Ok, this is going to be stupid.

[VA Elite]

I really don't know what kind of shooter I am. Instinctive, gap, snap. I couldn't tell someone who asked me yesterday. I can tell you this, I do not close either eye, I try to hold at my anchor for a second, and I think Im looking at the tip of my arrow, but I don't really know yet. I do shoot 3 under and have a tab coming. Can someone explain  what instinctive really is? Gap? I know what snap is, I think. Just a newbie wanting to learn. Forgive me if this completely stupid.

[McDave]

Snap: someone who releases the arrow as soon as the shot is anchored, without holding at anchor for any significant amount of time.

Instinctive:  someone who aims without calculation; could be either snap or hold.

Gap: someone who focuses on the target, but places the tip of the arrow at a calculated point in their peripheral vision either below or above the mark based on the estimated range.

The confusion usually arises because these methods blend into each other, so we get methods such as instincti-gap.

Any and all of these methods use the same form, which is far more important and difficult to learn than any aiming method.

[ChuckC]

For now. . .  don't worry about it.  Find out what works best for you.

Instinctive is a way that you train your brain to see the whole picture and you hold the bow / arrow in a certain manner based upon your brain's reaction.  Although your eyes see everything, just as a camera does, your have the ability to focus on certain aspects, and that is the target of choice.

Snap shooting is what was coined for those folks that seemingly don't aim (they do) but release as soon as the arrow gets back to the anchor.

By taking some of the power away from your brain, you are seeing the whole picture, and you are aware of the target as well as the location of the arrow tip in relation to the target.  You have learned that at X yards you need the tip to be compared to the target of choice.  That is when you start getting into that split vision thing.

By putting even more thought on the gap of the arrow point vs the target of choice, you get into true gap shooting.

SHooting three under allows the arrow to normally be closer (higher up ) to the eye and allows you to see the arrow better as well as makes for smaller gaps, up to point on.

By moving your anchor point up and down you face, you can move the impact point of the arrow without changing the gap (point on, or nearly so).

You can do nearly the same by moving your fingers below the arrow nock and string walking ( moving down a determined number of twists for each distance.

All work.  All are good.  It is my opinion that for most folks, every time you add an aide (front sight / point, rear sight, release etc etc) you make it potentially easier to be more accurate and repeatable.  This is not to say that you are inaccurate using totally instinctive shooting.

At least,  I think so
CHuckC

[VA Elite]

Ok, thank you. I believe I will get there, it's been 5 days since I began.

[Lady Frost]

Not a stupid question, I was wondering that myself.  Thanks for the info, guys.  I am learning so much already, and soaking it up.  

[hart2hart]

VA and Lady Frost..sent you a PM
Mike

[Lady Frost]

Thanks Mike.  

I went to a pig roast last Saturday with some buddies of my brother (and mine) that we grew up with.  When I told them of my new passion, they all said "Well alllright!"  Then I told them of my groupings and how I shot them and they said it sounds like I am an instinctive shooter.  I think I am a gap shooter according to the description above.

They also said it looks like I have finally found my calling...

[Sam McMichael]

Lady Frost, are you going to the Alzheimer charity shoot in Culloden, GA on April 25th? It will be a fun event, and there will be some folks there who can give you some help/explanation on many aspects of your new game.

[Lady Frost]

I hadn't planned on it, but would love to.  I stay busy with my job and my kids.  Thanks for letting me know about it.  It sounds like something to take them to.  Get them off those blasted video games.

[Lady Frost]

I am going     Cant wait. Trying to find more info about it, when does it actually start?