some folks listen to calming music or white noise, some went so far as hypnosis. The bottom line with it all is repeatable practice and figuring out what it is that works for you. For me, there was a routine that I followed before getting ready to shoot each clay. It was a mixture of controlled breathing, visualizing the perfect shot, and a series of identically repeated movements. Every shot the same thing took place. This forces you to maintain a level of concentration that can be almost trance like. I apply the same principles to shooting centerfire and airguns. Figure out what works for you, repeat it every time. Consciously notice when your mind starts to drift or you loose your focus and see how it effects your performance. Concentration comes in different forms for different people. Its an interesting topic and very relevant to airguns and all shooting disciplines.

[north country gal]

I agree with the others. It's mostly a matter of a set routine and rigidly sticking to it. One thing that also helps for me is to include in my routine a mindset that each shot is its own little universe, independent of all other shots. This helps keep my mind from thinking about past or future shots. Yeah, I've ruined more great groups by allowing my concentration to wander by not trying to blow a perfect group. Yeah, shooting is a MENTAL sport, no doubt about it.

[lizzie]

I do the exact same. Usually, with a five shot group, there will be one that I slipped a little on, and like you, I know it the second I let the shot off.....very frustrating!
When I chill out a little, and go with more instinctive shooting, it seems to help with that.
I think I tend to concentrate a little too much, rather than just "going with it".

[PCPhack]

If I do 5 shot groups and pull one, it's always the 3rd shot it seems.

[AG72]

If I do 5 shot groups and pull one, it's always the 3rd shot it seems.

Often the same for me to, or the 5 if i have a realy tight group on the target...

[Marc In Iowa]

I think I tend to concentrate a little too much, rather than just "going with it".

Practice makes any routine second nature or natural. Once it is natural, let go, be in the moment. The previous shot does not exist. The following shot does not exist. Let your now natural ability (from practice) flow. There's nowhere you need to be at this moment, than in the moment. No need to rush a shot. Relax. Shoot.

Prepare first. The rest is flow.

Just some thoughts.

[45Bravo]

we should have the discipline to abort the shot and restart the checklist.

The key word here is SHOULD!

But most people just send the round and think they will take the time on the next one..

Discipline, like common sense, is not a fruit that grows on everyone’s tree....

[PCPhack]

If I take more than a few moments to settle, I often look up a moment and then start over. It is often an indication that something is or was off with my normal hold.

[mpbby]

Troubleshooting inconsistency, only recently I’m being able to isolate ‘the shooter’. To be simply ‘repeatable’ is not that easy as it seemed when considering the bunch of usual suspects..

[tommy2toes]

I find that as much as I try, I cannot keep the POA 100% still when I squeeze the trigger.  Much more noticeable on high magnification, but shooting on a deck rail resting front of gun on a towell, the cross hairs or Mil dot holdover is always moving.   

I can get it nearly still, but extremely hard to keep it 100% from moving for more than a second or two.  Pretty sure there is something wrong with my technique, but candidly I am disadvantaged with not having a proper shooting table and an adjustable chair for height with “two” rests vs. just using 1 towel on a deck rail.

Have tried to deploy lessons on breathing techniques, position of hands; cheek, proper eye relief - the issue is that I cannot keep my reticle and POA 100% still long enough when I pull trigger.

[dcmeyer]

I find that as much as I try, I cannot keep the POA 100% still when I squeeze the trigger.  Much more noticeable on high magnification, but shooting on a deck rail resting front of gun on a towell, the cross hairs or Mil dot holdover is always moving.   

I can get it nearly still, but extremely hard to keep it 100% from moving for more than a second or two.  Pretty sure there is something wrong with my technique, but candidly I am disadvantaged with not having a proper shooting table and an adjustable chair for height with “two” rests vs. just using 1 towel on a deck rail.

Have tried to deploy lessons on breathing techniques, position of hands; cheek, proper eye relief - the issue is that I cannot keep my reticle and POA 100% still long enough when I pull trigger.

I've gone through this. First get a proper rest, for quick setup or on the go I use this:


Fill with something light, dried beans or something, not sand.

One of my problems was the actual trigger pull not being straight back, pulling me off target but could be many things.

[Novagun]

Before I went off to the small bore range tonight, I read through all the replies. Then I thought about them and I replayed in my mind the shots from last week.
Two things I came up with. The first was concentrating for longer. That is concentrating, watching for the follow through period, the second or two that it is.
That put me on the road to improvement. Still a few wild shots , about five in the 100 or so pellets fired but not too wild. That was an improvement.  Still not one hole groups but the best ever for me.
Second thing was the forehand grip. Hold the rifle lightly-- artillery hold but I found the way the fingers of the forehand are held makes a difference. Fingers held out  straight with the rifle resting on a flat palm was best for me. If the fingers and thumb are curled that puckers the skin on the palm of the hand and the rifle is resting on a wad tissue/ skin and it moves.
It got even better when I took a piece of closed cell foam about 8mms thick and put that on top of the palm. It makes me keep the palm flat and the surface the forestock is resting on is the same every time.  I fashioned it a bit into an open mit so fingers can still grip the rifle for reloading.

Still a bit more practice needed, a lot more practice but heading in the right way.

[mac]

Really good thread that is very helpful. A lot of things that I didn’t,t think of to help me practice and be consistent.

[WD Feese]

There was a Major league baseball player who had such elaborate procedure for batting that he was called the human rain delay. 

[Hoosier Daddy]

If I take more than a few moments to settle, I often look up a moment and then start over. It is often an indication that something is or was off with my normal hold.

Agreed
 There is a fine line between not concentrating enough and "too much".
The more I overthink a shot the same can happen as if I took the shot too soon.
 The crosshairs start to swing more, then it is time to dismount and shake it off.
 I am going more for repetition. Sometimes my best groups are taking the shots right as they come into view each and every time.

[Dairyboy]

Sometimes my best groups are taking the shots right as they come into view each and every time.

This! Sometimes I shoot better groups not concentrating and just for fun and quicker than normally would.

I for one am not really a target shooter. I'm a better shot when there's an animal or say a spinner or can in the crosshairs over a piece of paper. I however have been learning to follow through with my shots and concentrate on the trigger pull. I also now only really shoot groups at 50yds as 25yds seemed to easy for me and didn't need to concentrate. Then would I would stretch it out to 50yds I'd think something was wrong lol just me. Also found I'm way my steady with a front bipod while prone than on a bench with a proper rest. I use my off hand to either hold by the bipod or under the butt stock. Much more comfortable for me.