I write this in the hopes that someone else who may be struggling can benefit from my personal experience with the same problem.
Buck Fever, The Fur Factor, Choking, call it what you will but at one time or another all of us, beginners and experienced alike have to address the issue of excitement at shot time and how to keep it from affecting our accuracy. Shooting at game just isn't the same as shooting at the target in the backyard.
This year I struggled with pulling it all together at Crunch Time. Funny how the excitement of the moment and excessive desire to make a good shot can throw your shooting into a tailspin.
After analisying several missed shots I came to realize hat a majority of my focus at shot time was concentrated on the timing of my release or not missing. The result was either a premature shot or a jerked shot. I think a good analogy would be what occurs when shooting a rifle. The best shots occur when held solidly on target and the trigger is squeezed
(not jerked) in such a manner that the shooter never knows when the shot will go off.
To desensitize myself at shot time I began telling
myself that my goal was just to draw and solidly aim at my intended target, without thought of release. I would even suggest going as far as drawing and letting down on game a time or two if that is possible. During practice my total concentration was on solidly focusing upon my target and following thru. The release would just seem to occur once solidly on target. Like you hear so many times, "I don't remember releasing, just focusing on the spot then suddenly the arrow is away and on target.
With the focus now shifted from the release or the thought of making (or missing) the shot to just aiming, nervousness decreased and accuracy returned. The result is below. (Shot looks far back because it was quartering away. Exit hole was just behind shoulder on other side)
Thanks for listening and I hope this helps someone
Topic: Crunch Time Woes ...and a Recipe for Success! (pic) (Read 371 times)
