Practice concentration?

[hawker]

Does anyone have any tips and or tricks on concentration. I've notice that some days I can really focus and shoot well.  Than other days it seems as though I can't focus to save my tail. So I'm up for any suggestions. I'm looking to weed out the not so good days of shooting.
Thanks

[4dogs]

Ya, I practice all the time. Any time just pick out something across the room, the toggle on a light switch anything really doesnt matter, a leaf up in a tree what ever. Focus on it, try not to let your eye wonder, burn a hole in it. Do it several times a day, It does help on concentrating on a spot and holding the consentration. Be forwarned, Try to do it when nobody else is around. My wife thinks Im going mental sometimes, who knows ...she maybe right right.    :D    :D

[snakebit40]

I'm with 4dogs. I also try and "burn a hole" in things whenever I get the chance. One thing I've noticed so help with focus is shooting at something really small at close distances, then start backing up. I'm going to start doing this at least once a week. I haven't done it for a couple weeks and I can tell. When I get my mind set right its A LOT of fun to shoot, I start hitting nocks and ripping feathers off arrows.

One thing I do it get a bottle cap and drive a nail through it. I start out about 8 yards away and try to hit the nail head. Good luck! I'm still new (only one year into trad) so I'm not claiming to be an expert. I'll be checking back on this thread to hear what the real experts have to say.    

[cjgregory]

What helps me is to pick a spot and then visualize the arrow flight all the way to it in your mind.  Picking a spot and concntrating on it is correct but I think that it helps to have a context.  By visualizing the arrow travelling to that spot is important to set it up.

Once the flight path is in your mind it becomes easy to "concentrate" on the spot.

[bsoper]

When I am waiting at a light, or just walking around the forest or even town, or just sitting on the couch I like to concentrate on a spot and imagine the flight of an arrow to that spot. I work through it in my mind several times until I feel that if I had a bow in hand I could hit the spot. It is actually a mentally relaxing exercise and I'm sure it improves my shooting.

[njloco]

I like to pick a spot draw and then concentrate on holding and the spot I picked out. I shoot well whether I hold or release fast, just seems better when I hold for that little extra time, maybe it's me getting older and having more patience. The follow through is just as important, and I try to follow the arrow to the spot.

I also try to act like each shot is my only arrow.

Hope this helps

[BobCo 1965]

Yes, focusing or aiming on a spot is important, however it is not the entire equation. A person can have perfect focus and aim on a spot, but if the physical execution is not there, neither is the arrow.

If you are having a hard time on focus or concentation on a spot, then I would use this practice time to refine another aspect of the shot such as follow through etc.

Being just too tired to practice should not be used as an excuse not to practice IMO. I bet a lot of people are out hunting while they are tired (me included) so practicing while in this state is actually looked at as a positive IMO.

[McDave]

Sometimes if I'm having trouble with a particular aspect of my form, such as coming to full draw, or torqueing the bowstring, I need to focus on getting that right during part of the shot execution.  I know, it would be better if I did that in front of a blank bale, but I can't interrupt my morning shoot with my buddies to go find a blank bale every time there is a little problem that needs to be corrected.

What I've found is that it's okay if I focus on engaging my back muscles and relaxing my string hand, if that's what I need to focus on, as long as I shift my focus to the target after I get that done and before I release the arrow.  My goal is to have 100% of my focus on the spot at the time I release the arrow, but it doesn't seem to be a problem if my focus shifts around to other things in the process of getting there.

[hawker]

Thanks guys. Sounds like some great advice. I can't wait to go and try these tips.

[Jim Wright]

I believe there is an advantage to your practice sessions being done with a single arrow. I find it easy not to concentrate if I shoot multiple arrows at the same target from the same spot. Also it is hard to ruin nocks shooting one arrow at a time.