Shooting Blues

[SHOOTO8S]

Let the mind totally control each step of the shot sequance and never skip a step...the eyes start seeing what they want to see, long before the shot is put together enough to shoot.

[MRD]

Thanks, Rod.

[Dawnpatrol]

Since I'm in rehab I thought a 7 step program (similar to Alcoholics Anonymous) would do well for me. Here is what I got in mind for my shot sequence. Right now I can get to about step 5 when everyting goes haywire and I fall off the wagon.

(1) Stance: address target, pick a spot, plant my feet and have balance slightly forward.
(2) Set: bow arm nearly straight at target, tension on string, get shoulders into alignment for draw.
(3) Draw: pull straight thru to anchor, shift weight slightly back to center of balance.
(4) Anchor: index finger on eyetooth, knuckle of thumb under jaw, check shoulder alignment.
(5) Aim: focus on the spot, get on target, and maintain for 2-3 seconds.
(6) Release: Pull straight thru with elbow.
(7) Follow: Bowhand stays on target, sting finger relaxed and falling back.

[Dawnpatrol]

Rod,
I know that seeing the arrow on target is a metal trigger that often breaks down my shooting form. I tend to focus more on hitting the target (result) rather than making a good shot (form).

Thanks for your enlightening thoughts.

[jcp161]

I did something similar to your seven step program. What helped me was to take it to your step five and hold without shooting every few shots. Breaks the sequence and keeps you from anticipating the release. Just don't make it the same number everytime. I started out just drawing and holding on target a number of times to try and recondition myself and break the cycle. I would actually have to stop myself from releasing the arrow when I first started doing this and would flinch just like someone anticipating the shot when shooting a handgun. Very troubling but I saw why my accuracy was so off. I would shoot one arrow on the last draw. It did seem to help some. Nothing new, all of it is already on this site or in Jay Kidwell's book.

[MRD]

Yes, me too. I noticed that drawing and NOT shooting is not only very difficult, it also helps break the cycle of shooting unintentionally.  I need to keep it up, just feeling what it feels like to be at full draw, without a care in the whirl, focusing on back tension and anchor and sight picture, but NO worries about result.  Aaaarrgghh! How could something so simple be so freakin' difficult!

       

[KSdan]

Get Kidwell's book and study it!  You will understand. . .

[Dawnpatrol]

The rythum of the shot is an interesting thing. It seems to increase in tempo as you work thru each step. Maybe this is why so many of us rush "the shot".

For me, as I go through my shot sequence each step is a little quicker than the proceeding one.  For instance, Stance and Set are slow and methodical.  Draw, Anchor, and Aim are a little quicker. The Release and  Follow through are quick and occur almost simotaniously. Its a rythum/tempo that increases through the shooting sequence.

How do I build a good rythum of the shot that will be slow enough to not "rush the shot" and quick enough to do it without over thinking it?

Any ideas there?

[Pete Arthur]

This is a great thread!
I too suffer from TP. In fact, I put my bows down altogether for a year. I just could not justify shooting so poorly.
I've picked up my recurve again and I'm starting to relearn this process. So far, so good, but I still have the urge to "let er rip" as soon as my eyes tell me to.
Like MRD said above, how could something so simple be so hard!

[doowop]

Alex. I was going thru the exact same thing as you.It was killing me. After 36 years of shooting right handed I got the guts to sell all my right handed bows and start shooting left handed. I should have switched years ago. After 2 months I could draw, hold, aim, kick in the back and shoot. Shooting better now than ever. My style has changed to a more target style, although I still cant my bow. Started at 28 lbs and now hunting with 52 with no problem at all. It is a big step, but, to me at least, was well worth it. Been at it about 5 months now.

[stiknstringer]

A friend of mine had switched from shooting a compound to trad gear because he saw the rest of us having so much fun at the 3D shoots.Anyway, he just couldn't shoot at live animals without completely losing his composure.Without really thinking about it, I said that he should try shooting his longbow like he used to shoot his compound,draw,anchor and hold,aim and than release.He did this and immediately saw such an improvement,I think because he discovered a way to control his shooting/aiming sequence, that he proceeded to kill the next several deer that came within his range.I could also see a huge boost in his confidence when it came to shooting.  

[LimbLover]

I cured mine by putting the quiver down and only shooting one arrow at a time.

I hold at anchor for 2 solid seconds and keep my bow arm framed after the shot for a 5-count. I go back to this whenever I start to get a touch of TP and it really really helps me.

Shooting one arrow at a time is what I did when doing the winking thing as well and have done the same for those that I helped with TP.  I have noticed that many shooters have varying form when shooting a back quiver full of arrows at a back yard target, some of these same shooters, myself included, have much more consistent form shooting a single judo point out stump shooting.

[Dawnpatrol]

LimbLover-
I like the idea of holding on target after the shot for 5 seconds. That sounds like a good way to exaggerate your follow thru. I'm sure will help me considerably and plan to try it after work this evening.

I've been working out semi regularly with the Form Master. Wow! What a difference that thing makes. After about 10 shots I take it off and the bow wants to jump out of my hand at the target. I don't drop my bow hand during the shot, and the arrows flight is faster, smoother, and the bow is quieter. Clearly the Form Master is working for me.

[Dawnpatrol]

Doowop-
Wow that is a "big step". Sounds serious. For me, my left side of the body is slightly retarded. I can't hardly hold a bow in my left hand. I'm impressed to hear that you were successful at switching over to lefty.  Congratulations!

My buddy had shoulder issues a couple years back and switched to lefty shooting light bows (35lbs). He managed to harvest a turkey and a pig shooting south paw. Like you, his form (right handed) was instinctive and he shot rather quick once the nock touched his face. But left handed he had perfect form, could anchor, hold and aim the bow. Now he has switch back to right handed about 6 months ago. I don't want to put a jinx him but he is now shooting better than he ever.

I wonder if the left handed shooting taught him something that he couldn't get right handed due to his form/muscle memory/mental conditioning. Interesting stuff.