Trap Talk From The Back Fence

Episode: Trap Talk’s Top Stories (Part 2) – More Must-Watch Moments! 🎯

Date: March 28, 2025
Hosts: Zach Nannini (& Ricky)
Guests: Legends and top shots from the world of trapshooting

Main Theme & Overview

This episode continues the series of "Top Stories," where Zach, Ricky, and a roundtable of respected trapshooting voices (including Leo, Joe, Gary, and others) share stories, lessons, routines, and inside tips that define the world of competitive trapshooting. The focus is on preparation for major shoots like the Grand American, insight into mental and physical routines, equipment choices, memorable shootout formats, and the enduring camaraderie across generations in the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preparing for the Big Shoots: Acclimation & Mindset

• Acclimating to climate and conditions
  • Ricky explains the process of traveling to different shoots in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri to acclimate to both humidity and high target counts before the Grand American.
    • “You want to prepare yourself for the worst...I pack clothes for summer, but also throw in the extra long-sleeve shirt, a couple sweatshirts.” (Ricky, 02:12)
• Target behavior by region
  • Humidity in the East affects how targets slow down compared to the dry West.
    • “When I’d go back east, it looked to me like the target would come out of the house faster and slow down faster.” (Ricky, 00:55)
• Physical & mental grind of multi-day events
  • It’s not just physical. The mental grind can wear you down just as much.
    • “300 targets a day, trying to break all those singles, the mental grind will wear you down physically as well as mentally.” (Ricky, 03:34)

2. Coaching, Adjustments & “Tune Ups”

• Balance between major changes and fine-tuning before big events
  • Most pre-shoot lessons are about “tune-ups” rather than overhauls.
    • “If they’re looking for a tune-up, which most of them are...get some of the bad habits out of the way and go from there.” (Ricky, 04:09)

3. Memorable Early Lessons & Gun Club Chat

• Learning by observation & experimenting as a kid
  • Ricky emphasizes adapting by watching top shooters and experimenting with technique—e.g., hitting the right target first in doubles.
    • “If he’s the best double shooter, I better watch and see what he does...he’s shooting the right bird first. Oh my God, you can do that. That’s legal.” (Ricky, 06:25)
• Financial realities of running and managing clubs
  • “When these kids get onto overtime, you’re not making money anymore...you’re bleeding bad.” (Ricky, 07:08)
• Club routines: Carrying over handicaps rather than shooting them off, unless there’s a yardage change
  • “Unless there’s a yardage change, we don’t even shoot the handicaps off...people are like, ‘you gotta shoot the handicaps off.’” (Ricky, 07:22)

4. Perseverance and Handling Pressure

• Joe’s approach to high expectations and comebacks
  • “You definitely have to have a clear mind and a positive attitude going into it. It’s a long week, it’s a long grind.” (Joe, 14:26)
  • On recovering from a bad start: “Last year...I missed over 25 birds on the first hundred handicap, and I was still able to come back and win the high overall at the end of the week, just perseverance and not giving up.” (Joe, 14:41)

5. Shooting Technique: Guns, Hold Points & Equipment Choices

• Switching to over/under for all events
  • “What I like the most about it is I shoot the same gun for everything. It’s the same weight, it’s the same swing...with an unsingle...I move quick with it and I get there before I’m actually ready...and it would give me a flinch.” (Joe, 16:04)
• Hold points and eye focus
  • The importance of a low hold and hard focus on the spot where the target appears.
    • “If you get your gun up too high and that target comes underneath your gun, you lose that target...So for me, with doubles, ...as soon as I see that flash under my gun, I make my shot and immediately get my eyes over to the second target before I move the gun.” (Joe, 16:34–18:18)
• On colorblindness and seeing the target
  • “Without that black ring, you’re really at a disadvantage. Even a dop, which is the quarter rim, at least will give a definition to what—I find even if I can see the target well without the ring, the black ring...will allow me to see the steps on the target.” (Female Shooter, 36:41–37:04)

6. Organizing & Innovating Shoot Formats: The Backbench Shootout

• Elevating participation through creative event formats
  • Joe recaps a new event where even lower-score shooters have a shot at payouts, raising engagement.
    • “People got the experience of shooting at the 27 that don’t normally get to do that. The people who didn’t shoot it enjoyed watching it and said, ‘next year we're going to be involved in this.’” (Joe, 21:48–22:52)
  • On payouts: “We had people that never shot off for a bag in their life...What was it, 91s, 87, 83, and 78. Those scores? They got paid and they shot off.” (Joe, 23:56)

