This evening, we had the pleasure of catching up with Joseph Pinchin over the phone and asked him about his backstory, how his shooting career began, what life is like for him right now, and some pro tips that you could apply to your game.
How Joe Pinchin Got Started in Shooting:
His dad, Jose, had heard about a youth shooting program at Markham Park Shooting Range close to where they lived in the South Florida area. Joe’s dad asked him if he wanted to attend. Joe says that he vividly remembers missing his basketball game that same night to try out clay target shooting. Joe shot some trap at Markham Park and then was told about a youth shooting team that did sporting clay shooting in Okeechobee, a few hours north of them. Shortly after, Joe was introduced to the Scholastic Clay Target Program through the Young Guns of Quail Creek, then the NSCA, and now the rest is history.
Why Did Joe Pinchin Choose Florida State University as His College of Choice and How He Chose His Career?
Joe shares that FSU was a great school for his major of choice, which was hospitality management. He loved the campus and was attracted by the athletic culture and how the university was well-spirited and rooted in sports history.
Joe has always enjoyed the people-oriented aspect of clay shooting and thought that his personality and demeanor would be a great fit for the industry. This factored into his decision on what he would study in college and do for a career.
Joe did an internship with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts in Pennsylvania, and then did another internship with Drury Hotel’s management program and lived in Frisco, Texas, for three months. Joe learned a lot during these internships and was able to still pursue clay target shooting, especially while living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
What Is Life Like Now for Joe Pinchin in His Newest Role at Covey Rise Lodge in Louisiana?
You probably have seen or recognize Joe from his most recent appearances on Covey Rise’s “Target Tuesdays” that started this year. Each week, Joe shares his insight and pro tips on new topics in the game that can help you improve. Make sure to tune in, learn something new, and get in on the action.
Joe spoke about the multitude of opportunities that have come from being the Assistant Director of Shooting Sports at Covey Rise. Joe’s roles on the course include instructing shooters from all different levels and backgrounds, including novice-level youth shooters all the way up to top-tier Master Class competitors, as well as setting targets on the different courses for these shooters. Joe is very happy to be involved with the clay target side of things but also enjoys playing a large role in the hospitality side of the business with corporate groups, overnight guests, members on a day-to-day basis, event planning, and more.
We Asked Joe How Shooters Should Approach Being in a ‘Rut’ with Their Shooting and How to Improve from a Stagnant State of Not Getting Better:
Joe says that the worst attitude you can have is trying to “work towards improvement like it’s a chore.” Two things that help him are staying process-oriented and not thinking about how bad you’re shooting in that moment if you are indeed struggling, but rather focusing on what you need to do to get where you want to be. Also, not allowing that negative spiral or snowball effect to get worse because of your negative outlook, but instead approaching it from a more optimistic mindset and being positive.
Lastly, We Asked Joe What He Wants to Leave the Game with When He’s All Done. This Is What He Told Us:
Joe mentioned that his answer to this question is 50/50 when it comes to accomplishments—50% with resume accomplishments and wanting to win major titles like the “grand slam” and 50% introducing new shooters to the sport so they can have opportunities to make memories, create experiences, and meet some of the best people that they will consider friends and family for the rest of their lives. Joe says one of his main goals is showing people the sport through his lens.
