These new UKAHFT rules

[LANKY MK]

I think what a lot of people are missing is that HFT course setting is in itself a game of smoke and mirrors. 30mm especially as the no. allowed has been increased sub 40 is a great tool especially with reduced face plates. I have only set one course with 30mm out to 45yds and only one target. People missed it high go figure.

Monkey

I've seen plenty of 45y targets with loads of misses high, strange.

30mm are great as they are usually uncommon (people prefer to stick 25mm out instead) and catch loads out as they are not used to them, going high.

Course setting itself, especially for HFT, is hard to do right, it's easier just to throw targets out to get people to miss, especially since 25mm were put out to 40,

That's why IMHO we need to make it appealing to bring targets in, not encourage more that's thrown out.

[Rotherham Owl]

My opinion kill size/distance wise is keep it as it is or even better bring the 25mm's back in to 35yrd.

Courses set out cleverly to the current UKAHFT rules rarely get cleared. Did any course get cleared in the UKAHFT series last year?

There may be some clearances at club shoot level but this could easily be due to lack of course options. For example, some clubs have limited land and so it can be easy for some to become very familiar with courses there. Or it could be the course was made tame as strong winds were expected that did not materialise. Or it could be the course setters had been on a bender the night before setting a course and just couldn't be arsed!

As for up the peg shots - I can see the need for that if children and those of a slight build are struggling and therefore been put at a dis-advantage.

At the end of the day the sport needs to encourage new participants which is going to be much harder if we make things harder in an attempt to stop the small percentage of elite shooters clearing courses.

[Lol Moore]

In my opinion (as a relative novice) if the management need to make the courses more difficult I think it should be weighted at the shorter ranges, it feels that recently everything is just getting smaller and further.

I am all for 15mm from 8 yards, as Simmo says its a game of finding your best compromise and we have enough long difficulty.

As for the short 15mm being all shot up if there are several across the course that evens the chances of getting onto one early, and if you shoot a series/league it should even out with time.

What about the typical scenario of a morning shoot with a sheltered wooded area and an open field area, as the wind generally picks up throughout the morning there is a distinct advantage to starting in the field, again this should even its self out over a a series?

I think there is a positive for course setters in having more small long shots - they are easier to set than that elevated, short, dark through a tiny gap mini kill

[simmmo]

I see making the courses shorter using the currrent format
as actually playing into the hands of the 40yd high mount brigade. They tell me they can poke everything from 17yds to 45yds (unless you are Larkin). They therefore practice the short ones. They say they have to get the yardage bob on for the short 15mm. I think giving them an extra two or three yards to worry about may be the way forward especially as Mark suggested upping the no. allowed to 8 from 6. At the moment I am setting courses to catch people out with wind as some people are shooting not needing to rangefind the bulk of the targets currently encountered. That's why I like the option of 30mm to 45yds. I think it is becoming purely a wind game and agree with Lol where you start on the day re wind encountered has a massive input on your score. Shortening courses would possibly help balance this a bit as well

Monkey

[shaun eustace]

Really interesting thread this one. Loads of great ideas. My two pence worth.... add 2 more positionals and take the supported 25mm out to 35 yards.

[Wheelieneilie]

Really interesting thread this one. Loads of great ideas. My two pence worth.... add 2 more positionals and take the supported 25mm out to 35 yards.

Or better still, just double the number of postionals from 6 to 12 and stop fiddling with the rules every year!

[Rotherham Owl]

I have already given my opinion that things could simply be left as they are but I am curious as to why it is felt by some that courses need to be made more difficult?