7. Historic Perspectives, Club Stories & Mentors

• Legacy in trapshooting: Memories of growing up in gun clubs
  • Multiple generations reflect on traditions, like the support of older shooters and parents.
    • “My dad and a couple of the guys...they got me to load targets and load the trap. I was only like seven or eight...” (Unknown Older Shooter, 40:40)
  • On mentorship: “If you’re a newer shooter, it would be to find somebody in your area to work with and pick one person...not give you bad information.” (Jake, 49:09)

8. Philosophy, Sportsmanship & Lasting Lessons

• Perspective on winning, goals, and the meaning of “success”

  • “You have to want that bird. Sometimes I shoot practice and say, this is the last target to win the Grand American.” (Leo, 57:20)
  • “My goal is to conquer myself. If I walk away breaking a good score knowing that I conquered my demon, it doesn’t matter...that’s what’s big for me.” (Female Shooter, 37:04)

• On giving back and helping others win

  • “I’ve given up a lot of trophies so people could win...They needed that win to push them into the next category.” (Leo, 52:53)

• Sportsmanship and composure

  • “The creation shoot was really impressive to me and how they acted. They were all gentlemen. Once I got better, I tried to act like them.” (Leo, 51:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Eat your way to triple A. I’m working on it, baby.”
  Ricky jokes about the physical side of trap, (03:31)

• “If you bring them, you’ll never use them.”
  Ricky on overpacking for the unpredictable Midwest weather, (02:28)

• “Targets are easy to break, but twice as easy to miss.”
  Joe, on the importance of mental focus, (15:48)

• “My mind is the easiest muscle to get out of shape and the hardest one to keep in.”
  Female Shooter, on the mental game, (35:21)

• “Treat people like you want to be treated, you know, and think about others…because people help me a lot.”
  Leo, credited with legendary sportsmanship, (53:32)

• “Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of my winning”
  Rick, endorsing his gear, demonstrating loyalty and tradition, (08:19)

• “You can't think—oh it’s a quarter angle, I’m gonna leave three. No, it’s a reflex reaction, but you need that three seconds.”
  Leo, on instinctive shooting, (55:33)

Important Timestamps

• 00:23–03:57 — Ricky on preparation, acclimation, and mental grind of the Grand American
• 04:06–07:22 — Lessons and adjustments for new shooters; club management and finances
• 08:40–13:38 — Herbert’s story about ATA membership confusion after returning from a 25-year hiatus
• 14:26–16:02 — Joe discusses handling the pressure of high expectations and perseverance
• 16:04–19:37 — In-depth technique on hold points, gun choice, and doubles strategy (Joe)
• 21:41–24:55 — Recap of the “Backbench Shootout” format and community response (Joe, Rick, Host)
• 27:03–30:56 — Gary shares about high shooting guns, vision changes, and club-running stories
• 35:19–37:39 — Female shooter discusses training regimen, consistency, mental game, and shooting with colorblindness
• 50:09–54:30 — Leo’s first experience at a night shoot, learning about the Lewis system, and philosophy of sportsmanship
• 57:20–59:56 — Leo reflects on mindset, winning at the Grand, and the discipline required to ignore distractions

Additional Highlights

• Fun banter about the unpredictable Midwest weather (sweatshirts and rain gear!) and practical advice for all competitors
• Sponsorship appreciation interspersed throughout (skip those unless notable)
• Stories of family, mentorship, and lasting friendships formed through decades of shooting and club life

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is relaxed, conversational, and filled with warmth and camaraderie that bridges generations of shooters. Practical wisdom blends with personal stories, and the humor, humility, and supportive nature of the community shines through—making it both informative and inspiring for trapshooters old and new.

Conclusion

This episode of Trap Talk From The Back Fence captures the essence of competitive trapshooting: preparation, adaptation, mental toughness, and the tight-knit relationships that span decades. Whether discussing shooting strategy, handling adversity, or simply sharing a laugh, the guests and hosts offer both expertise and heart—reminding listeners what it means to compete, to improve, and above all, to belong.