Master Sporting Clays: How to Hit Rabbits with Confidence in USA
Rabbit targets are often highly misunderstood presentations in sporting clays. They might look easy, but beneath that simple appearance lies one of the most unpredictable shooting challenges. In our latest episode of Master Sporting Clays, Jonny Carter of TGS Outdoors returns with expert coach Josh Brown to tackle the elusive rabbit. Watch Episode 4 below and don’t forget to enable captions in multiple languages using the ‘CC’ button.
What Makes Rabbits So Tricky?
Unlike aerial targets, rabbits roll along the ground and seem to take on a life of their own. They bounce, skip, speed up, and slow down in just a few feet. According to Josh, most rabbits are under 30 yards, so there’s little margin for error. While they aren’t especially fast or far, the illusion of speed and motion often causes shooters to overthink the shot.
Pro Tip: Rabbits are constantly losing speed due to ground friction, so your timing needs to match their rhythm and not your assumptions.
The Visual Illusion
One of the most common rabbit myths is thinking you’ve missed behind the target when, in reality, the clay has already rolled through the dust cloud. With ShotKam footage, Josh and Jonny demonstrate how just a few video frames separate the dirt puff from the rabbit’s movement, which would be nearly impossible to catch with the naked eye.
Pro Tip: Use ShotKam to slow things down. You'll see exactly where the clay is at the moment of the shot, clearing up common misreads.
Gun Placement and Timing
Josh emphasizes a slow, steady swing-through approach. Starting behind the rabbit is not just safer; it’s more effective. Waiting for the clay to beat the gun gives you a visual anchor, then it’s all about trusting your eyes and letting your hands follow.
Pro Tip: Let the rabbit beat the gun before starting your move. Then swing through and take the shot with control.
Importance of Footwork
Because rabbits hug the ground and often move left to right (an awkward angle for right-handed shooters), footwork becomes even more important. Josh recommends opening the left foot toward the kill point and rotating through the core for a smooth follow-through.
Pro Tip: Set your lead foot toward the break point. Stay grounded and rotate from your core to stay fluid and balanced.
Muzzle Position
With a ground-level target, gun height matters. Starting with the muzzle low allows for better visual tracking and a more natural move into the rabbit. Keeping weight forward also helps maintain balance through the swing.
Pro Tip: Keep your barrel low and your weight forward. Let the target come to you, then swing through with control.
Don’t Spot Shoot
Although some shooters try to “spot shoot” rabbits (taking the shot the moment they see the clay), Josh explains why it’s rarely reliable. Rabbits change speed, bounce, and react unpredictably, making a swing-through the safer and more repeatable option.
Pro Tip: Avoid front-inserting the gun. Rabbits aren’t predictable enough for that kind of risk. Always come from behind.
Eye Dominance and Adjustments
Shooting with both eyes open is ideal for tracking rabbits, but those with eye dominance issues may find closing one eye helpful on closer targets. As always, trial and error plays a role, and every shooter may need to tweak their technique slightly.
Pro Tip: There’s no one-size-fits-all. Experiment with what feels natural, but always prioritize control, connection, and safety.
Conclusion
Hitting rabbits consistently isn’t about speed—it’s about control. As Josh and Jonny show, the key lies in footwork, swing discipline, and trusting what your eyes see. With help from ShotKam, you can break down your timing and approach frame by frame, turning every miss into a learning opportunity.
Check out our previous blog on incomers.
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