Shot technique and sequence

[Jock Whisky]

This is a bit long so please bear with me. I'd like some opinions, advice, benefit of others experience etc.

I spent the morning shooting on a 3D course with a couple of friends this morning. It was a frustrating session in that my shooting was all over the place. I'd focus on the spot, draw, anchor and release. Some good, some not so good. The frustration comes from the fact that for the last few weeks when I practiced in the yard or went stump shooting I was doing quite well. I had been re-focussing on back tension and when I did what I was supposed to do I was shooting 3 and 4 inch groups at 20 and 25 yards. I could clearly feel back tension clicking in, my string hand would come straight back on release and the arrows would drop into the target like they had eyes. On the 3D range I had a bugger of a time even getting back tension to happen.

After I got home I sat down with a beer and thought about what I had done wrong at the 3D range.

I started thinking back in the '60s when recurves and longbows were the order of the day. There was no such thing as "Traditional Archery" 'cause that's all there was. When we learned to shoot we probably learned on the target range and learned the importance of good form and technique. From there we could continue in the target discipline, move to field shooting or hunting or do any combination of the three and many did. But we all came from the same beginning, training in proper technique.

I'm currently reading Al Henderson's book, Understanding Winning Archery". Excellent book by the way. In it he mentions not thinking about aiming until you have built the shot. This seems to be in conflict with the idea that instinctive shooting involves concentrating intently on the spot before you draw. So I decided to put it to the test.

I went to the back yard, didn't focus on the target but rather looked at my arrow until I was at full draw and lo and behold, back tension clicked in. When I had everything in order I then looked at the spot, the string hand came straight back and the arrows flew true. This is what I was not doing on the 3D range. I was focusing on the spot first. The shot never really got built. (I also read somewhere recently that focusing on the target before the shot is a ticket to TP).

So after all that I guess my question is have we got it backwards when we focus on the spot before we build the shot? Would we shoot better if we got everything in place with respect to technique and form and then thought about aiming or picking a spot?  It seems to be the case with me.

JW

[tzolk]

Food for thought! I will try this technique and see how it goes. Still trying to get everything together with shooting a longbow over here. Thanks!

[moebow]

Jock,, As usual there are many correct answers to your question.  My 2 cents is that using your conscious mind to make us use the correct muscles all the way to anchor and only then getting our sight picture is the way to go.  As you are discovering, if you line up the arrow on the target and try to keep it there, a common result is that we loose the correct structure in our bodies.  You can see it happen in videos all over the shooter's forum.

Try this philosophy on for size; " Archery is a process (form)sport not an aiming sport."

We tend to get too focused on aiming and then everything else goes out the window.  Aiming is important but only if the form is there.  Currently MOST all the national level shooters are being taught to concentrate on the form steps of the shot and to aim AFTER reaching anchor and then basically subconsciously.

[zetabow]

When I shoot I do aim from the start but it's just conscious intent where I want arrow to hit, I dont really start to be completely absorbed in aiming until I've anchored and loaded Scapula up, what Larry Yien describes in MBB3 as back tension anchor or Kirsk Lee calls transfer loading.

Once I'm at this very controlled stage of my sequence I can subconsciously be absorbed in aiming without any worry of losing that feeling of back tension.
 
Of course I have lost that feeling from time to time (under pressure situations) but it's so easy to feel when it's not quite right I still have the control to come down and start the shot sequence again.

[JINKSTER]

Originally posted by Jock Whisky:
This is a bit long so please bear with me. I'd like some opinions, advice, benefit of others experience etc.

I spent the morning shooting on a 3D course with a couple of friends this morning. It was a frustrating session in that my shooting was all over the place. I'd focus on the spot, draw, anchor and release. Some good, some not so good. The frustration comes from the fact that for the last few weeks when I practiced in the yard or went stump shooting I was doing quite well. I had been re-focussing on back tension and when I did what I was supposed to do I was shooting 3 and 4 inch groups at 20 and 25 yards. I could clearly feel back tension clicking in, my string hand would come straight back on release and the arrows would drop into the target like they had eyes. On the 3D range I had a bugger of a time even getting back tension to happen.

After I got home I sat down with a beer and thought about what I had done wrong at the 3D range.

I started thinking back in the '60s when recurves and longbows were the order of the day. There was no such thing as "Traditional Archery" 'cause that's all there was. When we learned to shoot we probably learned on the target range and learned the importance of good form and technique. From there we could continue in the target discipline, move to field shooting or hunting or do any combination of the three and many did. But we all came from the same beginning, training in proper technique.

I'm currently reading Al Henderson's book, Understanding Winning Archery". Excellent book by the way. In it he mentions not thinking about aiming until you have built the shot. This seems to be in conflict with the idea that instinctive shooting involves concentrating intently on the spot before you draw. So I decided to put it to the test.

I went to the back yard, didn't focus on the target but rather looked at my arrow until I was at full draw and lo and behold, back tension clicked in. When I had everything in order I then looked at the spot, the string hand came straight back and the arrows flew true. This is what I was not doing on the 3D range. I was focusing on the spot first. The shot never really got built. (I also read somewhere recently that focusing on the target before the shot is a ticket to TP).

So after all that I guess my question is have we got it backwards when we focus on the spot before we build the shot? Would we shoot better if we got everything in place with respect to technique and form and then thought about aiming or picking a spot?  It seems to be the case with me.

JW

I know exactly what your problem is..even though it may have been just a casual session around the 3D course with a couple friends?.."The Competition Factor" reared it's ugly head..and got up in yours..until instead of experiencing that spiritual zen state of instinctive like you do in your backyard?..those form voices got in your head and you started trying to think your way through the shot instead of feeling your way through the shot.."instinctively".

At one time i was a state level NFAA compound fingershooter..BHFSL..and one of the best skills that was passed onto me by one of my best mentor/coachs was a visualization of another sort..where wether i was in an auditorium of 500 onlookers at a state indoor or at a huge invitational 3D match?..in my head?..every arrow was just yet another perfect form practice shot being taken in my backyard..all by myself..and no one but me was there.

I know this..if i got those "form voices" chattering away in my head all through the shooting process?..i'm shooting but...it dang sure aint instinctively..and it shows..and that's when i know it's time to pull down the targets and start "blank bail" form practice..until i got things back together again to where i dont hafta think about a thing form wise...freeing up 110% of my concentration to burn a hole in that spot.."THEN"..it's an instictive natural act..for me.    

Hope that helps and L8R, Bill.