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How can shooters practice more effectively, choose the right approach for each target, and build consistency under pressure? Host Cody Matson sits down with New Zealand sporting clays coach and competitor Kade Wurster for a practical conversation about the skills and decisions behind breaking more targets.Kade shares how his experience coaching in New Zealand and the United States has shaped his approach to the sport. With fewer opportunities to practice regularly at many New Zealand clubs, he discusses ways shooters can make practice count—including the potential benefits and limitations of VR training. He explains that VR can help reinforce gun-mount repetition, pre-shot routines, and mental processes, but it cannot replace live practice or the visual demands of following a real target.
 
A major theme of the conversation is adaptability. Rather than relying on a single method, Kade encourages shooters to develop a broader “tool bag” and find a high-percentage approach for each presentation. Cody and Kade discuss maintained lead, swing-through, pull-away, and intercept techniques, and how angle, speed, and distance can inform the choice. They also emphasize keeping a strong visual focus on the target instead of letting attention drift to the gun.The pair explore the importance of a consistent gun mount, too. They compare low-gun, soft-mount, and pre-mounted shooting, discussing how starting position and hold point can affect timing, control, and connection with the bird. For Kade, a good method should help a shooter feel in control of the shot—and be repeatable.Cody and Kade also talk about coaching newer and junior shooters, the value of helping students discover what works for them, and the differences between shooting in New Zealand and the U.S. They touch on target setting, equipment, barrel length, and gun balance, sharing how personal preference and practice shape a shooter’s choices.Whether you’re new to sporting clays or looking to refine your competitive game, this episode offers useful ideas for practicing with purpose, adapting to different targets, and building a more reliable approach on the course.This episode was brought to you by The Clay Lab.
 
Cody Matson: (770) 293-8820
Matson Shooting Academy: https://www.matsonshootingacademy.com/
MSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matsonshootingacademy/
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The advice about “look at the bird” is only the beginning—and if you’re missing targets, you may be missing the real lesson. Dominic Grossi breaks down the visual discipline, timing, and intentionality that separate casual shooters from consistent competitors, and explains why the tiniest shift in how you see the target can change everything. Dominic shares how he went from helping teammates in college to becoming the NSCA’s Assistant Chief Shooting Instructor on the sporting clays side, and why the sport’s rapid evolution demands a more modern coaching curriculum. He and host Cody Matson get into the real mechanics behind target reading, the difference between seeing the bird and actually understanding where the gun is, and why too much conscious calculation can sabotage a shot before the shell ever leaves the barrel. You’ll discover why some shooters get lost in the “no barrel awareness” conversation, how visual discipline actually works in live fire, and why communication has to be tailored to each athlete’s eyes, background, and body. 
 
Dominic also explains how he approaches lessons, why lateral speed matters more than distance early on, and how a handful of clear, intentional decisions can do more for your score than chasing perfection ever will.If you’re a sporting clays shooter, coach, or competitor trying to help someone finally have that lightbulb moment, this episode delivers practical insight you can use immediately. It’s especially valuable for anyone who feels stuck in overthinking, struggles with eye dominance or visual clarity, or wants to understand what elite coaching really looks like when the game keeps changing. Dominic’s perspective is equal parts technical and practical, shaped by years of coaching, mentorship from top names in the sport, and a deep respect for the evolving knowledge base of the shooting community. Perfect for shooters who want better answers, better process, and better results.
 
Cody Matson: (770) 293-8820
Matson Shooting Academy: https://www.matsonshootingacademy.com/
MSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matsonshootingacademy/
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What happens when an analytical mind learns when to stop analyzing?
In this episode of Clay Mastermind: Mental Excellence & Industry Insights, Dawn Grant sits down with longtime competitive shooter, instructor, writer, and women’s shooting advocate Dee Orr for a conversation that moves from elite performance to one of the most successful initiatives bringing women into Sporting Clays.
Dee’s rise in the sport happened quickly. After getting involved in Sporting Clays in the early 2000s, she became the 2005 Maryland State Lady Champion, represented Team USA in England in 2008 when the team won gold, and became a longtime All-American. She also began writing for Clay Shooting USA. Dee shares in the episode that she is being inducted into the NSCA Hall of Fame and receiving the Hal duPont Service Award. 
But some of Dee’s most valuable lessons aren't about mechanics.
Dee and Dawn dive into the battle between the analytical mind and the instinctive skills needed to perform. Dee explains how she analyzes a target, makes her plan—and then deliberately releases that thinking so she can trust her eyes and hands. Her simple reminder: look at the target and trust what you see. 
They also discuss competition pressure, why shooters become too careful when scores matter, learning to focus one target at a time, and why sometimes the breakthrough happens when you finally let go. 
Then Dee shares the story and mission of the FSCA Honey Belles, a Florida Sporting Clays Association initiative designed to make women feel comfortable and confident entering the shooting sports. Through education, women teaching women, beginner clinics, affordable access, and a supportive community, the program has introduced more than 1,200 women to the sport. 
It's a conversation about shooting—but even more about trust, focus, community, confidence, and getting out of your own way.
 
