Is this "split vision" or am i a weirdo?

[Daz]

I spent the winter working on lowering my anchor and smoothing out my release, and i accomplished my goals.

But in focusing and being concious of my entire draw cycle, i realize that i am doing something that i wasn't aware of previously.

My draw cycle is basically a slow two count, with one being draw/pause and then the end of the second beat being release.

But here is where it got interesting. I've noticed i start by focusing on my target spot intently, and as my arrow gets to 3/4 draw, my focus comes back entirely to my arow tip (i'm sure i look cross-eyed if viewed from the front). It remains focused on the tip of the arrow to full draw, at which point it then moves back to my target focus. Once my focus is back fully, i release (the pause if barely perceptible, and the release happens after hitting dual anchors)

There is no concious "lining up", as in "move it a litle to the left", just a fluid "there it is" moment.

So is this Hill's "Split Vision", or am i doing something oddball here?

[Mark R]

If your shooting is good it does'nt matter what you call it,the (there it is moment)is what you want.It means to myself, that its there, i see it, and when that happens if my release is good and distance judging is good I don't miss. If this is what you feel I think you got it.This was an epiphany for me,I felt it and now I know what it feels like everytime

[McDave]

Technically, I don't think what you're doing is the same as Hill's split vision. The way he describes his method in "Hunting the Hard Way," your focus never leaves the target.  The "split" part of his split vision means that the spot you want to hit is fully in focus in your primary vision, while the tip of the arrow is out of focus in your peripheral vision.  He discusses learning how to be aware of both without switching your focus from one to the other and back again.

Not that there is anything wrong with what you're doing, as long as it works for you.

[Daz]

Thanks for the feedback!

Yup, i figured my wife has been right all of these years and i'm just a weirdo...   :D

It does work for me, and really well (out to 80 yards). In hindsight i think i have been doing this for years, but because i've never conciously worked on my shot sequence i was blissfully unaware.

[Sam McMichael]

I have been doing something like you describe as Hill's split vision, at least kinda sorta. I do concentrate on the point of aim and see the arrow in peripheral vision.  It is something that just happened over time, not adopted as a planned discipline. My problem is that from time to time, just as I release, I inadvertently, and unintentionally, shift my vision to the arrow point. As you can imagine, these shots go all over the place. How do practitioners of split vision maintain proper focus, consciously knowing the peripheral vision is actively in play? Is this just something that you have practice till it becomes proper habit?

[McDave]

Mine sort of consistently go high if my focus shifts to the arrow point.  So if I get a high flyer and can't explain it any other way, my suspicion is that my focus shifted to the arrow point. On the next shot, I'll make sure my focus stays on the target, which isn't really that hard to do if you consciously think about it.  If that takes care of the problem, then I'm okay for a while until the next time my concentration drifts off something I ought to be concentrating on.

[woodchucker]

Hmmm... All this time I thought "split vision" was shooting Right handed, and aiming with your dominant left eye.....  :confused:

[McDave]

In my post above, I stated what I thought was a reason for my high flyers.  It may well be. However, in a clinic last week with Rick Welch, he noticed me raising my head when I released the arrow.  Finding out that I was doing this, and how to cure it, has all but eliminated my high flyers.  I still think focusing on the arrow point is a bad idea, but it wasn't the primary cause of my problem.

[joe skipp]

I shoot split vision, I focus on the spot I want to hit but in my periphal or split vison, I pick up my broad head or judo point.

I never look at the head, just the spot. This way should my arrow hit high or low, I can make the shot adjustment. If I'm low, then the next time I aim, my head better be slightly higher on the target.

It's the only way I have a reference when shooting. Same with compound guys, put the 20 yd pin on the target...hit low....raise the bow arm which raises the pin.

[slowbowjoe]

Well I think I shoot "split vision". I fully focus on the spot I want to hit, while in my peripheral, or secondary, vision I finalize my alignment and sight picture by how my eye aligns with the arrow shaft. Not the point of the arrow; if I look at that the shot is blown.

Now I'm wondering if what I do is considered split vision, or "gun barreling", or if I'm making up my own technique?

[McDave]

What you are describing probably is gun barreling, but it may also be split vision.  From the videos I've seen, Howard Hill didn't use a high enough anchor to aim down the arrow shaft, so what he described is being aware of the arrow point in his peripheral vision.  Most of his arrow shaft probably would have been out of his sight picture.  Using split vision, or any variation thereof, looking at the arrow point would probably blow the shot.  The arrow point, or in your case the arrow shaft, should be a blurred presence in your peripheral vision.

[slowbowjoe]

Thanks Dave, you're sounding spot on once again.
I do shoot a very high anchor, and the shaft (and I think I also pick up on the top hen feather, without trying to) is kind of a blur. No focus on it.

Now I want to read up on gun barreling!