USed to shoot some pretty tight groups with my Matthews, any range. went through arrows and fletching alot.
I've always been a bit frustrated with my Barebow abilities since converting (6years) I've felt confident though out to 20 ish yards that I could kill a paper plate every time. I've even taken a hand full of elk and deer. But, there was always that memory of groups so tight you couldn't pass a paper between them.
I held on to that romantic instictive thing too long, though I never really had a mentor who could correct errors in form, etc... For me, it just never worked good enough. I was pretty good, but not Good like I want to be.
Well, I broke down around the fourth of July and truly nailed down my point-on distance (43 ish yards). Then I found my gap at 20 yards. Then I Realized that my gap isn't significantly different from 15-25 yards. I shot this whole month, 50 or so arrows a night, with a white baseball in front of the target at my Gap, focusing on the spot, peripherally putting that end of the arrow on the ball after gaining a straight sight picture. From 15-25 I was really shooting consistent groups, groups that made me smile. Yesterday, I got rid of the baseball. Then and all of today (I can't quit shooting now) Now, I draw to full draw, get my sight picture, and let it fly, and I am shooting groups that I never thought were possible for me at 25 yards. It still feels instinctive, as I am not conscientiously putting my 'sight' on a spot. I am simply staring a whole in my subject drawing till my sight picture feels right, and lettin her go. I can't believe I can shoot this well! It's not phenomenal by any means, but it is very good for me. And it has been consistent for the last 100 or so shots! anyway, I am pumped. Below are two groups. I generally only shoot two arrows at a time. But, for the picture I figured I would shoot a couple of flu-flus with Judos (30 gr lighter than the feild tips) to get a four arrow group. Notice the Fletching Casualty! Can't figure out how I lost that section of feather, it seems to be in a secluded spot??? Perhaps the regular feather adjacent(B&W) flexed when hitting the target and took that chunk out? (note to self, don't shoot judos for groups) Never thought I'd be so stoked to ruin a feather, thats 3 inches apart for the furthest two arrows, which is typical.
Anyway, not braggin too awful hard (maybe a little, expecting the Big Guy to give me a dose of humility any shot now), just excited as all get out, and wanted to share with guys who understand.
Topic: Well, I'm a convert...an instinctive gapper (Read 655 times)
