How to Score Clay Target Shooting?

In formal clay target shooting, targets are presented either as pairs or singles. In a true pair, two targets are launched simultaneously; in a report pair, the targets are launched one at a time, with the second being thrown on the “report” of the gun as the shooter fires at the second target.

A target must have a visible piece broken from it to be ruled “dead.” Sometimes people mistake the plastic wad from the shotgun shell for a piece; this does not count! At other times, you may see a puff of dust come off a lightly-struck clay. That doesn’t count, either.

Scoring is important only when you’re shooting a competition, either informally with your friends or in registered shooting events. In larger competitions, you will have official scorers on every stand. They decide whether you’ve hit or missed the target, and will write that decision down on a score sheet. That score sheet remains final, and the person with the most hits at the end of the day will win the competition.

If you’re out on your own practicing, you can keep score, but it doesn’t really matter.