Trap, Skeet and Sport: A Closer Look at the 3 Disciplines of Clay Shooting for Beginners
There are three main clay shooting styles for you to take a shot at. Prepare to excel at all three with this quick guide.
How much do you know about the three clay shooting disciplines? What about the disciplines within them, and what separates Olympic styles from English ones? This is your chance to test your knowledge.
Trap shooting, skeet shooting and sport shooting are three distinct paths you could follow if you pursue competitive clay shooting (or just try it as a casual pastime). You don’t have to stick to just one- the more you know about each discipline, the more likely you are to succeed when you give them a try..
In this blog, we'll dive deep into each of the three main clay shooting disciplines.This is the fifth entry in Castellani’s blog series all about clay shooting. Read on for a breakdown of trap, skeet, and sport shooting.
Clay Shooting Disciplines: Trap Shooting
When it comes to clays, the term ‘trap shooting’ generally refers to a few different disciplines. The most notable ones are Down-The-Line (DTL) trap shooting and Olympic Trap (OT) shooting.
- Down-The-Line (DTL) is popular across the UK. It involves one trap in the middle, and behind it, there are five spots where shooters stand, called pegs. Each shooter takes a turn. If they hit it with the first shot, they get three points; if it's the second shot, they get two points. Once all five shooters have aimed at five targets, they move to the next peg and repeat until each has shot at 25 targets (five at each peg). Competitions might have more rounds, totaling 50 or 100 targets.
- Double-Rise, Single Barrel, and Handicap-by-Distance are other versions of DTL.
- Olympic Trap (OT) is the kind you see at the Olympic Games. Picture 15 traps in a trench in front of five shooting stands. Targets are faster and thrown at different heights and angles. Shooters get one point for hitting a target, no matter which barrel they use.
- There's also Automatic Ball Trap (ABT), where one point is scored for each hit, whether with the first or second barrel, and Universal Trench (UT), where there are five traps in front of shooters, and on the shooter’s call a target can be released from any trap.
In all these trap shooting disciplines, there are strict rules set by organisations like the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. They detail measurements, trap positions, and target distances to keep things consistent across shooting grounds, even though backgrounds and weather can vary.
Clay Shooting Disciplines: Skeet Shooting
There are two main types of skeet shooting: English Skeet (ESK) and Olympic Skeet (OSK). These both use a semi-circle setup with a trap house on each end—one high on the left and one low on the right. There's also an American version called NSSA Skeet, but we don't see it much in the UK.
- In English Skeet there are seven stands, with Stand 1 below the high house and stand 7 next to the low house. The targets are thrown one at a time and in pairs, giving shooters 24 targets. If a shooter misses one, they get a chance to shoot it again, making a total of 25 targets for the round. If all 24 are hit in a row, the shooter can pick either the high or low target on station 7 to make up the total.
- There's also a version called Skeet Doubles. It's played on the same layout, but shooters only shoot pairs on each stand. They move from stand 1 to 7 and back again.
- Olympic Skeet is the international version played at the Olympic Games. It's similar to English Skeet, but there's an extra station, station 8, right in the middle. The targets are faster, and there's a random delay of up to three seconds after the shooter says 'Pull.' Plus, the shooter can't have the gun on their shoulder before the target shows up. All these twists make OSK more challenging than ESK. It's a real test of skill!
Clay Shooting Disciplines: Sport Shooting
Unlike skeet and trap shooting, where everything is set, sport shooting lets the course-setter be creative. They can place targets at different distances, speeds, and angles, even using the landscape for extra challenges. In sport shooting, you'll see all sorts of clay targets, like mini, midi, battue, and rabbit clays, along with the standard saucer-shaped ones.
- In English Sporting (ESP). Shooters go in groups, taking turns at each stand. The stands are spread along a path, taking you through what could be fields and woods (depending on the course). In a round, you might shoot 50, 75, or 100 targets. The shooting area has bars to keep it safe, and a menu boards show what targets to expect, like left-to-right crossing clays or right-to-left rabbits.
- In FITASC Sporting is a bit like ESP but you follow a sequence at each stand, shooting various targets from different traps. No shooting cage here, and you call for the target without the gun on your shoulder.
- Other cool versions include Sportrap (STR), where you shoot from five closely spaced stands, and Compak Sporting (CSP), regulated by FITASC. These days there’s a new kid on the block called Super Sporting. It's like ESP but with even more types of targets at each stand, and it’s getting more popular all the time.
Full descriptions and rules for each discipline can be found on the websites of the relevant governing bodies, including the CPSA.
If you’re stepping into the world of clay shooting, Castellani can equip you with everything you need to succeed. View our product range for industry-leading equipment, take a look at our blog for more free tips and resources, or get the full Beginner’s Guide to Clay Shooting at the link below.
