If any of you are struggling with some aspect of your shooting or would just like to become a better shooter, I highly recommend Rick Welch’s Shooting School. I spent two days with Rick earlier this month and will say that it is without a doubt the best money I have ever spent on anything archery-related.
Before I went, I was almost to the point of giving up bowhunting altogether and selling everything. I had been struggling with my shooting for several years and nothing I tried seemed to help. When I first started shooting, back before “traditional archery” was a common phrase, I shot fairly well and everything was simple. That simplicity was one of the things that made me choose recurves and longbows in the first place. However, over the years I took something that was simple, analyzed it again and again, complicated it, and really screwed-up my shooting. I wanted to read every book or article and watch every video on shooting instinctively that came along. The problem for me was that in trying all these new methods\\styles\\techniques, I developed many bad habits and eventually lost my ability to control almost every aspect of my shot. It was frustrating! When my son was little, he began shooting longbows with me and I let him develop his own style with plans of teaching him “how you are supposed to shoot a stickbow” when he got older. The only problem was that it wasn’t long before he could outshoot dad and I decided I might better leave him alone. As my shooting continued to decline, shooting with my son wasn’t as enjoyable and by his mid-teens I pretty much wouldn’t shoot when he was around. Heck, I didn’t want to shoot when anyone was around! It was during those years that I also quit spending much time in the woods because I didn’t have the confidence I had the tools to make the shot if it presented itself. The tools I am referring to certainly was not quality equipment. You see, I had spent plenty of money over the years chasing that next “magic-bow” that was going to fix everything – the problem was that the fix never happened. It finally just got to the point where shooting wasn’t fun anymore and I rarely shot at all. I even told my wife I was going to get this shooting thing fixed or sell everything and quit wasting my time. That’s when I decided to give Rick a call.
It was probably February when I called Rick just to talk with him and see what he had to offer. I explained to him my situation in detail and bluntly told him that I doubted that he could help me and didn’t want to just throw more money away and waste his and my time. Then I asked him if he thought he could help me. He said that based on what I told him, he felt he could help and explained a little about his class. Well, I still wasn’t convinced and decided I would just get his videos and see what he was all about. You see, I didn’t know much about Rick Welch other than what I had read of him on the internet – both the good and the bad. I did know that he was a 3-under shooter which for some reason I had always frowned-on though I really didn’t have a good reason as to why. Yes, I had tried it over the years but quickly gave it up because that was not the way “you are supposed to shoot a stickbow”. Also, I had been told that Rick’s methods would not work for most people because he is some sort of phenom with a gift and few people could ever shoot well that way. Well, the videos arrived a few days later and I began to try some of his methods. Surprisingly, I noticed some improvement and after a few weeks decided to call Rick and schedule to attend his class.
By the time the class rolled around my shooting had improved quite a bit. Previous to adopting some of his methods, it was questionable whether I would even hit the bag at 15 yards. I still brought that fear to Arkansas but surprisingly, after shooting a few warm-up shots, I managed to shoot a 140 for the benchmark for a 20 target 3D round. I was surprised because I really didn’t think I would break 100. We then went inside and analyzed the video he took of my warm-up shots and the benchmark 20 target 3D round. This is where Rick excels. He saw things I had never noticed and I had even videoed myself in the past. Not only did he see things, he quickly indicated a big “we can fix that”. And “fix that” we did! One problem in particular (my tendency to shoot high) that I had been trying to fix for at least 5 years was pretty much fixed in one shot. Other problems were addressed throughout the day and on the second day, I again shot a 20 target 3D round but this time finished with a 179 which is absolutely amazing for me! Am I a great shot? Heck no and I still have much to work on. But, the fun is back and I am planning to spend some time in the woods this year which is what it is all about for me.
Rick Welch is the real deal, an incredible shot, and a great guy. He is humble but confident, absolutely loves to bowhunt, and really enjoys helping others become a better shot. One thing about Rick is that he is able to break things down and simplify. He teaches simplicity and control. With my job, I have been to classes\\seminars in different parts of the country taught by some of the brightest minds. However, never have I had an instructor give any better instruction than what I received from a simple man from Arkansas. Rick Welch has a gift for teaching and his class is highly recommended!
Mark
Topic: Rick Welch School, My Experience (Read 598 times)
