Concentration help...

[Easykeeper]

I use round bales for a backstop too.  Much like the side of a deer, there is always a slight discoloration or shadow you can use for an aiming point.  I can really tell when my concentration wanders.  It's not easy to intently focus on a spot that is only marginally different from the rest of the object.  Good practice.

[kcir]

Aw Weedhopper, one so small to ponder such large things.

[TRAD101]

I like to use golf tee's, small,any color you want
and easy to utilize.

[skilonbw]

Like Jeff I like to practice my concentration anywhere I can while out and about. I like to pick the even smaller than Byron recommends in his book. i.e. I think he mentions the center of the O I like try and pick up an inside corner of the white making the O it helps me to really focus.

[straitera]

Picking the smallest spot possible was always hard until I started envisioning a "+" crosshairs meeting at the horizontal & vertical axis. Can do it now w/o thinking. Helped me a lot.

[coltar]

I have a foam target with no bright colors,just tan in color.I will pick a dark spot,a raised spot ,a shadow, or even an arrow hole to shoot at.But each arrow is sent to a new location on the target,not in groups(most of the time).I have yet to see a deer come by my stand with a bullseye on it's side,lol.

[BowsanAiros]

Concentration is most likely, not what you're lacking.
You have good concentration but it's spread out amongst many aspects of your shot.
You're probably concentrating on your stance, bow arm, bow grip, string hand, if your canting
the bow enough or too much etc...etc....
 All these things combined lead to lack of focus or concentration.
Your shot should be felt not concentrated on.
 Feel your solid/consistent anchor point and focus on your target. The smallest target you can see.
All the rest will come together as one with practice.

[Don Stokes]

Thinking is your enemy!

[don s]

i have a post going right now titled "does anyone else shoot better if" after reading your topic i realized it's the answer i was looking for. i can't figure out why i do lousy shooting flat 2 dimensional targets but can hit consistantly when i hang a ball(golf ball size) from a string in front of my hay bale. duh, it's because i'm picking a spot. even if the flat target is a paper plate with a red dot in the middle, i do lousy. hanging that 3 dimensional ball target gives it the depth i need and i hit it. even my misses are tightly grouped arrows. i also do pretty good when i shoot at a grapefruit size ball that i just toss on the ground. i use judos so my arrows don't snake under the grass. don

[ncsaknech1ydh]

I shoot at big round hay bails, they are wound with vertical string, I take string and tie one high from one of the vertical strings on one side and run it horizontal to the other side, I do the same thing about 18" below to make a make believe body cavity sized area and then as you suggested, pic a spot or piece of hay on each shot. Works great for me.

[Boesman]

Has anyone tried shooting at a candle flame at night or in a pitch-dark room? It is said to hone your concentration and ability to focus on a single spot. I have been toying with the idea of positioning a lazer pointer so it points at a spot on the shooting butt and then shooting at that instead of a candle. It should serve the same purpose as a small flame, shouldn't it?

[Dan Adair]

It sounds like a really good idea....  BUT, the one time I tried it, I smacked the refrigerator with my upper limb and shot an arrow into the wall of my back crapper in my singlewide  :(

So if you're going to do it, think of the logistics before hand and be prepared to repair some sheetrock

[njloco]

Just shoot a little slower, in other words try drawing back and holding ( with correct form )until everything settles down, and while your doing that concentrate on your spot, then release with as little movement as possible, works every time.

Hope this helps.