improving or not

[targets3D]

I have been regularly practicing backyard at varying distances 10-15-20 yrds with some blank bale work too for a few months now.

I can't seem to know whether I am improving or not. Sometimes, I will shoot great groups at 20yrds and in the same session I may not be able to get the same at 10yrds. sometimes I can't figure out whether the issue is with aiming or form - though blank bale tends to give me very good groups. Any ideas?

[McDave]

There are two major components to archery: form and concentration.  When some component of form breaks down, or we lose our concentration on a shot, then we miss.  After the shot is over, most of the time all we know is that we missed, and then we begin to guess why.  If you sometimes shoot better at 20 yards than you do at 10 yards, I would guess that you are concentrating on your spot more at 20 yards than you are at 10 yards, since it is further away.  That's all it is though, is a guess.

Sometime if you're not shooting as well at 10 yards as you think you should, really engage your mind on the next shot and focus on the spot you want to hit.  If your shooting improves, then maybe my guess was correct.

[targets3D]

thanks McDave - that makes a lot of sense. Just sometimes frustrating not know whether one is not making progress in skill or simply not concentrating.

One of the things I tried to was to draw, anchor at molar, then double anchor with thumb knuckle below the ear (real solid anchor), then hold a little. The only problem is that I am no longer in BT and have to re-engage the back muscles from that position which I find difficult once my draw has sightly "collapsed" in the solid double anchor.

[McDave]

That's another skill you need to learn: to hold at full draw without losing any back tension.  It's not easy, and even after you learn it, you won't always do it right, but it is possible to come to full draw, hold, and then slightly increase back tension to release the shot without losing any back tension during the shot sequence.

I think it helps to learn this if your string hand is not solidly engaged behind your jawbone or whatever.  If there is only light contact between your string hand and your face, then it is less likely that you will lose back tension as you hold.

[raghorns]

I'm just listening in, but that sounds like great advice McDave.

If I hold too hard against my face to avoid plucking, I lose something in back tension. If I concentrate on back tension and my hand comes away from the face a little, it doesn't effect the shot.

[targets3D]

Just tried NOT solidly anchoring at the jaw bone and also focused on the keeping the draw hand relaxed (thanks for the video MoeBow), great results.