Time for a break

Deeter · September 03, 2014, 07:19:00 PM

I usually shoot my bow about 1-2 times a week during the off season. As the season gets closer I tend to shoot more. Here in about the last 2 weeks I have been shooting about everyday getting myself and my bow in tune with each other for the Indiana Oct. 1st deer season opener. While I was shooting tonight I only shot about 10 minutes instead of my usual 30-45 minutes. I could not get a comfortable draw or a smooth release. My shots where all over the place. So I figure a break for a day or two wouldn't hurt. Do any of you guys go through this?

Trumpkin the Dwarf · September 03, 2014, 07:21:00 PM

It happens to me. I sometimes take months off from shooting during the winter. It always seems to help me refocus and shoot with better form.

Cavscout9753 · September 03, 2014, 07:34:00 PM

Yep, soon as I feel it go sloppy I stop. Don't want my eyes and muscles remembering bad stuff, haha.

Chad Orde · September 03, 2014, 07:43:00 PM

Body needs a break sometimes, and sometimes the mind.
If I'm stressed at work I can't keep my mind focused enough.

Wannabe1 · September 03, 2014, 08:12:00 PM

Yep, the more I shoot the worse I get. I shoot 3 or 4 sets of three, and then call it a day. Anything after that, I tend to over concentrate, loose focus and shots just go wild! :eek:

Jake Scott · September 03, 2014, 08:19:00 PM

I shot miserably when I got home from work today. Miserably. I went back inside, did the dishes with my wife, cooked some dinner and had a glass of wine. Went out just before dark and shot the lights out, just like I know can. Sometimes you just need to step away for a bit. Frustration is bad and it snowballs on itself. It's getting to be that time of year when confidence is perhaps the most important thing we can carry into the field with us. Don't compromise it trying to "stubborn" those arrows to their mark. Sometimes we just need to step away and get ourselves centered again. It takes a hell of a lot of focus to do this well, when it isn't there it just isn't there. One mans opinion.

Shoot 'em straight,

Jake

Marshallrobinson · September 03, 2014, 08:38:00 PM

Once in a blue moon I will have something click and I will be off. I just go to the next style which has worked for me in the past and I am back on. Within a few days I will switch back and whatever it was will be over and done with.
This is why I generally work on three different shooting techniques off and on.
I don't want to try and figure it out. It will go away....unless I keep doing whatever it is that I am doing wrong. Then it will be a bear to overcome.
This has been my experience and how I have approached the fix.

ISP 5353 · September 03, 2014, 08:55:00 PM

From a fellow Hoosier, it was super humid tonight. I did a little broadhead tuning with a new string and I was sweating like crazy. Not a pleasant night to shoot.

Relax and try again when you want to shoot again.

tradarcher4fun · September 03, 2014, 09:01:00 PM

I just went through this. I try and shoot every day. Some days maybe 12 shots and other days 40-50 shots. This past weekend I was all over the place. Felt like I was plucking the string and at times not coming to full draw. Drove me crazy! I took a couple days off. Picked up a light bow yesterday and worked on form. Shot much better and felt great.

2bird · September 03, 2014, 09:24:00 PM

When I shoot (about 5 days a week) I shoot about 120-150 arrows, I use to as early as a month ago just stop shooting when I was all over the place but now I take it as a time to learn and break out the camera to see why I'm shooting like crap... A lot of the time I get a immediate response and on the next end of arrows I'm back on track, sometimes not, but at least I am becoming aware about what I'm doing. 1 thing I always try to do wether I'm shoot good or bad is quit on a good shot, at least I think it let's me go inside on a positive note lol

Whitetailarcher · September 03, 2014, 09:33:00 PM

Two days ago I shot a pine cone at 18 yards - yesterday I could hardly hit the target. Better today. When I am off I tend to over think instead of focus and it gets worse. You got to love traditional archery.

Whip · September 03, 2014, 09:44:00 PM

The best practice of all is to shoot one arrow.
Just ONE!
Then walk away.

I do shoot more than that frequently, obviously, but I do play the one arrow game a lot, especially in the fall. And you can play it multiple times per day. One arrow when I walk out to get the newspaper. Another later in the morning before I run to town. Again when I check the mailbox after lunch. You get the idea.

This year I have even started a list where I am keeping track of that one shot as "Kill" or "Miss" The first shot is the only one that matters.

Homebru · September 03, 2014, 10:13:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Deeter:
....I could not get a comfortable draw or a smooth release. My shots where all over the place. So I figure a break for a day or two wouldn't hurt. Do any of you guys go through this?

Um.....Sunday.

QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
The best practice of all is to shoot one arrow.
Just ONE!
Then walk away.

My redemption for Sunday is that I walked out last night and my first arrow was a perfect bullseye.

homebru

stagetek · September 04, 2014, 10:11:00 AM

I do not keep shooting when things are going from bad to worse. I put it down for awhile, sometimes as long as a week. For me, it clears the mind and provides a fresh start. If I stay in there and push it, the results are bad habits, not bulls eyes.

Deeter · September 04, 2014, 08:25:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by ISP 5353:
From a fellow Hoosier, it was super humid tonight. I did a little broadhead tuning with a new string and I was sweating like crazy. Not a pleasant night to shoot.

Relax and try again when you want to shoot again.

What part of Indiana are you from?

RedShaft · September 04, 2014, 09:57:00 PM

This is no lie. Last season I was shooting the best I ever shot. 2 weeks before the season. Target panic came back n put a death grip on me. I was drawing n holding at anchor for 2 sec then release well. It go me so bad I could even get to full draw!! Fought it for a week and a few days. Never got rid of it. Talk about ruining everything for me! I was bummin.

Bad bad shooting. There was no way I could possibly expect to do well on an animal. I put it away and had to get the wheel bow out. Or I was done for the season. I even tried working on my shot through the early season inside while at night. And I couldn't. Get a grip. Oh we'll stuff happens. I'm just very glad I had a back up. So my advice is to try and shoot very few arrows every couple days to maintain. Then that it. Go hunt.

Don't want to see you fall apart a week before the season like I did. Trust me. No fun...

Beau J · September 05, 2014, 07:02:00 PM

Most of the time when this happens to me I can simply draw, anchor and let down a time or two with my eyes closed, seems to reset something between my ears... A session of close range shooting at a blank target with no attention to arrow placement seems to really help too. I agree totally with only shooting one arrow. BeauJ

Plumber · September 05, 2014, 10:16:00 PM

I love to shoot more then anything! but I felt like I needed to just stop for a while so I gave it a break for 30-40 days when I got restarted I felt refreashed an now Iam shooting better then ever.good luck hang tough we cant forget its mental as well as fourm.

Bowwild · September 06, 2014, 05:16:00 AM

When I'm having an off day I focus on my shooting process. I stay in the conscious instead of letting the subconscious have its way.

I just came off a 60-day shooting restriction (hernia operation). I was happy to learn that I didn't lose anything. I did try to rush some shooting with a new bow that is about 7 pounds heavier than I normally shoot. I have a little bit of soreness in my drawing shoulder. That bow stays on the rack for now!