Looking for a Little Help?

[SheltonCreeker]

Okay guys I'm looking for a little help here. I started shooting Trad last Dec. So I'm still pretty green. Here's the problem. I shoot basically everyday sometimes 2 to 3 times a day. All of a sudden I am getting some crazy arrow flight and have lost all consistancy in my arrow groups. I don't know if its release, some form of target panic, or if I'm just not focusing. I have shot quite consistant for the last several months out of 2 different bows. I have a bear hunt coming up in Sept. I bought myself a 3d bear target to try and get myself mentally ready and I have shot very poor ever since I got the bear in the yard. With less than 6 weeks till my hunt Im starting to let a little doubt creep in which I know is a horrible thing! Any advice is welcome from young and old in this sport! Has any body else went thro periods of just poor shooting? Thanks!

[adeeden]

Put a 1 inch dot on that bear. Paper, sticker, duct tape whatever you got handy and see if your shooting improves.

You may not be picking a spot and shooting for the whole target.

[USN_Sam1385]

Yes,

I will get the feeling that everything has finally 'clicked', and then my shooting will fall completely apart.

Go back to the basics. Make sure that you aren't overbowed. Don't shoot too much, or you might start wearing out your muscles. They need time to rest.

When your shooting falls apart for the day, just step away and don't worry about it.

Look into the target panic drills. Are you showing symptoms of target panic?? Are you reaching your anchor every time??

We need more info. Sounds to me like the pressure of the hunt is causing you to stress out at the shot, and most likely you are dealing with target panic.

[jimmerc]

Take a deep breath and relax you will be ready in time- Try focousing on a very tiny spot where you want your arrow to hit- on a all black target I know it is hard to do, you can try to invision a fly on that spot and hit that fly in the eye!  start out at 5 to 8 yards when you can hit that fly in the eye move out a few yards,then move out again when you feel confident! try not to shoot to much also!  You will be ready in 6 weeks!!
 let us know how things go!!!
I just went thru this very thing a couple weeks back- now i'm shooting better than before! I just lost my focus!!

[SheltonCreeker]

I feel like I reach anchor everytime if that makes sense. I do catch myself shooting at the whole target and not the vitals. Ive always shot alot, ever since I started. I bought a lighter bow for turkey and the poor shooting started with it first. Lost Creek 56" 45 @ 28 so I switched back to my Great Plains 62" 55 @ 28 and things actually got better. Now crazy stuff out of both. I shoot three fingers under and have shot both tab and glove. At the current time shooting a tab. Thanks for the suggestions and questions!

[Outwest]

Happend to me one time and I found that my nock point had slipped up about a quarter inch.
Check your nock and brace height.

Let us know.

John

[Rob W.]

I finally figured out my limitations for a worthwhile practice session. Just like my lab retreiving a ball I don't know when to stop. Now when I lose focus or get sloppy with my form I put the bow down. Don't worry about 6 weeks to be ready for your hunt. That adds unnessary stress also. Get out and do some stump shooting. My favorite thing to do is shoot golfballs with blunts. I shoot way better when I'm having fun.

[SheltonCreeker]

Good stuff Rob. I do normally shoot better when roving. Havent' done it in awhile. I have been doing that once I start to shoot less than pleasing I give it up for the day.

[Rob W.]

Get a buddy and put that target in a little wagon with plenty of rope. Have him pull it through trees stopping at times. Might take focus off form problems and put it back on the target.

[SheltonCreeker]

I can't leave well enough alone. Against better judgment and shooting form. Ive been out shooting most all after noon. Switching bows switching from tab to glove twisting strings checking brace heights checking nock points. Mostly to no avail. And then it happened. I noticed I was canting more than usual. WAY MORE! After straightening up the bow shooting improved greatly. Thanks again for the help fellas. But additional comments and suggestions are always welcome with this green horn.

[straitera]

Never panic. Like the 1" dot idea. Aim small miss small. Envision crosshairs "+" at the point of contact. You'll see clearly soon enough the more you practice.

BTW, definitely an advantage paring down my shooting options; glove vs tab, nock above/below, bh weights, which bow & arrows, practice at known yardages (or not) etc. KISS method. Post pix of your bear.

[Kapellmeister]

I wouldn't consider myself a seasoned pro since I've only been shooting trad for two years... but I might suggest what some others have suggested... relax!  

Maybe your anxiety itself could be contributing to the bad results.  Something I picked up from one of the Masters of the Barebow series videos... keep focusing on the shot itself - not whether you're "going to" hit the spot.

 

Originally posted by straitera:
Post pix of your bear.

 (I like staitera's signature line as well! )

[Hard Times]

Thumbs up for the 1" dot. When I start losing confidence I'll go to shooting just one arrow and focus on technique, when I consistentlty place one arrow in the vitals I'll go back to shooting for groups.

[Steve Clandinin]

Real sound advise from everyone hear and your problem could be any of these things.
Years ago I remember an article written by the late,great Paul Schaffer and this has always stuck with me.Paul said when his shooting started to stray 90% of the time his bow arm was at fault.Making sure your bow arm is rock solid,but your grip is like holding a baby bird,To tight,you kill it,to loose it gets away.
This has sure worked for me over the years.

[gjarcher]

If your arrows were once flying true, no wobble, no wild flight, then let's forget about the "aim small" and 'focus' advice, and concentrate on your form.

First thing to acknowledge is the harder you try, the harder it becomes. This means if you are overdrawing, stretching to get the most, you'll flub the shot. If you are bending your head into the string and canting the bow to 'aim better', your string deflection is going to make for lousy flight, and if you're pressing the string into the face, its a disaster before the release.

I'd recommend that you concentrate on standing erect, holding the bow mostly plumb, drawing naturally, be conscious of the string pressure on the face, be aware of the loading of the pressure on the fingers, and your foot positioning.

Just my 2 cents.

[frank bullitt]

Alot of good advice. I would say don't shoot too much! Like gjarcher says, trying harder when going bad is bad!

I know, done that in my early years, too. this time of year, I want to be shootin one arrow, at different spots, and different targets. Hunting isn't repetive shooting from one spot!

Good form, good follow thru, is want should be repetive at this point. Roving or shooting varnmits, chipmunks, groundhogs, etc. should be in order, too.  

Foam don't move!

[Green]

What Frank said.....shoot only one arrow...pull and reshoot.  Gives your muscles time to recover after each shot....one minute is good between shots and it gives you time to think about your last one.

[SheltonCreeker]

Man guys that is all great stuff. Ill try and get a pic posted on my bear soon enough. Shooting or should I say arrow flight has improved greatly. I have taken a couple days off do to work. I plan on a little practice in a bit I will definately let yall know how it goes. Thanks again for the great advice.