instinctive eureka!!

[teshunkawitko]

I have really been practicing my instinctive shooting simply because other methods just do not suit me or vice versa! As well as the things the great F Asbell suggest we do I have found that bringing my eye level to the target level really improves visualising a spot and consequently better groupings upto 20 yards. I suppose I should try this technique with a ground based target now that would be interesting to get eye level with a groundhog and still shoot an arra!!
Yours thoughts on this fellow gangers

[Grant Young]

I think that one of the biggest advantages to Asbell's method of aligning eye level to target level is that it prompts you to focus pretty thoroughly on your target. In my personal experience, this intense focus is the key to good instinctive shooting much as it is in any other atletic process demanding accuracy. I also think it is why really good instinctive shooting is so difficult to sustain over extended shooting sessions; our conscious minds simply get in the way of what our brain and body are capable of when synchronized and truly focused. Since this method is so personal, I'm sure you will get a great many opinions and perspectives and all are as valid as mine I'm sure. I hope you enjoy continued success with this method or whatever you end up using. Have fun, shoot well,    Grant

[teshunkawitko]

personally i do not find the concentration on focus as much an issue as bringing all the other ingredients ie consistent grip positioning, bow balance , foot placement, draw speed etc,to the point of release which hopefully will lead to a well placed shot. I suppose that can be summed up by one word ' FORM'. How important do you rate these other factors?

[Grant Young]

I agree with your feelings on the importance of form, especially repeatable form. I find I don't have to think too much about it after forty years of doing pretty much the same thing on every shot-assuming that the demands of the shot will allow me to- and my accuracy isn't usually an issue. My highest level of accuracy requires a level of focus that is tough for me to maintain unless there is some other factor,i.e. game or competition, to stimulate it and I merely supposed from observing the Asbell method that it might encourage that level of focus, sort of like a combat stance for handgun shooting. I was probably remiss in responding since I personally have not experimented with Asbell's specific technique. Cheers,  Grant

[zetabow]

My form is pretty much automatic but when things dont feel right and have to put conscious effort into my form for a few shots I notice a decrease in my accuracy, once the problem has been sorted and focus is back on where I want my arrow to go the accuracy is again back on to normal.

Focus and Form need to work together when one isn't working correctly accuracy is affected. It takes time to build form to a subconscious level and many newbies mistakenly think that it's just a matter of the harder you focus the better you will shoot, the assumption is correct but only once the form has been mastered.

Teshunkawtiko found a method to improve his form allowing him to focus more on the spot, now he has it cracked and feels more confidence he's able to build on his new learned skill to more difficuly shot situations. good work.

[teshunkawitko]

zetabow and Grant, thanks for the input. I totally agree that form and focus must work together in unison to execute a shot that we are happy with. The other aspect that I personally find really helps in consistency is keeping my bow arm locked during the draw. This and the tension created by the draw motion settle the bow into the hand how this seems to in my mind to create a bit of a random grip but groups have been good.