List of Shooting Statistics
The sport of shooting consists of athletes aiming guns at targets from certain positions and attempting to hit targets. The positions, guns, and distances of these events change based on the competition. There are both men’s, women’s, and mixed shooting events in each Summer Olympics, for a total of 15 events. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the world’s governing body for shooting sports.
List of Shooting Statistics
- Clays
- Diameter
- Hit Rate
- Integer Points
- Medals
- MQS
- 10th-ring Diameter
- Rounds
- Shots
- Targets
- Total Points
Clays
Clays are one type of target used in shooting competitions. Also known as clay pigeons, these are clay discs fired from a machine that shooters aim at and try to shoot down. The shooter is given a point for each of the clays they hit. The term “clays” is at times used as a substitute for “points,” or to describe a player’s hit rate. For example, you might hear “this athlete has hit four out of six clays through three rounds so far” during a broadcast of a rifle shooting event, meaning the athlete’s score would be 4/6.
Diameter
Each target has a specified size and must be shot at from a specified range. This is usually expressed by the target’s diameter, which is a measurement of the longest possible line inside a circle, or 10th-ring diameter, which is also known as the bull’s eye or center-most circle of a target. Each circle represents a different number value. Athletes are awarded more points for a closer shot at the center of the target—inside a smaller diameter.
Hit Rate
Also known as the “hit ratio” or “success rate,” this is an expression of how many targets a shooter hits in a given round. It is used as a ratio of successful shots over total shots. For example, in the 25m Men's Rapid Fire Pistol final at the 2013 ISSF World Cup, a shooter can have six different hit rate results per round from shooting five shots, earning a score of zero to five points out of five attempts. The scores from each round accumulate to determine a player’s overall score, which is then used to determine final places in the competition. When two players are tied at the end of the final round, there is a sudden death shootout to determine the winner. Overall, though, the player with the best hit rate wins.
Integer Points
Integer points are a common method of counting which is used to record points in shooting. This is used when points are being counted in full numbers, usually when small targets or clays are being used. Integer points are tallied for each round and all added together to represent a player’s overall score for the competition. These integer points may appear over the total number of shots taken to give the audience context as to how accurate a shooter has been. For example, a shooter whose score is 78/100 is doing much better than one who has gone 78/200.
Medals
In major shooting competitions, the winners of the biggest competitions receive medals and according to their order of finish. In the Summer Olympics, for example, players receive bronze for third place, silver for second, and gold for first. A shooter’s career medal count is a great expression of their overall success within the sport. Some great examples are American Kimberly Rhode, who has three gold, one silver, and two bronze medals; and Karoly Takacs, who won two gold medals after losing his dominant right hand ten years earlier.
MQS
This stands for the “Minimum Qualification Score,” and it represents the minimum amount of points a shooter needs to advance to the next round of a competition. For example, the minimum qualification score for women’s shotgun events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (both trap and skeet) is 92. Athletes must reach this score before being allowed into the Olympics.
10th-ring Diameter
A 10th-ring diameter is the smallest ring inside a standard target. It expresses the innermost circle’s width on a target, also known as the bull’s eye. Athletes always want to hit the 10th ring diameter on every target because it means they have hit the target as accurately as possible.
Rounds
Each shooting event consists of multiple rounds of shooting from each competitor. Each shooter takes their turn shooting and is given a score based on how well they shot that round. For example, in the 25m Men's Rapid Fire Pistol final at the 2013 ISSF World Cup, athletes shot five rounds at a stationary target and one athlete was eliminated every round. In the preliminary rounds, this structure may be different based on the competition.
Shots
Each athlete shoots at targets to earn points. Each shot from a gun represents a possible hit of a target. The distance, type of ammunition, and type of gun used are all dependent on the specific event of a competition. For example, in the 10 meter air pistol event, athletes use 4.5 mm (.177) caliber bullets for a single loaded pistol. The number of successful shots determines each shooter’s score for a round.
Targets
Athletes aim to hit targets with their shots, and the number of successful shots is divided by the number of total attempted shots to get the hit rate. Different events use different targets: clay pigeons, ringed paper targets, or different-sized targets may be used depending on the gun, distance, ammunition, or position of the shooters. Non-clay targets often consist of multiple rings, with more points being awarded for shots that are closer to the center. Targets are often measured and classified according to their diameter, and athletes may be awarded more points if their shot lands closer to the center of a target.
Total Points
This is the total number of points a shooter accrues throughout all of their rounds of a competition. The shooter with the highest total score wins the entire event. This method of scoring rewards sustained consistency over multiple rounds, as opposed to having great performances in some rounds and poor ones in others.