Playing yardage group option? 20 vs 27 is a suckers bet. Back Fence Gamble .

Discussion in 'Americantrapshooter.com. - Trapshooting forum.' started by XDelegate, Jun 27, 2026 at 4:41 AM.

  1. XDelegate

    XDelegate USMC Retired USMC Retired Past State President Member State Hall of Fame

    I can remember when we had the option to play the yardage group. Top scores were by yardage. If the Back Fence Shootout was such a good idea why isn't Ohio offering that option? It is the same thing right?

    Added money could be on yardage. The 20 yard shooter putting money down against the 27 yard shoot is a suckers bet.

    They can get 600 shooters to play the option? That was just the 27 yardage group. Wasn't that option one of the reasons we registered targets? What am I missing?
     
  2. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    This is an entirely different concept. It’s also not an ATA registered event.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 27, 2026 at 8:59 AM
  3. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    Meant to say an entirely different event.
     
  4. Jim/Canton

    Jim/Canton Mega Poster

    Earth to Jon...
    It is exactly the same. I am guessing you were never at a tournament that had a yardage event / option. There was added money on the yardage group just like this. You paid to play just like this. You were squadded with shooters of same yardage. Just like this.

    And you say that despite it being the same, "it is entirely different".
     
  5. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    Earth to Jim…
    There ARE NO YARDAGE GROUPS in the Back Fence shootout. Everyone shoots from 27 yards. Some aren’t even ATA registered competitors. Comprende?
     
  6. Jim/Canton

    Jim/Canton Mega Poster

    It is one yardage group. 27

    It is one yardage group. 27

    The 20 yard shooters didn't shoot. They could have.
    Had the OSTA had a yardage group shoot anyone could have fairly participated. That was the way it used to be.

    Yardage groups options are gone. That was a big reason to register targets. The OSTA is as slow as you.
     
  7. XDelegate

    XDelegate USMC Retired USMC Retired Past State President Member State Hall of Fame

    Give it up Jim

    Many can't remember when there was a reason to register targets.
     
    Ron Burdick likes this.
  8. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    From what I have seen there were 552 shooters. But there must have been one more person with a gun.

    The one that FORCED ALL THOSE SHORT YARDGE SHOOTERS TO PAY THE ENTRY

    I would like to know just how many ata 20 yard shooters signed up. I would be willing to bet a few dollars that there were a lot more 24-26 yardage and game shooters than 20 yard ata shooters.
     
  9. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    Are ‘ya knocking the great success they had?
     
  10. Jim/Canton

    Jim/Canton Mega Poster

    Jon....

    Please understand this.
    One yardage group and some extras shot in the event. That number 550 is just one yardage group. When trapshooting had better leaders we had several events like this in one day. There used to be four yardage groups with just as much added money in each group.

    Why didn't you know that? I suspect you haven't shot in big shoots if at all. (moderators?)

    That would have put close to 2,000 shooters on the line. yep....thats the way is was.

    The long yardage shooters liked yardage groups since the short yardage shooters won most events. Now the short yardage shooters are conned into shooting with the big dogs. I suspect they will slowly learn. Down a little this shoot.
     
  11. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    I was replying to the post that said 20 yard shooters are “suckers” if they entered the event.

    Someone would have to be a complete idiot to think I was knocking anything.

    BTW, did you like the picture of my last slot hit?
     
  12. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    I’m very familiar with yardage groups.
     
  13. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    I don’t think I did.
     
  14. Dave Berlet

    Dave Berlet State HOF Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    Wrong! The Back Fence event is a non registered event and all participants shoot from the 27yd line regardless of your ATA yardage. No one was forced to enter. If you choose to enter you shoot from the 27yd line with whatever options are included or you don't enter. There are an untold number of options that could be included in any program, but with 2 many options many will have very few entries which means some options will have a very small pay off or there will be a refund.
    Dave Berlet
     
  15. JonReitz

    JonReitz Active Member

    Thanks for posting this reply. It ain’t rocket science.
     
  16. GOP Josh

    GOP Josh Moderator Staff Member

    It was a fun event! I am a 23 yd shooter and had a ball. Didn't win any money, but it was fun and a few shorter yardage shooters won a lot!
     
  17. XDelegate

    XDelegate USMC Retired USMC Retired Past State President Member State Hall of Fame

    Dave

    It is honor to chat with you. Congratulations on your accomplishments.

    I am sure you are not too old to remember when the Directors and shoot managers did their jobs. You can't be too old to remember yardage belt buckles or yardage purses.

    Saying everyone should have to shoot from the 27 is akin to saying we shouldn't register targets. The shoot proved trapshooters will shoot for money. It also showed they will put up the funds to make money. I believe that is the way it was in Vandalia at the Grand and the OSTA Championship. If I were a 27 yard shooter I would want everyone to shoot from the 27 and 27 yard shooters used to despise the yardage groups. They had to shoot for their own money.

    Imagine what trapshooting would be like (again) if Directors and shoot management could apply themselves the way Joe did. The vendors will donate if the shooters are there. Joe showed the ATA they will come. He showed they will pay to earn money. The shootout was a yardage shoot.

    Joe is a great leader. He showed the OSTA how to do it. Unfortunately they are to busy with their civil war.
     
  18. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    And again, as Mr. Berlet so kindly said,

    NO ONE WAS FORCED TO SHOOT

    Unless of course someone can tell me who held a gun to anyone’s head to make them pay $200.00
     
  19. Flyersarebest

    Flyersarebest Moderator Founding Member Forum Leader

    “akin to saying we shouldn’t shoot registered targets”

    Well, from the pathetic numbers they get for that shoot in ILLnews, it looks like thousands have already decided to “ not shoot registered targets”
     
  20. M Johnson

    M Johnson Mega Poster

    Well, I can agree that people will definitely go and shoot where the money is whatever option that may be.
    The odds of winning good money at the Back Fence Shoot-out are definitely in the 27 yard shooter favor.
    And that Flyers loves the Casino.
    And to quote a popular movie character "A man has got to know his limitations."
     
  21. GOP Josh

    GOP Josh Moderator Staff Member

    A 75/100 paid $503... and that is split 14 ways.
     
  22. M Johnson

    M Johnson Mega Poster

    Pure Luck. A total gamble.