"I didn't set the goal [Commonwealth Games] itself, but several years ago there was a realisation that I could get there."
The 24-year-old Fishers on Cameron worker has ticked the first box in the qualification process, meeting the qualifying standard in New Zealand, and now needs to record a similar score overseas, which he aims to do in November at the Oceania Championships.
To do so though, Nobes says you need to reach a Zen-like focus to ensure the process of shooting is not disrupted.
"You don't worry about the day, you're just focusing on the process. You have to be focused, all that is going on in your head is site control, watching the targets, and pulling the trigger.
"When shooting, Greg [Yelavich, coach] has taught us to follow a procedure of certain steps and all you're doing is following routine, so the idea is to follow it every time. If you're not doing one step right it could have consequences, even a little bit of variation can be the difference between a nine and 10 [score].
"It's a little harder [shooting overseas], you know you're capable but it is the pressure and trying really hard. So, essentially I've got a lot training to do between now and then."
Nobes' father, Gerald, said his son had come a long way since he first came along to shoot at age 12.
"He certainly had a knack for it you could say," Gerald said. "There are certainly others who find it easier to shoot than others.
"He's really just progressed up the chain, you could say, and his shooting has progressed along the way. [So], the natural progression for him is Commonwealth Games and Olympics."
Currently Nobes, who also holds two New Zealand records, trains about twice a week for two hours but says in the build-up to a competition he will be shooting daily.