Dee Orr Links
FSCA Honeybelles Website:
 https://sites.google.com/view/fscahoneybelles/home
Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/HoneybellesFL
Email:
 FSCAHoneybelles@gmail.com
Syren USA / Dee Orr Feature:
 Meet the FSCA Honeybelles and Dee Orr
NSCA Hall of Fame Announcement:
 Dee Orr – 2026 NSCA Hall of Fame / Hal duPont Service Award
 
Dawn Grant Links  
https://dawngrant.com/ 
https://mindmastered.com/  
https://ameliashotgunsports.com/ 
 
Free webinar here: https://f.mtr.cool/wehmqlchqh
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Robin Sheehan joins Dawn Grant on Clay Mastermind: Mental Excellence and Industry Insights for a conversation on Sporting Clays, women in shooting sports, mental performance, target setting, instruction, hunting, and building a stronger community for female shooters. Robin is the founder of Annie Oakley Shooters of Northern Illinois, an NSCA Level I Instructor, SCTP coach, board member at Gallatin Sporting Clays, former U.S. Shooting Team rifle competitor, and a passionate advocate for helping women find their place in clay target sports. 
In this episode, Robin shares how she grew up in New Jersey in a family of pheasant hunters and later became a highly competitive smallbore rifle shooter. As a young athlete, she earned multiple national titles, international success, and All-American honors in college. After a successful professional career in investment banking, consulting, and aviation sales, Robin returned to shooting later in life through Sporting Clays when her son began taking lessons to prepare for a family pheasant hunt.
Dawn and Robin discuss the major differences between rifle shooting and shotgun sports, including the challenge of moving from a stationary target and sight-based discipline into the visual, instinctive, moving-target world of Sporting Clays. Robin explains how barrel awareness, eye dominance, mechanics, and over-analysis created challenges when she began shooting shotguns, especially after years of precision rifle habits.
A major focus of the episode is women in Sporting Clays. Robin shares how Annie Oakley Shooters of Northern Illinois was created to provide training, educational, and competitive opportunities for women. She discusses the importance of creating a welcoming environment where women feel respected, supported, safe, and encouraged from their very first experience with a shotgun.
Dawn and Robin also discuss the difference in communication styles when coaching women, the problem of unsolicited advice, and why women often thrive in supportive clinics where they can learn without intimidation or condescension. Robin explains how the Annie Oakleys work to train instructors, host clinics, organize female registered shoots, and create a community where women can enjoy the sport while developing confidence.
The conversation also explores target setting, including Robin’s experience taking a target setting clinic, her appreciation for the physical and creative demands of the work, and the artistic element involved in using terrain, distance, backgrounds, angles, and target selection to create meaningful presentations.
Dawn and Robin also touch on the mental game, including Robin’s awareness that discipline, mechanics, fitness, diet, and preparation are not always enough when the mind becomes mechanical or self-conscious under pressure. They discuss focus, confidence, ego, trust, humility, and the challenge of moving from conscious control into a more natural performance state.
This episode offers valuable insight for Sporting Clays shooters, instructors, women competitors, hunters, target setters, and anyone interested in growing the sport through better coaching, stronger community, and more inclusive opportunities.
 
Robin Sheehan Links:
Annie Oakley Shooters of Northern Illinois Website:
 https://annieoakleyshootersni.org/
Email:
 info@annieoakleyshootersni.org
Board of Directors Page:
 https://annieoakleyshootersni.org/about-us/annies-committee/
Facebook Group:
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/annieoakleyshootersni/
Northbrook Sports Club:
 https://northbrooksportsclub.org/
Gallatin Sporting Clays:
 https://gallatinsportingclays.com/
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On this episode of the Matson Shooting Academy Podcast, hosted by Cody Matson and brought to you by The Clay Lab Network, 2014 National Champion and veteran coach Pat Lieske explains why better shooting begins with a system. Instead of simply chasing the miss, Pat focuses on building an intentional, repeatable process that helps shooters understand exactly what happened on every target. From maintaining detailed logbooks and developing effective pre-shot routines to using visualization and honest self-evaluation, he shares the habits that separate advanced competitors from shooters who struggle to turn practice into better scores.
 
Pat breaks down how a shooter’s log can become the foundation of long-term improvement and why identifying one major weakness should guide most of a focused practice session. He explains his angle, speed, and distance method for reading targets, along with how to determine whether a miss came from the initial setup, poor execution, or an incorrect target read. Pat also discusses the power of visualization, showing how mental repetitions can reinforce the same skills developed through live-fire practice. His approach gives shooters a clear framework for diagnosing mistakes, making productive adjustments, and building a pre-shot routine that remains dependable under pressure.
 
The conversation also explores Pat Lieske’s journey from his early years shooting skeet to witnessing the growth of sporting clays in the United States. He explains why he left public accounting to build a full-time career in the shooting industry and how that decision led to a business centered on coaching, gun sales, and range operations. Pat also shares the creative event formats he used to attract hundreds of new NSCA members and discusses why creating a welcoming environment is essential to growing the sport.
 
Pat Lieske is the owner of Michigan Shooting Centers, with locations in Lake Orion and Brighton, Michigan. He is a longtime competitor, instructor, and industry professional known for his practical, process-first approach to shooting. He also serves as the United States importer for Cayman and Cosmi shotguns. This episode is essential listening for sporting clays shooters, coaches, and anyone looking to turn more practice into measurable performance. Pat delivers high-level, immediately useful advice that can change the way you prepare for, read, and approach every target.
 
Pat Lieske: (248) 437-2784 or (248) 693-0567
Website: https://mishoot.com/shooting-instruction/
 
 
Cody Matson: (770) 293-8820
Matson Shooting Academy: https://www.matsonshootingacademy.com/
MSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matsonshootingacademy/
 
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