Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: medic77 on November 04, 2012, 07:35:00 PM
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Anybody have any special practice tips for me? My mind is going wrong in a bad way. My last couple shots at deer have been less than stellar and now my practice sessions have gone to poo also. I take great pride in my shooting ability and practice almost daily but my mind is getting in the way.
Tell me I'm not the only one this happens to and how did you fix it. I need a slam dunk on my next shot. A "chip shot" if you will.
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It almost sounds like you are experiencing the early stages of target panic. I would drill myself on form and not worry about accuracy for a week or so until you feel like you have control of your shots again.
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I studied the stock market for years, and became very knowledgable about it, only to find out later, I didn't have the stomach for it when it came time to put my hard earned cash on the line.
Howard Hill once said you need to decide weather your going to be a hunter, or a target archer, because they are completely different.
Hope this helps!
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happens to me also, your best bet is to slow down with your practice and don't over due it. don't get into a bad habit. maybe for a while shoot only a few perfect arrows and put the bow away each day. Your a good shot and you know it!! don't let the mental aspect mess with you. spend some time stump shooting or trying at small game and you will be back on track.
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I think that I need some of that old Saturday Night Live skit where a character named Stuart Smalley stood in front of a mirror saying, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me." Ha.
The funny thing is the shots feel perfect but the outcome is far different. Geez this isn't my first rodeo. Thanks for the advice everyone.
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get up close and close your eyes. feel the shot rather than see it. just use a big target. good luck
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Everyone goes through a slump. I did this fall. My advice....go back to the basics. Don't change much,just focus on doing it right.
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Rick Welch taught me to shoot one arrow at a time, walk to the target, and then shoot the next one from a different distance. When you get tired, take a break. Practice your form, have a pre-shot routine, and have fun with it!
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let the next one walk, but practice draw on it. Sometimes when you want something too badly it messes with your head.
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That one arrow at a time thing is good to do, also talk yourself through the shot. Break it down into segments,target,draw,anchor,focus,release and follow thru.......good luck. :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
let the next one walk, but practice draw on it. Sometimes when you want something too badly it messes with your head.
X2
I draw on a lot of deer i have no intention of shooting. Also when practicing I spend some of my time either holding for 10 seconds or blind baling. It helps me really feel in control of the shot. Keep your head up it happens Joe
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The mind can be an evil little booger, don't think about it. You know what your doin, just focus on a spot and shoot! It's suppose to be fun don't forget that, take care and pick a spot!
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Happened to me too right about 2 weeks before a big trip. It started when I put broadheads on to practice and suddenly I was much more aware of the arrow than before.
Luckily I realised what the problem was and it all came together for the trip.
I still struggle concentrating on the target rather than trying to aim with my arrow. I have to try and stare through the spot I am aiming for and consciously ignore my arrow to shoot well.
Good luck, it really just about gave me depression for a while! I almost went back to wheels but I am sure glad I stuck with the recurve and worked through it instead.
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The best medicine for me is 1 arrow with a judo point and start shooting at leaves in the grass.
You will be back in form in no time and your confidence back!
Best of luck......Philip
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(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010356.jpg)
I keep telling myself it's not rocket surgery! :readit:
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Thanks everyone for all the great stuff to work on. I really like the advice to remember to have fun. Sometimes I get so caught up in the "kill shot" that I forget that this is all about fun and enjoying the great gifts that the "Big Man" has created for us.
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Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
let the next one walk, but practice draw on it. Sometimes when you want something too badly it messes with your head.
I think this is some super good advice. I think it gets you comfortable being around the animals.
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Get a lighter bow, at least 10 pounds lighter than what you are shooting now. Work on form for 6-12 shots at the start and finish of each practice session, to warm up at first and and to correct what you did wrong during practice.
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Originally posted by Rob W.:
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1010356.jpg)
I keep telling myself it's not rocket surgery! :readit:
These exact words go through my mind when I'm shooting too!
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Relax!!!! Your way over thinking it and putting preasure on your self! Relax and focus.
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I too go through this from time to time, and in my case its caused by trying to shoot the arrow and not the target. Once i start putting my focus on the target to be hit rather than worrying about the arrow, it all starts coming together again.
Like an old man once told me " shoot the target, not the arrow".
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Originally posted by Bill Skinner:
Get a lighter bow, at least 10 pounds lighter than what you are shooting now. Work on form for 6-12 shots at the start and finish of each practice session, to warm up at first and and to correct what you did wrong during practice.
I did this and the difference is amazing. A light bow shows every little error: torquing the string, plucking the string, inconsistent anchor, you name it. You can also make a lot more shots to work on form without fatigue setting in.
Besides, it is a great excuse to add another bow to the arsenal. :goldtooth:
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when I was having problems the guys here made two suggestions that really helped, first only shoot one arrow at a time, I was shooting up to a dozen. The break in between shots helps. The second was to back off some so I started shooting every other day or so for a little while and things fell back into place. I found when things were going bad and I kept shooting and pushing to fix it, things just got worse. I was better off if I was shooting bad to put the bow up and do something else for a while. I also had to try and quit analyzing myself and let my muscle memory take over and quit over thinking the shots. The more I though about it the worse I got.
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How are you practicing? I only stump shoot. The only target I have is in the basement for shooting in the dead of winter. I shoot tough footed carbons for the reason that I will shoot at anything, anywhere and not worry what happens to my arrow.
Try and simulate real scenarios while practicing. Pounding arrows into a target butt actually hurts my shooting at real game.
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Right before deer season I went through about a two week period where my shooting was gradually getting worse every day. I was getting discouraged like you are. The week before the season started I was busy doing other things and was unable to shoot at all for almost a week. This time off cured me. The next time I went out to shoot I put them all where it counts. Take a break and see how that helps. Sometimes it is easy to over think things.
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When I start shooting like crap during practice I just set the bow down and come back a different day. Sometimes over thinking what your doing makes you shoot bad. As far as hunting goes most of the time it's not picking a spot on the animal, somehow calm down and pick that spot the shot will take care of it's self your brain has that part figured out already.
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START HUNTING SMALL GAME instead of deer!
One of the NO,NO's of tradbow hunting is people start w/ big game and never hunt squirrels and such.I did this as well but I found shooting small game gives one more shot opportunities and builds great confidence.
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Yup hunt small game and go do some stump shooting.
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In my opinion you need to develop a good shot sequence and then repeat it until you can perform it at a subconsious level.
There is a really good book called "Idiot Proof Archery" that help me a great deal. Another good author to read on the subject is J. Kidwell!
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Stump shooting and small game hunting is great advice. Take every shot opportunity in the woods that you can.
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Just hang in there and shoot up close build confidence. A lot of good advice here lots of drills draw anchor get sight picture let down every practice session. Read Kidwells book the drills really help.