Kinematic Characteristics Associated with Hit and Miss Outcomes in Elite Skeet Shooters: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Purpose: This exploratory study investigated kinematic characteristics associated with successful (hit) and unsuccessful
(miss) outcomes in elite Chinese skeet shooters, aiming to identify movement strategies that contribute to shooting success.
Methods: Video data were collected from five finalists of the Chinese national skeet team during internal qualification
competitions for the Paris Olympics. Three cameras (50 Hz) recorded double-target trials at station 3. Each athlete contributed
three successful and three unsuccessful trials. Four critical time points were analyzed: initiation of gun movement (T1), gun
stock contact with the cheek (T2), first shot (T3), and second shot (T4). Variables included gun muzzle displacement and
velocity, center of mass (COM) velocity, joint angles (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee), and stability/balance angles.
Results: At T2, hit shots exhibited significantly smaller gun displacement compared with missed shots (19.555±1.526cm
vs. 22.496±2.375cm, P<.001, Cohen’s d=-1.474), including both horizontal (17.279±1.266cm vs. 19.400±2.388cm, P=.004,
Cohen’s d=-1.110) and vertical components (9.081±1.480cm vs. 11.292±1.524cm, P<.001, Cohen’s d=-1.427). Vertical
velocity was also reduced (.247±.104m/s vs. .284±.099m/s, P=.033, Cohen’s d=-.355). In addition, hit shots demonstrated
a greater rear stability angle (13.580±1.841° vs. 13.100±1.750°, P=.009, Cohen’s d=.267) and a smaller right elbow angle
(70.840±3.363° vs. 72.937±2.710°, P=.026, Cohen’s d=-.686). At T4, hit shots were characterized by a larger right knee
angle (165.319±6.516° vs. 162.019±4.446°, P=.032, Cohen’s d=.592) and a smaller right elbow angle (62.552±6.025° vs.
66.878±3.609°, P=.013, Cohen’s d=-.871). Other joint angles and COM velocity showed no significant differences, though
some variables indicated small to moderate effect sizes.
Conclusions: Effective skeet shooting is closely associated with reduced gun displacement and vertical velocity at T2,
accompanied by a greater rear stability angle and a smaller right elbow angle. At T4, a larger right knee angle and a smaller
right elbow angle further distinguished hit shots from misses. These findings highlight the importance of muzzle control,
trunk posture, and upper limb configuration in enhancing shooting stability and mitigating recoil effects.