What happens in a round of skeet?
B · Beginner · Targets and rounds · 2 of 4A squad walks round eight stations set on a half-circle between two houses. From each station the athlete shoots at single targets and at doubles, two targets thrown at once, one from the high house and one from the low. A round is 25 targets, and only one shot may be fired at each.
How it works
- The squad gathers beside station 1. On the referee's "START" the first athlete steps on to the station.
- The athlete loads, takes the READY position and calls. The target is thrown after a random delay of up to three seconds.
- The athlete shoots the targets for that station and steps off. The next athlete follows.
- When the whole squad has shot, the first athlete moves to the next station.
The targets at each station in a qualification round:
| Station | Targets |
|---|---|
| 1 | Single high, then a double (high first, then low) |
| 2 | Single high, then a double (high, low) |
| 3 | Single high, then a double (high, low) |
| 4 | Single high, single low |
| 5 | Single low, then a double (low first, then high) |
| 6 | Single low, then a double (low, high) |
| 7 | A double (low, high) |
| 4 again | A double (high, low) and a double (low, high) |
| 8 | Single high, single low |
- A double is two targets released at the same moment, one from each house. They must be shot in the stated order.
- Station 8: stands midway between the houses. The athlete shoots the high house target, turns clockwise and shoots the low house target, loading one cartridge each time.
- Time: the athlete must occupy the station within 10 seconds and has 30 seconds to call for all the targets of that station.
- Before the round: a regular target from each house may be watched from station 1 before a squad's first round of the day.
Tricky cases
Can the athlete mount the gun to the shoulder before calling?
No. From the call until the target appears the athlete must be in the READY position, with the stock touching the body and its toe on or below the marker tape on the vest.
In a double, can the athlete shoot the easier target first?
No. If the targets of a regular double are shot in reverse order, both are declared lost.
Does the target appear the instant the athlete calls?
No, not always. It is released after a random delay of anything from no time to three seconds.
The first shot of a double breaks both targets. Does the athlete score two?
No. Both are declared no target and the double is repeated. If it happens a third time on the same station, the first target is scored hit and the second lost.
Why the rule exists
Skeet tests the swing of the gun across targets on known paths. Walking the half-circle changes the angle at every station, from nearly head-on to full crossing shots, and every athlete meets the same sequence.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 9.9.1; ISSF 9.9.2 |
| Finals | Doubles only, on stations 3, 4 and 5 | ISSF 9.17.4.2 |
| Trap | Targets go away from a pit at unknown angles, and two shots are allowed in qualification. See the trap set | ISSF 9.8 |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), Shotgun Rules, rules 9.9.1, 9.9.2 and 9.9.5 and General Technical Rule 6.4.19. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).