What the heck am I not getting??

[TonyW]

I stick a white plastic coffee cup lid on my dark red target. I used to shoot groups of four. Usually my first shot is the best, and I began to wonder if I had Robin Hood panic. (Not that the first arrow really had to worry about that.)

So for the heck of it, I made a son-of-William-Tell head out of a white bleach bottle stuffed with plastic grocery bags to sit on top of my block target. I put a red dot on the white background about the size of a silver dollar.

Now I shoot my first arrow at the white on red disk and then go for the smaller red on white. Now the second shot is better, and usually dead on.

I stopped shooting to miss, and now shoot a couple, take a break, relax, and shoot a couple.
This is probably no way to train for the Olympics, but it sure feels like it a better way to make one shot count. It seems like reversing the target/background  from white on red to red on white really sharpens my focus.

[Keith361]

I've never heard of the "try not to miss" thing, personally that concept makes absolutely no sense to me. If you were trying "not to miss", why in the heck would you be shooting in the first place? Isn't the goal to hit what you're aiming at?

Maybe I'm reading more into that than I should be.

I like the idea of the hanging targets to keep you focus, as well as the contrasting colors, think I'll try both of those.

Keith

[Pat B]

"Try not to miss" is a negative way of thinking. Positive thinking is what puts the arrow where it is supposed to be!     Pat

[James Wrenn]

Keith many people when faced with a small target or a longer one are more focused on where there arrow is going if they miss than trying to pick the center spot on it.They go into it will not missing as the main focus instead of trying to hit the 10 ring.It is just a mind game like most things in archery.All I am saying if your mindset is trying not to miss a target you are just shooting at the whole target.When you get beyond that and start shooting for the smallest area on a target instead you have the right mindset to improve your shooting.jmo

[Keith361]

Thanks for the break down on it, sounds like that's what I've been doing on the target.

Keith

[Brian Krebs]

I shoot broadheads at cans and clay pigeons; which both give great satisfaction when you hit them. I am now shooting at pieces of the clay pigeons.

 A favorite target of mine are candles. Nothing more fun than shooting in the dark of the moon at lit candles ( I would have to aim 48 degrees up to not hit my own land).  I really like candle shoot competitions. More laughter that way than any other way I have shot.

 aim small - hit small