How to hold a shotgun: A complete guide for trap and sporting clays

Understanding how to properly hold a shotgun affects nearly every aspect of your shooting experience. A solid hold:

• Improves accuracy
• Reduces fatigue
• Minimizes felt recoil
• Enhances follow-through
• Increases safety

For disciplines like trap shooting and sporting clays, where target speed, direction, and reaction time vary, the way you mount and hold your shotgun can be the difference between a hit and a miss.

Let’s start with the fundamentals. Whether you’re learning how to hold a shotgun for trap shooting, skeet, or sporting clays, these basics apply across the board.

1. Start with a balanced stance

Your body position sets the foundation for control. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, leading with your non-dominant foot (left foot if you're right-handed). Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight centered slightly forward over the balls of your feet.

This stance allows you to absorb recoil and track moving targets with ease.

2. Grip the fore-end and stock correctly

Use your non-dominant hand to grip the fore-end of the shotgun. This hand guides the barrel and helps you swing smoothly across the target’s flight path. Maintain a firm but not tight grip – you want control without restricting fluid motion.

With your dominant hand, grip the stock just behind the trigger. Your thumb should wrap around the grip, and your trigger finger should rest outside the trigger guard until you're ready to fire.

3. Shoulder position: How to hold a shotgun to reduce recoil

One of the most common mistakes among beginners is poor shoulder placement. If you’re wondering how to hold a shotgun to reduce recoil, this is the key.

The butt of the shotgun should be placed firmly into the pocket of your shoulder, the soft, muscular area between your collarbone and upper arm. Not directly on your collarbone or bony shoulder joint, as this will increase the impact of recoil and cause pain.

Make sure there’s no gap between the gun and your shoulder. A snug mount allows the recoil to be absorbed by your body, reducing kick and improving control.

4. Cheek weld: Your head’s connection to the gun

Lower your head onto the stock so your cheek is resting firmly on the comb (top of the stock). This is called a “cheek weld” and is essential for consistent aim and sight alignment.

Your eye should naturally align with the rib (top) of the barrel without having to crane your neck or force your vision. Keep your head down and your eyes level, remember, it's your head that lowers to the shotgun, not the other way around.

5. Elbow and arm positioning

Your rear (trigger-side) elbow should be slightly lifted, roughly parallel to the ground, helping to maintain a square, stable shooting posture. Your forward elbow should be relaxed and slightly bent, giving you freedom to pivot and track targets.

Maintaining this open, athletic frame is especially helpful for fast target acquisition in disciplines like sporting clays.

Trap shooting involves targets launched away from you at varying angles. Because of this, your hold should emphasize a slightly more upright posture and controlled swing.

• Keep your weight slightly more forward than usual to follow the target’s rising arc.
• Hold the gun just below shoulder level before calling “pull” to allow for a quick and fluid mount.
• Focus on a smooth follow-through, don't stop your swing after firing.

If you're learning how to hold a shotgun for trap shooting, consistency is key. Practicing your pre-mount position (starting with the gun unmounted) will help develop muscle memory and reduce mounting time.

How to hold a shotgun for sporting clays

Sporting clays simulate hunting scenarios and involve a wide range of target angles, speeds, and trajectories. Flexibility in how you hold your shotgun is essential.

• Use a ready position with the stock just below your cheek and shoulder.
• Adjust your foot positioning depending on the angle of the anticipated shot.
• Maintain a relaxed but ready posture so you can pivot quickly in any direction.

Knowing how to hold a shotgun for sporting clays means being adaptable. You’ll often need to change your hold slightly depending on the station, terrain, and type of clay target being thrown.

Recoil management: How to hold a shotgun to reduce recoil

If you’re new to shooting or find recoil uncomfortable, there are several ways to reduce its impact. First and foremost, ensure your shotgun is mounted firmly into the shoulder pocket, not loosely. The end of the shotgun should fit snugly into the soft area between your shoulder and collarbone. As you prepare to shoot, lean slightly into the shot with your upper body. This forward weight shift helps absorb recoil more effectively.

Keep both feet grounded and your weight evenly distributed to maintain balance. It’s also important not to lock your knees or tense your arms, as unnecessary stiffness in the body can actually amplify recoil rather than reduce it. For added comfort, consider using a quality recoil pad or opting for a gas-operated shotgun, both of which are designed to lessen felt recoil significantly.

Common mistakes when learning how to hold a shotgun

Many beginners make the same avoidable mistakes when learning how to hold a shotgun. One of the most common is holding the gun too loosely. A loose hold can lead to more severe recoil and a loss of control during the shot. Another frequent issue is mounting the gun improperly when the butt isn’t placed correctly in the shoulder pocket, it often results in bruising and unnecessary discomfort.

New shooters also tend to lift their head at the moment of firing, which disrupts their sight alignment and causes them to miss the target. On the opposite end, gripping the shotgun too tightly can limit your mobility and make your swing jerky rather than smooth. The best way to avoid these issues is to practice slowly and intentionally, ideally under the supervision of a qualified instructor or at a professional clay shooting facility where you can get direct feedback.

Shoulder, stance, and sightline

The foundation of every accurate shot begins with how you hold your shotgun. Whether you're trying to learn how to hold a shotgun to reduce recoil, how to hold a shotgun for trap shooting, or simply how to properly hold a shotgun in general, the core principles remain the same. You need a balanced and athletic stance, a secure and correct shoulder mount, a consistent cheek weld, and a relaxed yet controlled grip.

When these elements come together, you'll not only see a difference in your accuracy, you'll feel more confident, more comfortable, and more in control every time you step up to shoot.