Behind the Line - Community

We start developing the foundations of QE from day one, long before shooters even know the term.

1. Rookie Phase — Both Eyes Open

The first priority is getting athletes comfortable shooting with both eyes open. This sets the stage for everything that comes later:

• Wider field of view

• Faster target recognition

• Better depth perception

• Cleaner visual-to-motor connection

Closing an eye limits an athlete long-term, so we ingrain this early and consistently. Some kids are tough to break from one eyed shooting but most kids play other sports or at the very least, have done some activity that requires hand eye coordination. For those resistant to keeping both eyes open, I ask them if they close an eye trying to hit a baseball, or do they close an eye when they play video games, etc. They don't and this logic makes sense to them.

2. Novice Phase - Introducing the Quiet Eye

Once athletes maintain a stable both-eyes-open shooting style, we begin layering in QE concepts during their pre-shot routine:

• Setting the eyes before the call

• Establishing a soft, calm gaze into the target window

• Reducing unnecessary eye movement

• Transitioning smoothly into a sharp focus when the bird appears

This phase is all about repetition and feel. We’re not chasing perfection - we’re helping shooters recognize what a quiet, disciplined visual state feels like. Introducing it as a drill, without a scorecard, reduces the resistance to try it and develop the technique.

3. Varsity Phase - Mastering Visual Acquisition

By the time shooters reach the varsity level, most have developed:

• A reliable pre-shot routine

• A stable hold point

• Quiet Eye discipline

• Fast target acquisition

• Visual control under pressure

At this stage, QE isn’t something “extra” - it becomes how they shoot. Their gun movement smooths out, timing becomes natural, and they start breaking targets earlier and more consistently.

What the Quiet Eye Actually Does in Trapshooting

Research across multiple sports shows the QE improves performance because it:

• Calms the mind before action

• Reduces visual clutter

• Helps the brain predict movement more accurately

• Allows cleaner, more efficient motor action

• Improves performance under pressure

In trapshooting specifically, QE shows up in three crucial places:

1. Locking the gaze before the call

2. Visually “grabbing” the front edge of the clay as fast as possible

3. Maintaining visual connection through the break point

The quieter the eyes, the quicker the brain processes the target.

How to Train the Quiet Eye (Drills We Use)

1. “Set the Eyes, Then Call” Drill

Mount → hold point → lock gaze → then call.If the eyes drift, reset.

2. Soft Focus → Hard Focus Drill

Relax the eyes into the target window, then snap into sharp focus when the target emerges.

3. Indoor Visual Discipline Work

Laser pointer tracking, dry-mounting with visual focus, and calm-eye routines.

4. Visualization

Athletes visualize their eyes staying quiet just before the call - proven to improve performance.

Research & Articles You Can Reference

Here are some of the most relevant studies supporting Quiet Eye training:

• Moore et al. (2014) — Quiet Eye Training Improves Small Arms Marksmanship

• Vine & Wilson (2011) — Quiet Eye Training Improves Performance Under Pressure

• Causer, Holmes & Williams (2011) — QE Improves Visual-Motor Control

• Chirico et al. (2019) — Quiet Eye Differences in Sport Shooting

QE research is strong across many sports, and while trap-specific studies are rare, the crossover into moving-target shooting and elite aiming sports is well supported.

What Are Other Programs Seeing?

If you’ve experimented with:

• both-eyes-open development

• visual discipline work

• pre-shot routines

• QE-style drills

• target acquisition training

…I’d love to hear what’s worked for your shooters.

How are you integrating visual training into your practices? What challenges do your athletes face with visual control? Have you noticed changes in target acquisition speed or consistency?

Let’s compare notes - this is an area where a lot of teams could make huge gains with just a little structure.

-Randall