Mental Training for Sporting Clays

Call us: +44 (0)1284 365680

Improve your concentration
Learn how to be totally focused
Control nerves in competition
Develop a powerful pre-shot mental routine
Shoot consistently at your best

We’ve all experienced it – a missed target because of a momentary lapse in concentration. How can you control this, giving you the winning edge? This mental training for sporting clays is the most successful based on the results of clients…

2 Olympic Gold Medals
9 World Championship titles
10 European Championship titles
21 National / Open titles
(As of Sept 2018)

You can now learn how to control your brainwaves to ensure you have peak levels of concentration just when you need it. You are in control. You will learn a wide range of techniques, specific to your needs, to get to the optimal state of mind for each target. You will be learning from Henry Hopking, the coach who has trained more Olympic, World, European and National champions than any other mental coach.

Please visit this dedicated website for free training videos and more information…
www.GetTheMentalEdge.com

“Henry, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and the level of care you have. You are an awesome person and thank you for being a part of my World Championship!! Henry helped me develop a powerful pre-shot mental routine. He has been like a dependable friend looking after my mental game. I learnt how to control my mental states for strong focus and concentration, regardless of the pressure.”

Gebben MilesUSA National Champion 2009, World FITASC Champion 2012, Nad Al Sheba Champion 2014

Trap / Skeet Shooting

– …do you know which state of mind you should be in while the others in the squad are shooting?
– Do you know what you should be doing five seconds before you call for the target?
– And what should you do in the 0.5 seconds before you call “Pull”?

There is a gear-shift of mental activity which you will learn to move between. This will ensure you are not wasting mental energy when you are not shooting. Amongst others, you will have two especially powerful techniques so you will not get nervous or distracted and importantly you will hit a peak of mental concentration just as you call for the target.

“Henry Hopking’s coaching is without doubt the most powerful mental training system for target shooting”

Glenn EllerOlympic Gold, Beijing 2008

Sporting / FITASC

In the Sporting or FITASC disciplines,

– …do you know exactly how you should use your brain when you have an opportunity to see and plan for the target presentation?
– Do you know what is the best thing to be doing between layouts or stands?
– How can you re-set yourself from a distraction, such as a series of “no-birds” or a noisy squad member and not get frustrated?
– Does the pressure of a perfect score on a stand or layout get to you?

Did you know that there is one mental level needed for the brain to plan the shot and another for when you see the target? Get this right and your shooting will feel effortless. Get it wrong and you will be over planning and mentally distracted.

How can we help you?

The objective of the training is to ensure you shoot consistently at the best of your technical ability. Mental training can only take you as far as your technical skills. However, can you perform at that peak level when it matters? That is what you are going to achieve with this training

We are all different. So your training will be tailored to you. A pre-shot or mental routine which works for one person may very probably not work for someone else. Whilst general concepts can be successfully taught in a group / classroom environment, to really get a strong system for you 1:1 training is essential.

Depending on your technical ability there are different options available. In an initial discussion we will evaluate and discuss which is most suitable for you.

If your averages are above 75% or 20/25, then you will best benefit from the three month coaching programme. If you are lower than this level, a more introductory level of training might be more appropriate as you further refine your technical game.

Training prices start from £650

Coaching you for success…

From experience, the students who have gone on to achieve the most success from this training have all enrolled in our coaching programme. It is one thing to be taught the necessary skills, but it is a big step to apply these successfully. So our main programme is a three month coaching programme, beginning with two days of intensive private training.

During the initial two days you will have a pre-shot routine and a mental skills system tailored for you. It is then essential that you go away and practice these skills. This is where the coaching comes into it’s own. You will have full support and access of Henry Hopking for regular discussions as you refine your mental skills. Guidance before competitions and evaluation afterwards is an important part. We learn and build from your experiences. It typically takes 1 – 2 months to become comfortable with this new system, so three months of coaching support is including in your programme.

Top technical coaches typically charge at least £600 for a day, some much more. How many days of lessons with a technical coach would you need to take you to the top of your game? You would be spending many £1,000’s over time. For our coaching programme we have included 3 months of coaching support, your own brainwave training equipment and the private training days in a single all-inclusive package. This is an intensive programme, to keep you on track with making progress in sporting clays to reach your goals.

Articles from “Clay Shooting USA” and “Trap Shooting USA” Magazines

These articles are a few years old now, but the theory and testimonials remain…
(these are .pdf articles and will open in a new browser window)

“Learning to Control your Brainwaves”

and

“A Review of Brain Training”

(Please note the contact details mentioned in these articles are out of date)

What happens during my training or coaching?

During your training course you will have your brainwaves analysed so you can understand what your mental strengths and weaknesses are. We will look at your initial ability to both focus and relax. Also in your brainwave assessment we will be able to see the impact of mental stress.

This is not meant to be a detailed lesson in neurology. However it is important you understand the basis of the system and the different brainwave states. After all, it will be you implementing this system on your own in competition, so you need to understand which technique to use in which situation – shoot-offs, delay, nerves, fatigue, or even managing with annoying people for example!

Then before even shooting and the distraction of targets you will have the basic structure of a mental system devised for you.

Only then do we go out and start to implement the basic format of your pre-shot routine. Which ever option of training / coaching you attend, you will always be given enough tools for you to implement successfully. There is no point in overloading you with too much on your training that you then can’t implement it. Obviously longer training means we can go into more advanced skills.

There are four main areas of your mental system on which we will focus:

1) Pre-shot routine – in the five seconds before calling for the target.
2) Between stand / layout routine – what to do in the minutes before walking onto your stand / layout
3) Competition management – how to manage your mental states during a tournament. You can’t remain focused the entire time!
4) The 48 hour routine – what you do in the 48 hours prior to competing

Brainwave Technology

On some of the training courses you will be provided with your own brainwave technology. There are three components to this…

Audio Visual Entrainment (AVE) – This has been known in the past as “The Brain Buddy”. This is a tool which can guide you to different mental states; be that for improved concentration or deep relaxation. It is a portable device so it can travel with you. This will be customised to your requirements. Some people need to increase certain brainwaves and others need to reduce them. It is finding and tuning to the optimal balance. So this is very different to purchasing a device “off the shelf”. Everyone needs this customised to their brainwaves after an EEG assessment.

Basic EEG – EEG (electroencephalogram) is the technology for measuring brainwave activity – the electrical impulses pulsing through your neurons in your brain. This technology has advanced considerably in the last ten years. It is more portable and user friendly. The purpose of this basic EEG system is for you to become more familiar with your own mental states. You will be able to see basic feedback of your focus and relax levels.

Pro EEG – For more advanced training you will be provided with a more comprehensive EEG system. You will be fully trained to be able to conduct your own neurofeedback at home. The software enables you to customise screens and achieve different feedback depending on the advice provided in your training. This is a far more accurate and detailed EEG system than the basic system.

What Now?

The next stage is for you to contact us for an initial discussion using the form below (or email directly). You will first need to provide details about your performance including averages. It would be useful to know who assists you on your technical coaching. Also why you feel mental coaching is the next step for you. Perhaps you have some examples of recent situations.

After we have received this information we will then contact you to schedule an initial telephone discussion with Henry Hopking where more detailed questions can be asked. This is to help advise you which programme is going to benefit you most. And of course you will have questions to ask!