doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vision, Focus on the target.

I recently watched a video by Chris Batha that revolved around focusing on the target. He made the statement that humans can only focus keenly on a target for around a half second or less. I've thought about this statement and I've wondered if there isn't something to what Chris has to say, especially for those of us getting older. When I was young, it seems like I could focus and track a target for a long period of time. Now that I'm approaching my 57th birthday, it seems I do better shooting if I catch a target in my peripheral vision, then sharply focus close to, but before the break point. Maybe it's just me, but I'm interested to see what others think and if you agree with Chris Batha.

I'm no expert by any means but if you focus too long your target will be out of range...

Serious question: what does the word "focus" mean to Batha? In my mind I'm focusing on say a skeet target for a considerable period of time. But perhaps he is using the word in another context.

buzz, I believe I watched the same video and what I got out of it was that in a far away incoming shot or long crossing shot if you bring the gun up and try to focus on the bird the entire flight there is a good chance you will miss it. His philosophy is "see the bird, shoot the bird".

Joe, not jOe; I think Batha is talking sharp focus, eg, where you see the rings on a clay pigeon.

Now for jOe, what about an incomer launched 80 yards away or a long crosser that can be visualized for several seconds. Now I know you are used to shooting turkeys sitting on the ground, but we are talking flying objects here. This is not a stUpid subject, despite what you think.

Buzz the limit of Doves I shot the other day were all flying...I shoot several turkeys on the wing each fall and duck hunt....one thing I don't do is shoot at animals that I think are out of range.

I watched a video once by a famous American/English guy.....his method was "move mount and shoot". After watching it I was screwed up for awhile until it kind of came to me.

The biggest thing to me is to never loose focus on your target while moving mounting and shooting.

Batha (and others) misuse the word "focus" constantly. They should be using the word "concentrate" instead. Basically, at any distance beyond about ten feet our eyes are focused on whatever we are looking at and that is an optical, biological and physiological fact. However, that does't necessarily mean we are concentrating on what we are seeing. Big difference.

I was fall turkey hunting with a New Yawker a few years back....where we camped they had a lighted 5 stand. We had planned to shoot sporting clays so the New Yawker had brought several chokes and even warmed up before I went to shoot...I'd never shot at night before and neither had he. The only choke I had was a .650 Rhino turkey choke in my SBE...after finding this out the yank informed me that he was going to kick my azz.

When I walked up and put my gun in the rack one guy asked "how much choke do you have ?"....I remarked "enough". I beat the yank twice so bad he wouldn't shoot anymore...21 or 22 to 10 or 12.

The next morning the dog made a flush about a 100 yds up from us...the yank was in front of me about 20 yards and opened up on the turkey twice I raised and shot once dropping the turkey.

I attributed my good shooting to being focused and knowing I had to beat the bragging yank.

You are undoubtedly a legend, jOe.