View full article PDF here.Recap: Shooting the Right Bird First in Doubles
One of the most common questions the author receives is why he shoots the right bird first on every post in doubles. Though unconventional compared to the traditional left-first approach on posts 4 and 5, it has become the foundation of his success.
Early Lessons
Like most shooters, he started with singles before moving into doubles. His first instruction was to shoot right bird first on posts 1–3, then left bird first on 4–5. But he struggled with the second targets on posts 4 and 5—his barrel stopped on the second shot, or his head lifted from the stock. Watching top doubles shooter Dennis Hamamura, he noticed Dennis always shot the right bird first. The next round he tried it, and the results immediately felt more natural.
The Payoff
Though it took years of work—three years and 4,500 targets before he cracked a 90% average—he stuck to the system. Since then, he’s posted 31 years of 98%+ averages, a career-high 99.67 in 2003, and once ran 1,130 straight targets over five months.
Why It Works
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Consistency: Shooting the right bird first makes every second target a move back into the face for a right-handed shooter, helping with head position and control.
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Angles: On posts 4 and 5, right birds feel more natural as first targets because they’re similar to singles angles.
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Control: Using the left leg as a “brake” prevents over-swinging and helps with balance.
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Vision: Keeping targets above the barrel avoids losing sight of the bird at the critical moment of the shot.
Practical Advice
The author explains in detail his hold points, footwork, and gun movements for each post, emphasizing aggressive but controlled moves to avoid dipping or overswinging. He stresses:
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Be fully ready when you call “pull.”
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Get your eyes quickly to the second bird.
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Maintain balance and avoid shooting off the back leg.
Final Take
Shooting the right bird first on every post may not be for everyone, but it’s a proven system that has delivered decades of consistent success. The key is to practice, commit to a plan, and give it time—because mastery in doubles, like Rome, isn’t built in a day.
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