perfect practice, zen and the monkey

[dick sable]

So, how often has this happened to you?  Lately, I've had some time to shoot and work on form and back tension in the basement.  Totally undisturbed.  At times things go great - - I can concentrate and really "feel" it, and the arrow is flying off the bow like never before. Then, at other times, things don't go so great.  I stand there and think about the shot sequence, and as I'm drawing the bow I simply can't get rid of that drunken monkey running amok in my mind.  You know, --- that conversation you and the boss had, or the girl at the local gas     station, what bill has to be paid, why is the dog feeling down and out?  Hundreds of things that just won't let you JUST SHOOT!
Perfect practice is priceless - - you just gotta let that monkey go! But how, -- easier said than done! Any tips?   :confused:

[Ragnarok Forge]

Work on your mind control.  It is called getting in the bubble and we all struggle with it.  There are lots of books on how to slow the thought patterns and then focus all your attention onto what you are doing.  Practice that as often as needed until it becomes second nature.

I like to raise the bow, get a good deep hook on the string and then focus all my attention on the spot I want to hit.  When I can no longer hear anything around me I know I am there and it is time for the shot sequence.

[Shakes.602]

Archery to Me is akin to a Long Ride on a Harley: Clears the Head because you have to Concentrate on ONE Thing, and it whipes out the Days Accumulation of Brain Garbage!!

[raideranch]

If you get in a habit of just going through the motions while shooting you can lose your concentration.  Don’t stand at the same distance and shoot straight on at your target all the time.  Try to vary your angle and distance to the target constantly.  If this is happening to me I stay at full draw another couple seconds.  For some reason if I do this I can go from barely hitting the target to splitting arrows.  Maybe its because I’m not rushing the shot.

[Lowrider]

I seem to have the opposite problem.  When I think about the shot I seem to always blow it. Other times I will have things on my mind and be in total concentration on them and the shot just happens and will be perfect. Then I come back out of that state of being into reality and start shooting off again. I have often wondered is this a right brain-left brain thing.

[Chris Shelton]

well I think while I shoot too.  But that doesnt seem to bother my ablity?  I am always multitasking, even now, while typing this responce I am currently thinking of something else.  I think everyones subconcience mind is always working on lifes problems, but I am always thinkin of the next step.  however the main thing is that you need to block out everything while you shoot, not while you are shooting, but when the time comes that you need to release, pause your thoughts, put them on the back burner and focus on the target.  

My buddy and I will actually talk to one another on the 3d course occasionally while we are taking a shot, lol

[Don Stokes]

Don't think about monkeys, don't think about monkeys, don't think about monkeys...

Don't think, and don't think about thinking. When you get there, you'll be there. Easier said than done, but possible.

Now, tell me about that girl at the gas station!

[Mark in SC]

I have found that if I concentrate on the drunken monkey it drowns out the voices.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sometimes when I have a really bad day at work, there isn't any way I can shoot well!  I often go to the woods to free my mind and know I cannot shoot until my mind is again relaxed from stress.

On days like this its best not to try to shoot better. Just shoot to help get your mind off things and be ok with not being perfect.  If you start breaking arrows from missing, well its time to stop shooting.

[lpcjon2]

I try and shoot when my kids are outside making as much noise as possible then I close them out and shoot.It makes it easier to shoot when the pressure is on.