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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: bowmaster12 on August 30, 2011, 08:23:00 PM

Title: what do you guys do?
Post by: bowmaster12 on August 30, 2011, 08:23:00 PM
i was wondering what you folds do after a bad practice session?  I was out shoting today and struggled it was rough and i was getting frustrated so the next good arrow i shot was my last arrow and i packed it in.  how do you guys get over this for next tiem so you dont carry any bad habbits or thoughts into your next practice session.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: ChuckC on August 30, 2011, 08:29:00 PM
I will say that you are not alone. .  and also that I am NOT the one to give you advice about shooting frustrations.  Keep at it and hang in there.
ChuckC
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Rob W. on August 30, 2011, 08:30:00 PM
I change locations sometimes. I also shoot less often. Sometimes I shoot at nothing but 40 yrds. and over for a week straight. I'm not very good at that range but my 20yrd groups always tighten up. Rob
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: joe ashton on August 30, 2011, 08:44:00 PM
here is my answer.  If a shooting session is going sour I stop shooting targets.  I do not want to practice bad habits.  I will maybe move on a blank bale and shoot a few arrows with my eyes closed to work on some aspect of form.

joe
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: njloco on August 30, 2011, 08:46:00 PM
I pick up my light weight Hoyt and shoot it for form and release or I blank bale shoot, fixes it every time.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: BOWMARKS on August 30, 2011, 08:46:00 PM
I quit trying so hard and just have a good time for that session of shooting. We all get those lousy days.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Don Stokes on August 30, 2011, 08:56:00 PM
Go roving. One random target, one shot. Does wonders for me.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Pullonmylimb on August 30, 2011, 09:04:00 PM
but the bow down for a bit.  sometimes a few minutes, sometimes an hour or so and do something else temporarily.  When I pick it up again I trust myself and am typically back in the game.

Kind of like pushing the re-set button or rebooting.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Chumster on August 30, 2011, 09:06:00 PM
Had one yesterday and couldn't understand it. After a long day at work was determined to work at it, I don't give up. I've been studying a lot of the shooting forum advice and focused on mechanics this evening. Took two bows out settled on one and started putting the arras closer to point of aim.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: dragonheart on August 30, 2011, 09:14:00 PM
I used to shoot through it with blank bale.  Nowdays, I put it down.  I get away from it and come back refreshed, it is like overtraining.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Archie on August 30, 2011, 09:49:00 PM
I'm an insulin-dependant diabetic, diagnosed 2 years ago at 38.  I shoot as if I were blind when my sugar is too low or too high.  For years I was really inconsistent from day-to-day; now I think I know why.  If I just can't seem to shoot right, I pack it in, mark it down as a temporary blip, and try again some other day.

Archie
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: jamesh76 on August 30, 2011, 09:51:00 PM
blank bale
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Pat B on August 30, 2011, 10:47:00 PM
I hang my bow up and come back later. I know I can shoot and surely don't need to add any bad habits.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Red4arm on August 30, 2011, 10:54:00 PM
Shoot in the dark
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Night Wing on August 30, 2011, 11:26:00 PM
If I'm having a bad shooting session, I don't fight it. I simply stop, go inside my house, forget about it and practice shooting on a different day.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Spectre on August 30, 2011, 11:33:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Don Stokes:
Go roving. One random target, one shot. Does wonders for me.
Yep. +1,582,943
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: oldbohntr on August 31, 2011, 12:06:00 AM
After 40 years of shooting stick bows, it still happens to me. Back when I worked for a living, I'd kid myself that it was no good to shoot when I was unhappy with the wife, the boss, miserable airline travel pressures, job stresses, whatever. But, I was out of town a lot and could only shoot a few days a week, so came to feel that there was also benefit to shooting when I didn't much feel like I wanted to: shooting my bow is my own special type of relaxation and -dammit- it makes me feel better, even when I KNOW I may not be building better form!!!  (this ain't the freakin' olympics!)  I found it was possible to return from a shooting session with a hell of a lot better attitude, even if I hadn't built better shooting skills!  

It's a lot harder to buckle down and shoot well when you are having a bad day.  A lot of days I don't succeed.  But, I shoot anyway.  And, after a few decades of this, and losing a few friends who loved it as much as I do....I'm thankful for every day I can shoot my bow and arrow!  There are things in life that are more important - but, so long as I don't have to choose between them- I'm going to continue to do my best to get my bow-and-arrow therapy every day I can!

