For many young shooters, the “best” instructor could be mom or dad if they possess basic shooting skills. For adults new to the sport, a friend is usually the first instructor. As long as the new shooter is being taught safety and is progressing at an acceptable rate, this can be a great way to get started. An instructor can be anyone from the local club, to someone certified by one of the national shooting organizations, to a world champion competitor. Instructor fees can range from a cup of coffee to hundreds of dollars per hour.

The “best” instructor is the person with whom you communicate well, has confidence in their ability to help you, and is affordable and available when you need help. Talk with other shooters and take a one hour session with a few different instructors and decide for yourself who is the best instructor for you.