posted
Kudo's to the Judo's recommendation. Since getting back into trad archery last winter with my kids, at least one a week I take two Judo points and an empty 20 oz drink bottle. I shoot 2 arrows, throw the bottle, shoot again, walk away, turn and shoot, etc... Whether recently or 20 years ago when I trad shot alot, I have never shot from a known distance. The stump shooting, or drink bottle shooting, or leaf shooting, or insert favorite object, has always helped my shooting. One of my former pastimes was getting a buddy to roll an empty Skoal or Copenhagen can downhill for me and shoot it or at it over and over. That helped a bunch too.
-------------------- Brad
I've missed every target that I thought I would Posts: 24 | From: Albertville Alabama | Registered: Feb 2010
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To have confidence in a 30 yard shot, the first thing is to develop precision in your bow hand, placement of your fingers on the string, your anchors, your draw length, your stance (shooting from odd positions comes later) and your follow through.
Since you are doing pretty good to 20 yards, you probably don't have a lot of changes to make. You just need to get these learned to the subconscious level.
With hunting season coming up you probably shouldn't try to change anything until you've finished up with hunting for the year.
Posts: 233 | From: Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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I hope you like to read. Because I am going to tell you to buy a small book. All the advice above is really good but needs just a bit of understanding the why of where you are at to help.
I have been at the same point you are for a while. I have great days and ok days, I can shoot tiny groups at 20 yards or score great on a 3D course and then the next day shoot a lot worse. I bought and read Instinctive Archery Insights by Jay Kidwell, Ph.D.. I am seeing improvements in my shooting in both consistancy and accuracy. The book is written about the mental side of shooting your trad bow. I bought my book cheap on fleabay. Poke around there and you should find one to buy.
-------------------- Clay Walker Skill is not born into anyone. It is earned thru hard work and perseverance. Posts: 3246 | From: Vancouver, WA. | Registered: May 2009
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Like CBCrow, I to shoot one arrow at a time, I've been doing so all summer, and it has greatly improved my shooting, I take the time to walk and get my arrow and relocate to a different shot to reflect on the previous shot. Shooting for me has become even more enjoyble then it was before. Like FurFlyin, I also never shoot from known distances.
Thanks for the tip on the book, I'm gonna get online and order a copy ASAP! The mental part of shooting is definatly my down fall!
-------------------- "Anchor is a place where I can relax in an uncommitted state of mind"
64" BobLee Classic TD LBow 57# @ 32 1/2 64" BobLee BCentenniel TD RCurve 53# @ 32 1/2" Always looking for BobLee Long Bow or RCurve Limbs, 64" 40# to 50#. Posts: 377 | From: SouthDakota | Registered: Nov 2009
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quote:Originally posted by J. Cook: Well, I'm primarily a hunter...but to be the best hunter I can be, I'd like to be proficient at shooting tight groups in the 30 yard range. I would consider myself a "good shot" and be very comfortable with my level if shooting tight groups out to 30 yards.
I'm right there in the same boat with you my friend. My instinctive eye finally came into focus, and I can nail the kill zone on a 3D buck 5 out of 6 times from 20 yards, with that occasional flyer that leaves me scratching my head (missed anchor point) but I would also like to pull those groups in tighter. One thing that I did the other day that seemed to help a lot was I moved my targets around the yard in different spots so I was shooting at the same old back drop over and over again. Then I just started picking random locations at unknown yardages and ripping arrows. I really surprised myself when I made it back near the 30 yard mark and was laying 2 of 3 arrows right smack in the kill. That's something I couldn't have thought about doing a year ago. So that tells me that it's there...just out of reach and I have to figure out a way to duplicate that zone every single time.
After reading what I just wrote, the Stump Shooting advice is basically what I just did in my back yard with my targets. Maybe I need to take that same advice my self and go kill some stumps.
I also NEED A COACH.....In the Worst Way!
-------------------- ~Varitas Vos Liberabit~ John 8:32 ~Genesis 27:3~ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Posts: 2867 | From: Missouri | Registered: Aug 2010
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Take lessons. I did this year after 17 years of shooting like you are describing. I had me form stripped down and rebuilt. Still trying to master it. Never Truly got the concept of back tension till I took some lessons. Also. Shoot with people who are better than you.
Posts: 836 | From: Maryland | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Steve Kendrot: Take lessons. I did this year after 17 years of shooting like you are describing. I had me form stripped down and rebuilt. Still trying to master it. Never Truly got the concept of back tension till I took some lessons. Also. Shoot with people who are better than you.
That's kinda a problem for me because I live way out in the boonies and only friends/family anywhere close by, and none of them shoot Traditional archery. Nobody to give me advice. I think there's a club or something in Farmington, but I don't know anybody over there and I don't think it's traditional? I believe it's a wheel bow club? Not sure, Just heard here say.
-------------------- ~Varitas Vos Liberabit~ John 8:32 ~Genesis 27:3~ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most. Posts: 2867 | From: Missouri | Registered: Aug 2010
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There is some very good advice here, You have to decide what your goals are and then formulate a plan to get to your goal. We can give all kinds of technical support and the how to advice but you have to pick the road you wish to follow. The hardest thing to accept is it ultimately is what feels best to you. When you shoot well at the end of that day review what you did and how you got those results. I would almost bet it has little to do with anything technical. We sometimes can't accept success and have to dig to find out how we achieved the results of that day. We try to find everything that was just right with our form that day when maybe what we did was trust ourself.
Feel sometimes is what we did right. We felt everything was perfect and it was. When you shoot at very short distance, you just let the shot happen you tell yourself I can't miss so I can relax and work on not moving my bow arm or pull through the release. When you shoot at 20yds relax you are human and you will miss, but you need to let every shot happen. I bet you can nock an arrow, pull the bow to full draw and let her go without ever thinking about did I come to anchor is my back tension good, hows my grip and stance etc. As hard as it is to accept sometimes its between the ears.
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