How do you win in trap shooting?
B · Beginner · Targets and rounds · 1 of 4Each clay target broken scores one point and each one missed scores nothing. In qualification every athlete shoots at 125 targets in five rounds of 25. The eight highest scores go to a final, where everyone starts again from zero and the lowest scores are eliminated in stages until the medals are decided.
How it works
- A hit: a target is "HIT" when a regular target is thrown and shot at under the rules and "at least one (1) visible piece is broken from it".
- Dust is not enough: a target that is only "dusted", with no visible piece broken off, is not a hit.
- Qualification: 125 targets in 5 rounds of 25, shot over 2 or 3 days.
- The final: the eight highest-ranking athletes. "Finalists start at zero; scores from the Qualification are not carried forward."
- The target: a disc 110 mm across, 25 to 26 mm high and weighing 105 g, all black, white, yellow or orange.
- Who decides: "All decisions regarding 'HIT', 'LOST', 'IRREGULAR' or 'NO TARGET' targets rest finally with the Referee."
- Shots allowed: two shots may be fired at each target in qualification. In finals only one.
The glossary calls this hit-miss scoring. Skeet is scored the same way.
Tricky cases
A puff of dust comes off the target but it flies on whole. Is that a hit?
No. A target that is only dusted, with no visible piece broken from it, is declared lost.
Does a perfect qualification score give a head start in the final?
No. Finalists start at zero. The qualification ranking only sets the start numbers, which are used to break some ties in the final.
Can someone walk out and pick up the target to check for a pellet hole?
No. It is prohibited to pick up a clay target from the range to determine whether it was a hit.
The athlete misses with the first shot and breaks the target with the second. Does it count in full?
Yes. In qualification two shots may be fired at each target, and a hit with either scores one.
Why the rule exists
A flying target either breaks or it does not, so the score needs no measuring and everyone watching can follow it. The rule that a visible piece must come off gives the referee one thing to look for at a distance of 30 metres or more.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 9.6.1.3; ISSF 9.7.4; ISSF 9.17.2.1 |
| Finals | Flash targets filled with coloured powder must be used, and a visible puff of powder after the shot also counts as a hit | ISSF 6.3.6.2; ISSF 9.7.4 (c) |
| Mixed team event | Each member shoots 75 targets in qualification | ISSF 9.6.1.3 |
| National competitions | Federations may change some rules to suit their ranges | ISSF 9.1.6 |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), Shotgun Rules, rules 9.6.1, 9.7 and 9.17.2 and General Technical Rule 6.3.6. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).