Pre-Season Tune-Up: 5 Drills Every Shotgun Shooter Should Be Running

Getting back into competition shape takes more than just dusting off your shotgun. A successful pre-season tune-up means going beyond casual shooting—it’s about rebuilding strong fundamentals, restoring consistency, and forming new goals. This is your chance to reset and recalibrate. Whether you’re aiming for personal bests or preparing for the biggest shoots of the year, these five drills—supercharged by Shot Tracker—will set the foundation.

1. Station-to-Station Focus Drill
Shoot a full round of singles, but approach each post like it’s its own match. On each station, hone in on target angles, hold points, and sight alignment. With Shot Tracker, track your timing and break location on each post. Are you slower from Post 5? Missing more hard rights? The data reveals your tendencies so you can fix them post by post.

2. Timed Reaction Drill
Ask a friend or coach to call pulls at random intervals. The purpose: build true reaction speed. Shot Tracker captures reaction time in milliseconds, helping you train instinctive breaks that won’t hesitate under pressure. You’ll start to notice where your visual pick-up is late—and how to tighten your response.

3. Muzzle Control Mirror Drill
Mount your gun in front of a mirror and watch your form. Is your barrel swinging smooth? Is your muzzle lift efficient? Shot Tracker adds tech to this visual check, recording motion and timing even in dry-fire. This helps shooters identify unwanted movements before bad habits take root.

4. Shot Rhythm Consistency Drill
Shoot two full rounds with the sole focus on rhythm—no corrections, just flow. With Shot Tracker, you’ll spot timing inconsistencies that aren’t always obvious to the eye. Are you rushing your third post? Hesitating on lefts? Use the session review to iron out those rhythm breaks.

5. Breaking on the Rise Drill
This drill challenges you to engage the target early. It’s aggressive, and it teaches decisiveness. With Shot Tracker, you’ll learn how early you can break targets without sacrificing accuracy. It’s a great pre-season drill for those trying to gain an edge. Each of these drills can be run in under 30 minutes. Combine them into a weekly pre-season plan and log everything in Shot Tracker. You’ll be ready—technically and mentally—for game day.