Changing the max handicap yardage to 30 yards

If the ATA changed the max handicap yardage from 27 to 30, what would be the result ?

 

First I'd think who would GAF? The number of persons actually affected would be minuscule.

Second I'd wonder why anyone would bother with the scheme when it would cost nothing to simply make the targets more difficult - as in a REAL 90deg field and something like 65yd targets. A game perhaps more suitable for adults than children.

 

Why change the distance. Go to a wobble trap, and 70-yard targets. Make it more like international bunker without all the expense of the multi-machine setup. Could also cut the shot weight down to 1 once or 7/8's.

 

I wonder how many responders ever actually made the 27 yd. line other than in their dreams.

 

Since the health of ATA-type trap depends largely on new shooters coming into the sport, and since new shooters don't give a second thought about shooting from the 27 or the 30, adding three yards to handicap distances would have almost zero impact on the future of the sport.
It might keep the bitching down among the old-timers, though. It for sure would increase traffic on trapshooting forums.
That's how I look at it.

 

Back then it was the dream for all of us wasn't it?
I was never into wearing "scare pins" but I proudly put that little red one on my vest. I'll bet we all remember exactly where we got that last yard or a half to get punched.
I did it at a club called Victory Hill. The trap chairman and his running buddy managed the registered shoots and were notorious for having a good time after the shoot was over. When I got the last half yard they took my paper card and put a hole in the 27 spot.

They laid the card on the old wooden desk and "punched" it with a 16 penny nail and a hammer. Only took me a couple try's to pull it back out,

 

I remember, Stein shoot at Springfield gun club in Ohio. Gene ( trash can) Wallick, and my self shot 95's, on the same squad. Frank Little had the lone 96 in the champion caps. He was the first one to welcome me to the back fence.
Roger C.

 

Heck, I remember languishing at the 26.5 for years until I decided to break a 97 at a small local shoot and get that yardage. Actually, I was getting tired of the ribbing from my 16 yo son who made the 27 before me.

 

I was at the 26 yard line, laid off shooting for several years and when I came back I was put at the 23 yard line .... I asked the then Delegate what the hell is going on, he said that I obviously didn't turn down the reductions that were issued while I was not shooting ... I called Vandalia and talked to the head of the handicapping committee (David ????) and was told that could not be, they would look into it ... I asked where I should shoot from in the mean time, he said ask the Delegate, I asked the Delegate and he said the ATA says 23 yard line so shoot from there ... Long story short, I made the 27 yard line from the 26 (again) at the Ben Avery Kachina shoot with a lady named Linda Nelson, she and I tied with scores of 98's , the Handicap Champion had a 99, but she and I made the 27 yard line finally ... The longest yard imaginable for me way the 26 because I had to shoot it 3 times over and over again until I made the 27 ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Why would you go to the 30 yard line when most of the bitchers turn down reductions now because they "EARNED the RIGHT" to be on 27 yards. You should have to Earn the right to stay on any yardage. Mandatory Reductions before 30 yards will fix a lot of this problems. Way to many over handicapped shooters who want to shoot with their friends. That's what 16's and doubles are for, friends, handicap was always for money.

No one should have the right to say anything about the pro 27 yard shooter if they ever turned down a reduction. To me you voided your vote. ATA trap shooters today wine as much as the Democrats running for president. I'm glad I quit, don't miss all the complainers and that seems to be the majority that is left.

When I go to one of the meat shoots at Lepsic, Continental, Cloverdale, or Paulding everyone shoots the same yardage (20) and as many times as they like with NO BODY complaining about the targets or the pros. We just shoot trap, the way it was with the ATA when I joined it back in 1974.

The ATA has been in the act of killing itself since about 1997. Thank Neil for his wonderful ideas.

 

Thanks N1H1

Anybody else notice those letters and numbers stand for the swine flu virus?

How appropriate

Dysinger was right!

 

Earned yardage is mandatory. Earned reductions need to be mandatory. The handicap system cannot work if it only works in one direction. Getting to the 27yd line is a great achievement. Being able to have the ability to shoot the scores to stay there is even a bigger achievement. It seems rather ignorant to want to stay there if you don't have the ability to be competitive. Take your reductions and quit whining. Just my honest opinion.

Dave Berlet

 

Got my 1/2 yard to the 27 at the old Miramar Gun Club (now closed) in San Diego during a Winter chain shoot, shot a 97, and didn't win. LOL

 

If a shooter continues shooting after attaining the 27 yard line it would be reasonable to make reductions mandatory, if not why would any body care ..? The ATA is driving shooters away its not a matter of where someone stands or don't stand that is sucking the last breath out of the Association … WPT … (YAC) …