Small targets..you ever notice...

[BigBucksnTrucks]

Have you ever noticed your groups are better with a smaller target? I tried it over the weekend with my target bag.  The bag is square and is probably 2'x2' and maybe 6 inches wide.  I'm a fairly decent shooter, but noticed if I turn the bag sideways so the face is only 6 inches wide my groups get super tight.  At 20 yards I surprised myself by picking a previous arrow hole on the bag and I nailed it dead on.  I don't understand what this phenomenon is.  The face of the bag has 5 tagets on it with the smaller circle maybe 3 inches wide and when I shoot I will focus on one of the circles as hard as possible and am not always as accurate as I like, however when turning the bag sideways and the entire target becomes a smaller target my shots are much more accurate and consistant. Anyone else notice this also?

[PaulRoberts]

Yup. I tell my archery students: If you want to hit a barn, shoot at the barn door. If you want to hit the door, shoot at the door handle. If you want to hit the door handle, shoot at the lock.

So... I guess if you want to hit the lock, open the door slightly.  

[briarjumper12]

aim small, miss small.
the patriot

[JJACOBS]

I cannot see the holes in a target at that range.

[BigBucksnTrucks]

It's a white target with dark filling so the holes are fairly easy to see.  I may invest in some yoga blocks to make smaller targets and continue to aim small.

[wood carver 2]

I tape a paper with a lifesized picture of a turkeys' head and neck on it to my bag target and I group much better than when I just shoot at the targets on the bag.
Dave.

[Sam McMichael]

I used to be somewhat limited as to where I could set up my target in the back yard. I had to put it against the brick underpinning of the house. After sending a few arrows into those bricks, I got better at aiming small.

[threeunder]

Yes..."aim small, miss small"...I am a believer!