Form/practice help

[Tindersmoke]

I have been working to overcome a mental drawing problem and thought you guys might have some helpful tricks to share. When I draw with no intention of releasing, the draw is smooth and consistent and the anchor secure. However, when I concentrate on a spot I actually wish to hit, I experience an urge to release early. I aim as I draw and its like my brain knows when the arrow is on target and automatically hits the "go" button even though I have not yet reached anchor. Any helpful insights would be appreciated - Please dont say practice, practice, practice....   Thanks

[Steven_CO]

There are a lot of seasoned people here that will hopefully chime. You'll likely read "target panic" which is a disease that hits even experienced archers.  

It may be but regardless, here is what I try to do...I use the count method after coming to full draw to slow myself down some.  I try to hold to at least the count of 2 before releasing whether I think I'm lined up or not.  I don't like to go more than the count of 4 or else I tire a bit quick in a practice session.

[Green]

Like Steve said....teach yourself to draw and hold to a two count.  Might practice this by blind bale shooting with your eyes closed as well.

[Lechwe]

I will sometimes use a blind bale but I have my eyes open. I just use a blank target so there isn't really anything to actually aim at. Also, one of the biggest things to help me improve is practicing with 1 arrow. It makes me slow down and focus more.

Good luck.

[NJWoodsman]

I can relate to your problem. Try doing both- that is, draw and anchor with no intention of releasing, but THEN aim, and ONLY release when you have the shot lined up. It's easier said than done, but you have to convince yourself you're only going to shoot when you're ready, and if not, you're going to let down.

[fatzboys]

i no what you mean.im the same way.what is helping me is not stopping at my anchor.i hold bow loosely and string i hook my three fingers deep around the string where your tips are facing your elbow not chin.holding loose as well.pick a spot im aiming as i draw and when i reach my anchor its just a reference point i tell my self .i just keep drawing until the string slips from my fingers.this has helped me.was something i learned from a someone on here.o it helps to use your back and to me your side muscles when drawing.

[Stumpkiller]

This suggestion worked for someone I knew.  Hang a plastic milk jug (or similar) from a 10 ft +/- rope so that it swings.  Put a little sand or dirt in it for weight.  Set the jug swinging and step back 40 feet and draw on the swing but shoot only when it comes back to the top of the opposite swing.  It sets up a rhythm that seems to help.  Helped him, anyway.

[cbCrow]

All good suggestions, heres another. Stand 10-12 yds. from target but not facing it pick a spot6' to the right of target(or tree,rock,whatever) to draw on(to your rt.if rt handed) and slowly swing back to target line up and shoot. This has really helped me when I start snap shooting.

[Vallecito Snapshooter]

suffered with almost the exact same problem for years. Decided to completely change my shooting style, from split finger anchor at the corner of my mouth to three under at the cheek bone. I still have to coach myself to anchor-hold-follow through, but have not snapshot since. It is working very well for me. The counting thing did not help as I would freeze up and yank the release. The "Big Change" seemed to reset the brain.

[Tindersmoke]

Thanks all for your input. Progress is being made.

[bowbenderman]

Smoke, heres what I learned from a class, taught by Rod Jenkins.  You must set-up the shot, by that I mean, proper grip, complete draw, anchor, after these steps you can start the shot. He calls it lightin the fuse, you can't light the fuse until you have the shot set-up. After these steps the fuse is burning so u start pulling back pressure. He described back pressure for the class, take an arrow hold it horz. to your face, grip the arrow at both ends an start trying to pull the arrow apart(which you cant do) its just the feel he is trying to get you into.  I have  had target panic, no cure, but you can work thru it.  Just my opinion for me the counting caused me even more target panic, I guess I would get to 1 then just let it go, guess I have no control.  Hope this helps.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

You are experiencing target panic "ask me how I know". Ive been working on overcoming this the last few weeks, and I am seeing improvement. Some of the things that have worked is drawing the bow to full draw and then moving my aim over to the target i want to hit. I have also found that drawing the bow while aiming at the target and coming to full draw and then letting the bow back down without releasing
has helped, I think this helps take the edge off of having to release the arrow just because you drew the bow. Lastly I think just slowing the whole shooting process down is a good start and dont rush the shooting process. Good Luck

[Tindersmoke]

I am continuing to make good improvement using an assortment of the remedies listed above. I also do a lot of draw, aim, hold, no release exercises every night. This problem developed when I when from 50lb draw to 65. Continued practice has reinforced the bad form. On the path to recovery now.

[Ed Q]

I have the same problem.  I'm currently reading a book by Dr. Kidwell that has a good chapter on target panic.  In it, he describes two types of target panic.  One is premature hold, which he claims is common among sight target shooters, and the other is premature release, which he claims is common among instinctive shooters.  From what you've described, it sounds like you have my problem, the premature release form of target panic.

Anyway, I haven't gotten to the point in the book that talks about "curing" target panic, if there is such a cure, but it's interesting reading, and what the rest of the folk on here have suggested sounds good enough for me to try as well.

One thing I've noticed about counting while holding is that as I aim, no matter how many times I tell myself to count to 4, 5, 10 (or whatever), I can't seem to do it.  But if I don't aim at a specific target, I can draw and hold forever if I want to.  What helps me some while aiming at a specific target is when I tell myself that I won't release when I come to anchor, I'll only count to 5 or so and then let the bow back down.  Sometimes that happens, and sometimes I give in to the urge to release anyway, even after I told myself not to, but usually (although not always) after I've held for the full 5 or so count.  Those shots are usually right on the money, unlike my inconsistent premature release shots.

Anyway, hope you continue to improve and get yours under control soon....

[Tindersmoke]

Yep. I bought that book also. It does offer interesting insights but I would enjoy it more and I think it could be made more effective if it were written in the words of an archer as opposed to a Ph.d of Psychology.

I understand the inability to count. When I draw on a target and tell myself to hold only and not release there is an uncontrollable urge to release - especially when full draw has been attained and I know the aim is true. What helped me is to draw and aim at objects that I can not actually shoot. Door knobs, truck tires, window panes, etc.

[Ed Q]

Yeah, it helps me, too, when I draw and aim at objects I know I can't shoot.  It's only when I draw and aim at a target that I want to shoot that I get in trouble.  I guess I need to continue drawing and aiming at un-shootable targets so it'll become more ingrained in my subconcious.

[horsehairhunter]

Tindersmoke- Have you considered using a "clicker"?  It is a little metal tab that "clicks" when you draw the proper amount and you NEVER release until you hear the click.  If you do that you can't let it fly before you are at full draw.

[reddogge]

I heard that Rick Welsh draws the bow with the string to the right of his face and then brings it back in to anchor which prevents premature release. Good luck with the problem.

[Javi]

Originally posted by Tindersmoke:
I have been working to overcome a mental drawing problem and thought you guys might have some helpful tricks to share. When I draw with no intention of releasing, the draw is smooth and consistent and the anchor secure. However, when I concentrate on a spot I actually wish to hit, I experience an urge to release early. I aim as I draw and its like my brain knows when the arrow is on target and automatically hits the "go" button even though I have not yet reached anchor. Any helpful insights would be appreciated - Please dont say practice, practice, practice....      Thanks

What you are experiencing is the same thing most true instinctive shooters go through and it isn't necessarily a bad thing.. (unless it is causing you to miss) you don't draw back and hold when you throw a baseball do you...

Drawing and holding isn't exactly the best way to shoot pure instinctive...

There are ways to train your mind to accept the anchor as a go button... but involves practice...