2026 U.S. Open Sporting Clays Champion, Todd Hitch | What It Takes to Win
In this episode, Justin Barker talks with Todd Hitch for a candid and upbeat episode about what it really takes to stay at the top of competitive sporting clays. Todd shares the mindset, discipline, and preparation behind his recent success, including his back-to-back U.S....
The Podcast For Clay Shooters
The Ultimate Sporting Clays Podcast
The Shotgun Sports USA Podcast brings you closer to the people, stories, ideas, and experiences shaping the world of shotgun sports.
Whether you're chasing your first 50 straight, competing in Sporting Clays or FITASC, working toward Master Class, hunting with friends, or simply trying to become a better shooter, these conversations are made for you.
Event Form
Performance
Ceiling
Top-10 History
▥ OUR 3 PREDICTIONS — SIMULATION BREAKDOWN
| Rank | Shooter | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Top 10s | Avg Score | Recent % HOA | Ceiling % HOA | Sim Wins | Win Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TODD HITCH | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 184.0 | 98.6% | 99.4% | 3,437 / 10,000 | 34.4% |
| 2 | DERRICK MEIN | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 186.0 | 98.6% | 99.3% | 2,562 / 10,000 | 25.6% |
| 3 | ZACHARY KIENBAUM | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 179.6 | 95.5% | 98.3% | 625 / 10,000 | 6.3% |
THE UPCOMING FIELD COMES FIRST: Only shooters entered in the upcoming Main Event are considered. A great shooter who is not entered cannot appear in our prediction.
AT LEAST 3 MAIN EVENTS ARE REQUIRED: Requiring three tracked Main Event starts gives the model enough evidence to begin measuring repeatability, consistency and form.
WE COMPARE PERFORMANCE TO THE HOA: The model measures a shooter's score relative to the HOA score from that event so tournament difficulty is accounted for.
RECENT FORM — 46%: Recent Main Events receive the most influence. Older results gradually lose influence so current form can move a shooter upward without erasing longer history.
Performance Rankings
Backed By Brands That Believe In The Sport.
The companies behind Shotgun Sports USA do more than support the podcast—they help us tell the stories, share the knowledge, and connect the people who make the shooting sports community what it is.
Learn From The Best In The Sport
One reason listeners continue coming back is the quality of our guests. Shotgun Sports USA has featured many of the biggest names in clay target sports, including world champions, national champions, Olympians, elite instructors, respected target setters, and leaders throughout the outdoor industry.
What Listeners Take Away
These conversations give listeners access to knowledge that normally comes only from years of experience at the highest levels of the sport.
More Than Just Another Clay Target Podcast
Gear, ammunition, optics, and current events are part of the conversation, but the heart of Shotgun Sports USA has always been the people behind the sport. Every episode goes beyond the equipment to explore competition, preparation, technique, experiences, and the personalities that make shooting sports unique.
Topics You'll Hear About
From championship competition to hunting, equipment, industry news, and personal stories, Shotgun Sports USA brings listeners closer to the people who live the shooting sports.
Thank You for Being Part of the Shotgun Sports USA Community
We appreciate you stopping by Shotgun Sports USA. Whether you've listened to the podcast, read an article, watched a video, or shared our content with another shooter, your support means a lot.