Back to Rick Welch

[Keith Langford]

Seriously thinking about going back to Ricks school, only had one day, really not even that due to elbow injury, ended up being severe, that was last January, could not shoot until Jan of this year. Just cant seem to figure out what I am doing wrong, one day good next day bad.Anybody been twice

[McDave]

I think it's a good idea.  I went to Rick's class some years ago, and plan to go to his combination class/hog shoot in Abilene this April.  I've also gone to Rod Jenkins's class twice.  I think that most people could benefit from having a coach who could tune up their shooting on a regular basis, or if an archery coach is not available, to attend classes by instructors who are known to be good.  I try to do something like that every year or so.

Was your elbow injury archery related?  If so, you want to make sure that is resolved before you push it with too much archery shooting. If it were me, I would want to reach some kind of stability before I went to any more classes.

I think that one of the main reasons archery has such a fascination for us is that it isn't easy, and just because you learn basic good form doesn't mean that you are going to shoot good all the time from then on.  I regularly shoot with a group of 5-8 people, and sometimes I will be on top, sometimes I will be on the bottom.  Some of the people will consistently be on the top, but those people will sometimes be on the bottom too.  Sometimes two people will be hot and will be fighting it out for first place, but it's not the same two people all the time.

We're not nationally ranked shooters; just fair to middling local club shooters.  But if we were nationally ranked shooters, it would be the same thing, just at a different level: some days hot, some days not so hot.

Just focus on each shot without any thoughts of past or future shots, and hopefully enjoy each other's company.  When you're shooting, try to expand your awareness of your own body with each shot, with the goal of noticing what is causing one shot to be good and another shot to be bad.  Be patient and non-judgemental with that; self-awareness comes slowly.  No class can do that for you.  Shoot as often as you can (or as often as your elbow lets you), and you will gradually improve.  Classes or personal coaching can jump those improvements a little, but they're not going to eliminate the good days and bad days.

[Keith Langford]

Thanks McDave, the elbow I hurt working out trying to get ready for Ricks class last year, thought I was 22 instead of 52. In great shape now, dropped 50 lbs and almost look 22, well not really but feel great. Ready for alot of shooting with Rick, by the way booked for April this evening, flight,car,hotel all done deal.

[gretchen]

Keith good luck....I never could learn to shoot instinctive...I always have to have a way to check myself....I was having the same issues as you one day hot next day not...never enough consistency to make me happy.

I now use a method where I look at the arrow and use it to aim with tucked up tight under my eye like Rick does.


Dewayne

[Keith Langford]

gretchen, I am trying to learn split vsion, as described by Howard Hill, but I try to focus totaly on the target with just a blurred pheripheal of the arrow, tried it yesterday and it took all the left & right misses out of the picture, will continue with this sighting system and the form that Rick teaches

[Greg Dearth]

Keith, I went to Rick's school a few years back and got some very good help with my shooting. A year or so later I then went to Rod Jenkins school and learned alot about the mental part of preforming the perfect shot. I believe I personally got much more from Rod's school than I did Rick's school. I don't mean that as a negative towards Ricks school, Rick is extremely good at what he does , it is just Rod's school benefited me more for the problems I was having. Having attended both schools allows me to better analyze my shooting problems and work on prefecting my shot. I just wish that I had had the opportunity to get some quality coaching 30 years ago before develloping all the bad habits that I am now trying to over come. After you attend Ricks school you may want to consider attending one of Rod's school, They both have sure helped me.

[gretchen]

Split vision is a very accurate way to shoot..I shot that way for a good while with good results...it got a little confusing to me sometimes and I'd end up shooting the actual arrow instead of the upper arrow if that makes since which makes you shoot low...nothing wrong with learning as many different aiming methods as possible..


Good luck


Dewayne

[goingoldskool]

Keith,
I'm brand new to trad archery and the trad gang, so I can't comment with very much authority, BUT some of the things that I find that help me out are consistent hooks and follow through with my drawing hand.

Rodd