A five person sqaud fires from each of five shooting stations arranged along arcs that radiate out from the trap house. Trap consists of one machine that throws targets away from the shooters. The trap randomly rotates left and right in a 90 degree arc. The shooters do not know the exact position of the machine when they call for the target. This adds to the complexity of the game. Each shooter will shoot 5 targets from each station. Once those five targets have been shot each shooter will move to the station to their immediate right. For the person shooting at the fifth station, they will proceed to the first station by circling around the back of the rest of the shooters.
There are three different games in trap:
16-yard event: In the 16-yard event, the shooters stand "on the 16-yard line" which is 16 yards behind the trap-house. The trap throws targets that will fly from 48 to 52 yards from the shooter. Most targets are shot when they are about 36 yards from the shooter. Targets are thrown at varying angles within a range of 45 degrees to the left or right of straightaway.
Handicap: In this event, the shooter stands anywhere from 17 to 27 yards behind the traphouse, depending on his/her previous scores. The better the previous scores, the farther back you are "pushed."
Doubles: This event is also shot from the 16-yard line. Unlike the regulation 16-yard and handicap events, a pair of targets are released simultaneously. Double targets follow a set course, usually 35 degrees to left and right of straightaway. The shooter has one shot for each target. A standard round of doubles is 25 "pair" - 50 targets.
PSC only offers non-competitive trap shooting. If a shooter desires to compete regionally or nationally in trap they will need to join the national organization to compete. More information about the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) can be found to the left by selecting the link. Competitive trap shooting is very popular across Midwest America. Through 2005 the World Trap Shooting competition was held in Vandalia, Ohio. Local Houston clubs offer some competitive trap shooting events and Texas hosts at least one large trap shoot at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
Another trap shooting organization is Wimpy's Wobble Trap Association. You can research that organization by going to their website from the link on the left.
Bunker Trap is the format shot at the Olympics. This version of trap requires 15 trap machines spread across 5 bunkers or trap houses. The game is much faster and more difficult. PSC does not offer Bunker Trap.
