The phrase "starting shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a single event or action that marks the beginning of a larger process or period. For example, you could say, "The new CEO's hiring was the starting shot for a new wave of innovation in the company".
To get things going, here's a starting shot from our own Kyle Brazzel: Brevity's the soul Of lingerie, said Parker.
For the purposes of dramatic fiction, at least, the bomb was just a starting shot that set off a mad dash for security and compromise, a race no human would want to run, given the choice.
Kymlicka (1989) was the one who gave the proverbial starting shot of this second phase by arguing that a (societal) culture provides a context of choice which is necessary for the individual autonomy to flourish.
The Rio de Janeiro-based company is also looking to expand its sales and marketing efforts internationally and Mendes sees the World Cup and the Olympics as the starting shot in a race to increase the number of tourists making Brazil a top tourist destination.
Lucky for us, Lombard is very enthusiastic about the indulgent starting shot of the US holiday season.
An approach is based on generation of eighth harmonic of radiation in a multistage HGHG FEL (high gain high harmonic free electron laser) configuration starting from shot noise.
Have you ever watched a running race start, and then hear the starting gun shot moments later?
"He added a jump shot and started making free throws.
His jump shots started falling with more regularity in the second half.
"Obviously, starting four shots behind, I fully did not expect Justin to fold at any time.
Someone said that the key decision of a director is when to start a shot and when to end it.
