Don't miss it because if you do, you will lose. That is the simple principle when competing in trapshooting, but it is easier said than done. 

Christiaan Steyn, a third-year law student at UP-Tuks, knows the highs and lows of competitive shooting. At the British Championships two years ago, he hit every target with his first shot until one miss cost him a perfect score, ending with 299 out of 300. Despite the slip, his performance earned him the junior champion title, though he finished fifth overall due to that single mistake.

Next month, Steyn will compete in the 15th ICTSF World DTL Championships. This prestigious event will feature several competitions, including the European DTL, Home International, Bywell Challenge, British Open DTL, and the World Championships. Steyn is committed to being well-prepared for the challenge.

The Tuks student competes in the Down-the-line category. In this competition, the trap machine oscillates left to right within a 45-degree arc, and each competitor shoots in turn, then moves station after attempting 5 targets from each station in each round of 25 targets. Two shots are permitted at each target, but second shots incur a points penalty. 

"For me, two things are essential in my sport. One is repetition. During training, you have to shoot the 'plays' repeatedly. At least a hundred times or more or until you have it finetuned to an art. To me, it is all about muscle memory. When aiming, you must hold the rifle precisely as you did with the previous shot. Something small, like how your chin rests on the gun, could impact the shot. Or the way you look down the barrel.

"You also must be utterly focused, as mentally trapshooting takes its toll. That one second you let your guard down is when you will miss the clay.

"Core strength is an advantage as you shoot 100 shots with a shotgun in a competition. With each shot, there is recoil, and you increasingly feel the gun's weight."

A gun's recoil, or kickback, is the backward movement a shooter feels when the bullet is discharged. Experts will tell you that when a gun exerts a force on a bullet as it is launching it forward, the law of physics says the bullet will exert an equal force in the opposite direction of the gun.

"The biggest drawback in our sport in South Africa is the cost. Buying a gun and ammunition is a costly undertaking. At most, I train once or twice a month. In Europe, it is different. Most athletes can train daily if they choose to. Luckily, you can do exercises at home to improve your shooting skills."