a funny dilema

[gjw77]

I don't know what ii is(i'm assuming it has something to do with focus),but everytime I shoot at a bullseye I'm lucky to be able to put 4 arrows in a pie plate(10 to 20 yards).When I shoot at my bear or deer target I normally group them in a softball size group right in the kill zone.It puzzles me.Any clues?

[HumbleHunter]

I know what you mean man. Sometimes I'm the same way when I go from shooting at "stuff" to "dots". I'm not sure what makes it different but if I keep at it, it'll go the other way if I shoot at dot targets long enough, the "stuff" shots are strange. WEIRD STUFF What I do is move in close to the dot target, I mean real close, and just really get comfortable with focusing on the dot. Then start moving backward. It works for me, you might give it a try. Have a great day, HH

[Holedigger]

I shoot indoor 20 yd. leagues in the winter at my Sportsman's Club and I get to missing the WHOLE TARGET sometimes!  Something about not being able to concentrate on a bullseye. I don't think it's really good for my confidence, and if it wasn't so much fun, and broke the monotony of winter so well, I should just shoot at home at my 3-D's.  Shot 3D this weekend and didn't even lose an arrow!  For me, that's something! Bullseye's  are bad juju?!?!?!? LOL!

[JC]

So much of this challenge we have chosen is mental. At some point in most shooter's travel down the traditional path, focus and concentration play a much larger role than the form that has become little more than muscle memory. I know there are days when I can't miss...and days when my mind wanders while trying to focus and I'm lucky to hit water from a boat. For me, it's certainly a focus issue.

I find that varying practice helps improve confidence as well as shooting. I'll try a few shots at a large round bale, trying to pick spots on the bale that are difficult to focus on. This has helped my "spot picking" ability on game...something I find very difficult to do. I also shoot at tiny targets,(the little v8 cans are my favorite)to prove to myself that I can hit something small and my "shooting" (form etc.) is not the culprit when shots go awry. It's difficult enough to focus on a tiny target and hit it...but I find it's really difficult to pick a tiny, imaginary spot on a larg blank target and hit it.

So, do you think yours a mental issue...or possibly the "aim small, miss small" concept? You may be picking a much smaller spot to concentrate on with the animal targets and the opposite for the bullseye.

[Grant Young]

Good point, JC.It amazes me that the fellow who was shooting "lights out" yesterday is the guy shooting Buick sized groups today with the exact same setup. Key components like alignment and back tension sometimes get a bit off, but in my case its usually a concentration issue. I've found that frequently changing posture, position, angle and distance help keep me focused. I also tend to shoot much better with broadheads and don't know if it is because I become more careful or just take it more seriously. This "headgame" has been goung on almost forty years and a permanent solution still hasn't shown up. One of of the several reasons I love it.          Grant

[gjw77]

I think it is a focus issue,JC.Even though I'm looking at the little black dot I drew on the center of the plate,subconsciously I'm aiming at the whole plate instead of the little spot.On my deer and bear the entire target is one color so it's easier for me to not get distracted by all the stuff around my focal point.The white plate around the black dot makes me focus on the whole plate.
 At least I think so,lol.Man that woulda been a mouthful,glad I typed it.