Sorry, I got carried away there. The original point was: there should be no bad times doing something you love. Take the good you can from every chance you have. But, don't ever quit. Long term, you're better for all the experiences. Go out to shoot with a positive attitude.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Kitseguecla on August 31, 2011, 12:29:00 AM
I sometimes quit for a bit . I also like swiching to stump shooting .this usually does the trick for me . I'm fortunate though as I can just step out the door and shoot 20 yards from the house.Lol
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on August 31, 2011, 02:56:00 AM
Go chase the ground sqirrels
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Bud B. on August 31, 2011, 05:21:00 AM
It happened to me a few days ago. I went inside for a spell and came back out about 45 minutes later. I shot a few more times with the last group from 15yds all in the kill zone. I quit there.

I was tired from shooting too much.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: sidebuster on August 31, 2011, 10:03:00 AM
Always quit on a high note. Never on a bad shot.

You might be shooting bad but one of those  shots sooner or later will be a good one. Keep shooting until you have a good one.  Quit on that one.

If you quit on a bad shot it will be on your mind as you go in.  You will keep thinking about it.  Nothing like going in when that lost shot was good.  Clears your mind for next time.

I have always been a believer of not shooting groups.  I only shoot one arrow and then go get it. For me when you have a whole quiver full of arrows all your doing is reaching for the next arrow and not really concentrating.

Shoot one get one is my philosophy.  To me this helps me concentrate on shots.  As you go to retrieve a bad shot you are thinking about what you might of done wrong. Gets your mind thinking.

Shooting four quality shots one by one does more good than shooting a quiver full of arrows with no quality control.  Plus shooting a quiver full of arrows with no concentration  forms bad habits.  

Just my 2 cents.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: ScottinPA on August 31, 2011, 01:32:00 PM
I grab a tennis ball (or golf ball if the yard's been mowed)and an arrow with a judo.  Toss the ball around the yard and focus on one shot.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: kpete on August 31, 2011, 03:07:00 PM
Ha!  I'd never get out of the houes or think about archery ever again!
I think you were wise to stop on a good arrow.  Don't overthink this-easier said than done.  The main thing is to go our the next time with a clean slate, not afraid that poor shooing will persist, but confident that you have shot well in the past and will do it again now.
Take heart, as others have said, you are not alone!
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: PaddyMac on August 31, 2011, 03:48:00 PM
I have a spot in my yard where if I'm going to fall apart I do it there. Just something about the way it looks I suppose. So I do one of my favorite things which is to move out to 50 or 60 yards or more and just lob arrows and try to hit the foam. No pressure. Kind of goofy. Just fling 'em. It's fun. I like the way the arrows look. And it seems to bring me back.

Then I move up to 5 yards and do my one-shot-five-pace increments. By the time I'm back out to 40 I'm good.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: hvyhitter on August 31, 2011, 03:54:00 PM
ditto tennis ball/roving....I also somtimes take a few days off from shootng and am usually able to snap back into it....dont burn yourself out.......
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Huntingnut on August 31, 2011, 04:34:00 PM
Quit for a few days.Also, stump shooting really helps me as well.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Shan on August 31, 2011, 06:10:00 PM
Call it quits for a little while. Reflect on all aspects of your shot. Diagnose your problem. and then get back at it    ;)
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Indiana-jim on August 31, 2011, 06:27:00 PM
1 arrow at a time. Forget the bad ones and dont rejoice over the good ones. just keep shooting. good luck
Jim
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: TxAg on August 31, 2011, 09:25:00 PM
If I'm shooting below average (for me) I usually take one last shot and make sure to concentrate and hold for an extra split second. Hopefully that last shot is good and I can quit on a good note.

Regardless, I'll pack it up and have a cold adult beverage. Then I remind myself to relax and that trad shooting/hunting is supposed to be FUN.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: Sixby on August 31, 2011, 09:36:00 PM
I quit on a good shot. No sense in forming a bad habit. There is always another day.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: jhg on August 31, 2011, 09:38:00 PM
Leave it. One thing competitive sports has taught me is that to win or to be good, you have to leave the mistakes, the bad shots, the bad series of sessions behind you. Show me someone good and I will show you someone who does not let stuff that happened influence what is about to happen.
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: swamprooter on August 31, 2011, 09:42:00 PM
Same as everyone else, lay it down for a while. I get myself into trouble trying to shoot when I am really tired, always shoot like crap and get frustrated, I quit for the day come back rested and am back to shooting decent. Chris
Title: Re: what do you guys do?
Post by: BuckyT on September 01, 2011, 02:51:00 PM
I simply quit shooting that particular day.

I erase it from my memory and go back out the next day with a fresh mind and positive attitude.