Pretenders In The Trapshooting World

I can't help notice an increasing amount of supposed class AA Singles shooters who only carry low "A" or "B" averages. Most never carried a AA average in a lifetime of shooting and shoot plenty of targets to avoid the penalty. In boxing they call 'em pretenders-not contenders. I suppose we can compare them to those many 27 yd. wannabees who stink but refuse reductions. Of course, we all know they likely never play a dime in options. I think it's time for more honest classifications to weed out the pretenders. Yes, we have some here in PA too.

 

Oleo, start shooting bunker. At least you know where is your place in this world.!

 

And I, Ollie, can't help not worrying about it. I suggest you try it; it's very relaxing.

N1H1

 

Just when I think I can understand your sentences, you come up with another gem.

Ya gotta love it!

 

Bunker, known as" reality check" also, gives to the "big guys", like Oleo, the chance to get ridiculous and
cut from their ego.
Get your gun Oleo and some money and shoot with me bunker! You will go home like a little puppy with the tail between your balls!
What an Opportunity!

 

So what's the problem? Whose bull is getting gored?

 

I think this is appropriate for this forum.

 

Typical ATA Staff crying Towel, Now these up and coming juniors are out scoring some AAA shooters, just one look at the PA shoot will expose them

GB........................DLS

 

Now those up and coming Juniors are really Competetive.

Congratulations to them

GB...............................DLS

 

I have been a Life Member of the ATA since 1975, since then have shot on and off for what ever or various reasons over the years ... I am always amazed at the people who are overly concerned and judgemental about other shooters, where they stand, what money they play or don't play ... I figure their reasoning is valid to play or not play the money, if its valid and makes sense to them ... Shooters standing at 25, 26, 27 yard line hurt no one but them self so why all of the concern ..? They got there some how and it is their choice if they choose to accept or not accept a reduction, which is no body else's business being as it does not hurt or help them in any way ... There are far to many back room deals going on that effect the ATA and are detrimental to all members be them life or annual members that should be a genuine cause for concern and are far more important ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

So let's look at it another way. An offender who may be in the business of selling guns or other shooting related products might look for an advantage by declaring himself a top shooter while carrying poor real averages. There are fools that look at a scoreboard and say WOW he must be great when in reality he's not much more than the average bum. Others like to brag while comparing themselves to much superior shooters. Why not classify shooters on their real averages and not what they pretend to be?

 

There must of been some major changes because I was not aware any shooter in the gun or ammo business or not for that matter can declare themselves a "Top Shooter" or be classified as such ... If there are "Fools" who look at the score board and come to the conclusion someone is a great shooter without taking into consideration their posted score or taking the time to check their averages that would be their problem, not the shooters ... I have been a Life Member of the ATA for 43 years, not once have I ever heard someone brag and compare them self to the TOP Guns, nor could I imagine a reason for them wanting to ... I have sat down with many of the (Pros) on many occasions, never hear them brag about accomplishments either.... I guess I'm missing something or not paying attention ..? I'm just an average Bum who likes to shoot a round of trap from time to time, maybe even mix in a round of Sporting Clays for good measure ... Don't have to be all that good to still have fun ...

I used to have an FFL and sold many guns and lots of ammo over the years, I do not think my shooting good or bad influenced any of the people I did business with ... I would have my day in the sun like so many others, not sure that mattered to anyone but me ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Honestly, who gives a crap.
If someone wants to shoot over their proper classification, seems to me they are the ones who should be embarrassed every time they post a score.
But what skin is it off my or anyone elses' nose?

 

Good question and the answer is...……………..almost all delegates are overhandicapped. See an earlier thread. They then vote for easier targets. That has taken the money out of the game.

 

The money has been out of this game long before handicapping became an issue ... The many shooters who at one time supported the ATA have either died, moved on to other shooting sports, and or gave up registered shooting because they got sick and tired of the BS in one way or another so they turned to practice ... The hands of time cannot be turned back to make the corrections needed to make this sport pay off again, those days and most of those shooters are gone ... The ATA would like the membership to believe its because they do not support the ATA any longer, just the opposite is true ... The ATA is a Cash Cow for the Good Ol' Boys club and those with good suction that get put in HOF's for setting the sport back instead of making it better ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

They know who they are and at least can say they are in a HOF ..? (SO WHAT) ... If it looks like a Duck, Quacks like a Duck, its probably a DUCK ...

 

I have been shooting ATA since 1966 with several significant breaks but pretty seriously. Since I started shooting the shooters have always complained that there is "no money in the sport anymore."
Face it. Trapshooting never has been able to support more than a handful of shooters based on purses and options. And, when those purses and options were/are available they are almost ALWAYS won by a small handful of shooters. Even the Pro/big dog shooters have probably made more money on sponsorships than on purses and options.
Sports that pay significant or big bucks are spectator sports. And, trapshooting is NEVER going to be a big time spectator sport. Its pretty boring to watch even for those of us who love it.
Now, if you want to have a conversation about dumbing down targets and making the game easier and all that which we discuss over and over and over again, ok. I am one of the most aggressive advocates for MUCH harder targets. Hell, I wish we all shot targets as tough as bunker targets. At least wobble thrown about 45-50 yards.
But that ain't gonna happen either.
I don't get the connection between folks being classed over their ability and the ATA setting xxxxx targets. And, I think it would be a hard proposition to substantiate.

 

I agree mostly. At least about the handful thing. I earned enough for 3 years of college. I was a blue collar shooter. Dedicated because there was at least the dream of hitting it big. I was willing to shoot the 500 practice targets a week since there was at least a chance to win big dollars. That decision now would be bad business.

You cant just walk to the line and win regardless of talent and yardage. You couldn't then. You cant now.

Easy targets screwed the pot. Moving the grand took out the blue collar shooters. It was the blue collar/ weekend warriors that brought the money in.

I wont say who led much of the movement. Got graph?

 

I have read these comments with interest.

Known ability has been my issue from day one WHEN I USED to shoot ATA targets.

I had a decent "A" average until I moved south, and my average came down because of the lack of twice a week shooting available.

When I went to shoots and they classified me as a "B" or "C" shooter I would politely ask them to put me in "A" class because of my "known ability".

I wasn't trying to he a hero or anything, but I just knew that I would probably have a score higher than that true "B" or "C" shooter would get, and I would be totally embarrassed to take away a trophy that would have been won by that True average shooter.

Today I see HIGH 90's posted in the "C" and "D" classes and wonder after seeing previous scores those shooters have posted at previous shoots, WHY sometimes their GOOD scores seem to hit ONLY on the days of a larger shoot ?

That sort of says to me that the Known Ability rule is skewed in ways I don't know how could be fixed. I guess an honest person would bump themselves up, BUTTT~

This is too bad because I know of several shooters who gave up ATA shooting because they had TRUE "B" and "C" class scores, yet seemed to stand no chance against some that they knew were going to hit big that day.

Just my 2 cents worth

 

Definition of a Sandbagger, Qualifications of a sandbagger, shoots low scores delibertly, and turns up the Heat at big shoots, Some play the 25s and 50s< Run a 75 straight, collect for 3-25s, then the first 50 and breaks an 86 or so for the HDCP.

He didn't choke this was his Repitra, years on end, He finally was caught and given a class of A and 25 yards and Coded

The Great PRETENDERS, like THE SONG, I tried to break every target thrown, regardless of the Weather, Rain Sleet, Snow, Winds, the Hell with the Average, those poor weather days Paid Well, ask Britt Robinson, and the Late Leo Harrison.

GB........................DLS

 

Seen that ALL too often also !!!!!

 

This shooter was a College Professor.


GB..............................DLS