I only started going a couple of years ago. My deer hunting partner went and said he shot four boxes of shells. Sounded like a good time.
I have yet to get a bird and have shot maybe three times. I told him he was full of it. 
Gotta lead them birds and keep that barrel moving. I think that the national average for doves is still around one bird for every six shots though. You might bust four or five in a row but end up missing the next three and so it goes.
Practice is always good of course and one of those cheap hand throwers (red plastic & looks like a Y) for the clay's work very well providing that you have someone to take with you.
Seems like once you get tuned in your brain will mess you up everytime if you let it as it is much better to have a bird show up out of nowhere and you let your eyes & hands do their own thing automatically verse the times where you see the bird coming well in advance and try to carefully track it with that front bead.
It is a great sport & great shooting opportunity when the birds are moving. Think sunflower patches or better yet, milo fields if you can gain access.
