View full article PDF here.Recap: Make Competition a Habit – by John D. Shima
Many clay target shooters have the skills to reach AAA class averages, yet struggle with consistency. John Shima explains that the key to breaking through lies in habit formation, automaticity, and mindset.
Automaticity & Habit Loops
Performance improves when repetitive actions shift from working memory to procedural (muscle) memory, creating automaticity.
Shooters should practice precise, pre-planned moves from hold point to break point until they become automatic.
Habits form in loops: cue (target appears), routine (automatic move), reward (unconscious execution). The true reward is efficient execution, not just a broken target.
Levels of Habits
Shima, referencing authors like Charles Duhigg and James Clear, outlines three levels:
Goal-Driven Habits: Focused on outcomes (e.g., reaching AAA class).
System-Driven Habits: Breaking goals into processes, with training, practice, and coaching.
Identity-Driven Habits: Aligning mindset with aspirations—believing you are the shooter you want to become, not defined by past averages.
Wants vs. Needs
Goals (wants) are achieved by accepting the strategies and discipline (needs) required to form consistent habits. This means:
Train to Practice: Prepare with deliberate training.
Practice to Compete: Repeat precise moves until they are ingrained.
Compete to Thrive: View competition as a way to grow, not just to win.
Embracing Competition & Resilience
Champions learn to accept defeat as part of the journey. Wilma Rudolph and Michael Jordan are cited as examples of athletes who used setbacks to fuel success. For shooters, making competition a regular habit builds resilience, confidence, and self-improvement beyond just scores.
Final Take
Shima argues that competition itself must become a habit. By training with discipline, practicing with purpose, and competing with perspective, shooters can thrive not just as athletes but in life itself.
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