Snap Shooting Help!

[basket-rack'89]

Hi all,
I'm looking for some advice to improve my snap shooting problem.  When alone, I can hit my anchor point 5 out of 10 times the way I want to, but when shooting with people or even just a friend I find myself releasing the arrow long before I should.  I don't know what's going on, something upstairs saying release it before you mess up.  I know that I cannot reach my full potential without a consistent anchor, so what do I do?  Would a clicker help or do I just need to shoot and break the habit?  

Any help is much appreciated!

[zetabow]

A clicker would help but if you have it bad you may not even get to clicker.


What I do is an exercise at the Blank Bale, just drawing to anchor holding\\expanding for 2 secs and come back down, gives you back the control, then once you feel a little happier then you can move on to the same exercise but aim and come back down, if you get to this point then it's a matter of just doing the exercise and adding a random release into 1 in 3 shots.

When youre back to normal keep doing the exercise once or twice a week and you shouldn't have any issues.

You should also review your shooting form and Bow weight, if your form is correct and your subconscious knows\\accepts it, you shouldn't have this issue in the first place, if you can get a light trainer bow to do the bale exercises it will help speed things up.

[Terry Green]

You got target panic issues....not snap shooting.  Not one and the same.  I'm a snap shooter that's never had target panic, so I'm not much help on this subject except to offer the following.....

Do a search for the word panic and you will get some good threads on the subject.

Best of luck to ya.    

[cch]

Go with the clicker. It will take the sight picture release away and you will have to wait for the click before you release. I have been a snap shooter for many years and have shot real good. I can usually keep up with the best of shooters. The problem is when under pressure I have a tendancy to rush my shot sometimes short drawing. This usually happens while hunting. Just yesterday I lowered my bow down to 40# from 53# and installed a clicker. Now I need to train real hard to learn this.  It is hard giving up my normal shooting style. Now my groups are three times the size but I hope to get it under control and be on to better shooting.

[xtrema312]

Good stuff above.  I would start close to the target and draw to anchor without shooting for a start.  Sounds like you may just need to get to anchor consistent so you train yourself to do it.  Slow it down.  I have the opposite problems sometimes and get to anchor, pull to full draw, but don't release so I keep pulling and overdraw some.  I think I got into that habit from pulling to full draw before my brain had the picture and was ready to shoot.  I am working to get to a shorter draw at anchor, get my brain ready to shoot and release as soon as I put in the back tension to get to full draw.

[glass76]

Good suggestions from above posts, may have to try some myself.

[hunterken]

I'm struggling with the same problem. I can draw and hold if I'm pointing 2 feet off to the side of the target, but when I point at the target- it's gone!I need to get to the pont I can pull and hold at the target w/o releasing.

[Earthdog]

Try taking about 6 deep,long an slow breathes just before you start your shot routine.
Then as you go through your draw cycle,take a 3/4 deep breath and hold it while you anchour.
I picked up this tip from McDave about a month ago and once I got my own breath routine worked out,I've found I'm more calm and focused through out my whole shot cycle.
Now I've been doing this for about a month,I've found it's just become another part of my over all shot seqence and I'm no longer having to think about it much.

As Terry say's "you have a mild form of TP.
I was starting to develop a slight flinch at full draw myself,,the breathing thing stopped it over night.

All the best,
ED.

[Cecil]

Get close to your target and practice. you might try a clicker.

[basket-rack'89]

Thanks everybody, great tips and keep them coming.  Need to get some field points so will probably order a clicker too just to try it.  Gonna go fling some cedar and see try these suggestions.

[LongStick64]

Get a lighter bow and work that form over. You make a PVC bow that you can draw and release without an arrow. If you want to add more weight to it, insert a wood dowel inside the PVC. Just epoxy the dowel and let me tell you, it's a great tool to work on your form without even firing arrow.

[CLICKERMAN]

Basket-rack,

Send me a pm and I will explain your issue to you.  It is too long to spell out in a post, but the fix is really very simple.  Going to a clicker is only part of the answer, you need to know the mental mechanics behind the clicker to really become successful.  Blank bales will not help you under stress,,contrary to popular belief!!!

Talk to you soon,

JT

[eric-thor]

sounds like some good advise although i wouldnt recomend a clicker if you shoot 3d's or hunt .i think zetabow hit it home bretty well what he said has worked for me quit well . check out the thread about double anchor i think between what zetabow said and maby try working on multiple anchor points you should get straightend out. focus on the form before the flight and the shot will come together when you get your end of the shot workd out. goodluck brother...

[Margly]

I have been on and of the TP problem during one full year now. And it have been bad, until I came up with the following routine:

What seems like the best way for me to control it is the following techniques:

1)Start with a mental program
Indoor in your living room or whatever place you are, do this routine without the bow and arrow. Close your eyes make your stance and vision the target and go to full draw and hold for ten sec, and lower. Wait for 30 sec and do this again, until you feel relaxed and then do your routine with a controlled release. Remember to do all the correct things like holding the bow in line to you "see" the arrow hitting the spot.
This you should do several times every day to "program" your brain.

2) Find a bow with less pounds 30# range and use this for full draw and holding.

3) Use a blind bale and go to full draw and start to count to 3 and then lower the bow.
After lowering wait for 30 sec. and do it again, but this time count to 4. Do this to you have counted to 10. If you let go at once even at the blind bale, then try with your eye closed.

When you can control holding on the bale then you go for a target or a 3D animal.

4) The routine here is make your stance go to full draw go to your aiming spot and the lower again. If you not manage but release at once then go back to 1)

5) when you manage to full draw go into the spot and lower, then you start to do circles with the arrow at full draw around the spot. Not fast but like coming in at the spot from left make a clockwise circle and lower the bow.

6) when you are controlling no 5) then go to full draw go to your spot cont 1001-1002-1003 an release. Do this several times but count different every time. If you still get the premature release well then go back to start.

when you now can control this, then it is time to pick up your hunting bow and start from scratch.

Another thing I usually do when I feel the TP coming is to take a target and set it up on my garage(concrete) wall and just going to full draw and lower several times before starting my routine. I seems crazy but for me it functioning very well and I do not release at the wall.
+ I every day do the mental shooting in nr. 1).

And an important thing is to relax before every shot.

Remember that this routine need several days for making change and DO NOT everything in one hour!!

This routine works great for me and I do compete in both 3D and target with good results        

good luck and straight shooting.

Margly

[lpcjon2]

It's like shooten a gun just remember B.R.A.S.S. breath, relax, aim, stop, squeeze(release).Do this in a fluid motion in your draw(breath in as you draw) when you hit your anchor relax,aim, stop and release.Practice this while roving in the yard around obstacles (can be a bucket a chair,ect.)to simulate tree's and brush and the see your target and apply the steps.If you practice it it will take your mind of the panic.I have used this in teaching firearms classes and it works.Most people over think shooten.

[eric-thor]

ah yes i do also take a sip of h2o and about three breaths before i inhale as i draw as well . this not only keeps me hydrated but calms and clears my mind as well.
 margley i like your comitment and ocd technique.i wish we could go shooting sometime .

[kestimator]

Terry,

You stated that you are a snap shooter.  Have you elaborated on your style in a thread before?  I would be interested in your comments.  I watched "Hitting 'em Like Howard" this weekend and played around with some of what Mr. Schulz spoke about and demonstrated.  Your advertisement on the Masters of The BB series reminded me of some of the shots and style exhibited by Mr. Schulz.