Target Panic decided to walk back into my life.

[USN_Sam1385]

Well, the target panic is back in full force, just when I thought it was gone for good.

It now has manifested itself in 2 ways.

1: I can get my anchor point approximately an inch away from the corner of my mouth, and then it is like my arm freezes up and I can not for the life of me get to anchor.

2: I can not prevent myself from releasing my arrow as I am forcing myself into that last inch or so. It is like I am 'trigger happy'.

Let me state that this is is NOOOO way due to me being overbowed. I am not overbowed in the slightest, and can draw and hold at anchor with ease, and in one full motion whenever I am aiming at something that is NOT a target, and that I mentally know that I will not shoot, such as my truck windshield, shed door, etc. Furthermore, this same issue creeps up while shooting my wife's recurve @ 25 lbs. So I know that it is not a weight draw issue, but is mental.

I am considering buying a clicker. I am not positive that this will solve the issue though.

Earlier I asked my wife to count to 3 out loud, but to only do so once my finger hit the corner of my mouth (anchor). I couldn't even get it there before I released the arrow.

Frustrating.

[moebow]

Try this.  Come to anchor without ANY intention of shooting -- let down.  Do this a few times.  Then AFTER you get to full draw, and ONLY after you get to full draw look at the target, aim and shoot.  Do not focus on the target until you are at full draw!!  See if that helps.  You have to break the chain of subconscious triggers.  Think only of the draw sequence until you are locked into full draw/anchor.  Then and ONLY then aim and shoot.

[ChrisM]

What Moebow said worked for me.  I had to do it with my eyes closed the first few times and eased into it over a week or more until I could concintrate at a spot draw anchor and let down.

[Balding Kansan]

I'm no expert, but i do just like moebow said, but with my eyes closed. It helps.

[McDave]

In addition to what Arne said, these things have worked for me.  Try exerting more force at the beginning of the draw; you may just be running out of steam.  Try drawing past your anchor, then let the draw down past your anchor, and then back past your anchor.  Repeat that a few times.  Eventually settle in to your anchor.  None of this is good form, but you have to defeat TP before you can worry about that.

[JamesKerr]

I would recommend getting the push release dvd. I had the same problems and this technique cured them. I hope all works out for you.

[2Blade]

I had TP bad! However it was the best thing that ever happend to me in a sence. What I mean is I had short draw or if I did reach full draw I couldnt hold. I was shown personally how to use a clicker and everything well clicked    Trust me it takes a commitment its not something that works instantly. You have to learn to trust the clicker. Once you do and get the feel of Back Tension the anxiety will go away and you can focus on pulling through the shot and touching your shoulder. Now I can shoot without a clicker no problem however im just so use to shooting with one and I have no reason to take it off I shoot with it exclusivly on all of my bows.

Sorry for the long post I just hate to see folks suffer from TP I know how it feels. I just want other to enjoy archery as much as I do now. Hope you dont mind my rant!

[Flingblade]

If you haven't seen Masters of the Barebow 4 you need to get it.  I have had TP for a very long time that is exactly what you describe.  At times I couldn't even get to 3/4 draw before releasing.  Doing Dr. Kidwell's drills and using Joel Turner's shot sequence has solved it for me.  I've used a clicker but didn't like the cord snagging on brush when hunting so I didn't stick with it. I am sure it will work if you put in the effort to learn to shoot with one as it does the same thing as Joel Turner's shot sequence.  My TP was worse at distances greater than 15 yards.  At 10 or 15 I could shoot with control but at 20 I fell apart.  I now shoot at 40 and 50 with control and am drilling down on other aspects of my form to improve accuracy.  I wish you the best of luck.  TP sucked the joy out of shooting for me for several years.

[Earl Jeff]

I've been dealing with it my whole life. CLICKER is the only way I've beat it.

[steadman]

I'm in the same boat Sam. After beating it (or so I thought) with a clicker it snuck back in. It came when shooting the fun shoot for score, as soon as I did that I went down hill. I am now trying Jay's drills as well as the other things mentioned. I can't even use the clicker which had worked for several years. Sure makes it tough. Good luck and I hope you can work through it.

[Dan Adair]

Or you could just ONLY hunt truck windshields  :D

[Mazz]

I've tried a clicker for a month or so,it didn't help.tried bale work,eyes closed,and know what a good release feels like.At fifteen yard,no problem.when i move out a little,things are not good.I can think all the way to anchor and hold as long as I'm off target.When I try to adjust to aim.i let go while moving to spot.Again,not good.I've had these kind of problems for over 50 yrs.I shoot almost daily and a low poundage bow,but i'll never quit trying to whip it.

[Javi]

Building a firm shot sequence (check list) is the only true cure for target panic..  When you don't have one it is much too easy to trigger on a tactile or visual sensation rather than a conscious decision to shoot.

[2Blade]

Originally posted by steadman:
I'm in the same boat Sam. After beating it (or so I thought) with a clicker it snuck back in. It came when shooting the fun shoot for score, as soon as I did that I went down hill. I am now trying Jay's drills as well as the other things mentioned. I can't even use the clicker which had worked for several years. Sure makes it tough. Good luck and I hope you can work through it.

What do you mean you cant shoot with a clicker? Ive heard of some people who anticipate the click after awhile. Im just curious because it scares me mine could creep back in!

[Dogboy900]

Man looks like a lot of us have similar problems!
I struggle with reaching full anchor. I have been watching Moebow's videos and following the posts on the shooters forum avidly since I decided I want to hunt with the recurve rather than the wheels.
I have been shooting for over 30 years but struggle with this all the time.
Working on getting the feel of full anchor ingrained is helping and now I am shooting much better. It's not a natural unconscious action yet but I can see my accuracy go down when I fail to anchor fully. Then I go back to close blind bale stuff for a bit again.
Its a long road hope you beat it  

[Ray Johnson]

i had it on and off for over 8 years.I'm finally beating it using the "Rick Welch" shooting technique.I shooting 3 under and my anchor is thumb knuckle behind my jaw and touching my earlobe and the cockfeather touching my nose.The cockfeather to the nose is a clicker of sorts but I do know that using this technique has literally transformed my shooting.I do not release until that feather is on my nose.I guess that i still have TP because if I were to shoot with arrows that weren't fletched how I need them to be,then I would be releasing before I wantd to.This system really works for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who is suffering from TP.

[brock donald]

IM WITH MAZZ, NO PROBLEM HOLDING OFF TARGET SOON AS I START TO MOVE ON TARGET I LET THE STRING GO KNOWING ITS NOT TIME. BEEN FIGHTING IT FOR A WHILE NOW, ITS VERY FRUSTRATING. GOOD LUCK TO YA.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

What moebow said has and does work for me.