How to use the summer to improve your game shooting this season
Summer has arrived, and while lots of our customers and members love the late-night shooting and sunny (we hope) weekends here at the ground, we know some readers will be missing a very different time of year. If your favourite days with a shotgun involve frosty mornings, clear blue winter skies and the sound of a beating line drawing closer as you get ready to shoulder your gun, then this blog is for you.
The game season may still feel some way off, but summer offers the perfect opportunity to sharpen your skills, build confidence and make sure you’re ready when those first drives come around. Read on for a few ways to make the most of the coming months – and drop us a line if you want to chat about how we can help you.
Lessons to stop bad habits creeping in
They say learning is a lifelong process, and we all need a little help finessing our technique and overcoming blocks with our shooting. When you’re looking forward to a season in the field, it’s even more important to be confident in your shooting and know that you’re ready when those first birds appear over the horizon.
A lesson is one of the quickest ways to identify any bad habits that may have crept in and ensure you’re getting the most from your time behind the gun. Our lessons are always tailored to you, so if you’re struggling with a particular aspect of your shooting, for example high birds, right-to-left crossers or consistency on driven targets, your instructor can help you focus on that. For experienced shots, our all-inclusive lessons are often the ideal option, combining instruction with either 25 or 50 clays and cartridges, along with safety equipment and gun hire if required.
If you’re looking for something that’s even more focused on the game season, The Game Changer is a comprehensive half-day game shooting lesson with one of our Senior Instructors. You’ll spend the day shooting a variety of drives around the Thimbleby Estate while benefiting from expert coaching, refreshments and a light lunch, and just like our other lessons, it’s all tailored to you. If you’re new to driven game shooting, it’s a brilliant introduction to the etiquette, safety considerations and expectations of a day in the field. For experienced guns, it’s an opportunity to shake off the cobwebs, refine technique and make sure you’re ready to get the most from the season ahead.
The Game Changer also includes gun fit assessments, advice on cartridge loads and choke selection, pattern testing if required and the use of modern coaching technology to analyse form and technique.
Simulated game days
Of course, there are some things that can only really be replicated with a line of guns, a bit of friendly competition and plenty of ‘birds’ in the air. A Simulated Game Day at Thimbleby is probably the most enjoyable way to prepare for the season ahead. Gather a group of friends and spend the day tackling a variety of drives and enjoying all the camaraderie and hospitality that makes game shooting so special.
Here at Thimbleby we can recreate everything from traditional grouse drives in the butts overlooking the North York Moors to woodland drives and challenging high birds. It offers all the excitement and unpredictability that game shots love, while giving you plenty of opportunities to sharpen your reactions, improve your consistency and build confidence ahead of the season. Just as importantly, it’s a fantastic day out in its own right.
Don’t forget your equipment
Summer is also the perfect time to make sure your equipment is in good working order, fits you perfectly and is optimised for game shooting. Our Demo Day on Wednesday 15th of July will be a brilliant opportunity to try a range of game guns, chat to reps, and discuss cartridge loads, choke selection and gun fit with the team. We think it sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable way make sure your setup is right before the season begins.
Make the most of the summer
The countdown to the game season is already underway. While the days may currently be filled with sunshine, sporting clays and late-evening practice sessions, every hour spent improving your shooting this summer can pay dividends when the first drives of the season arrive.
Before long, those frosty mornings, beating lines and winter skies will be back. The guns who arrive at the start of the season shooting well are rarely the ones who have left their shotgun in the cabinet all summer. Now is the perfect time to get out on the ground, put in the practice and make sure you’re ready!