Rain Stopped..so I tried GAP shooting

[frankwright]

I watched some videos on YouTube last night about Gap shooting and I had it on my mind this morning.

I know this isn't a scientific test and I don't even know if I did it right.

I shot from my deck, target at 19 yards. I shoot three fingers under. I am cross eye dominant and shoot both eyes open but to see the gap I closed my left eye. I put the tip of the arrow at my 3D deers hoof and shot three arrows.

All three arrows hit right at the deers hoof. Obviously I don't have a clue on GAP shooting. Am I supposed to put the arrow tip on the hock but still look at the spot I want to hit?
I have always shot instinctive so I am definitely a fish out of water on this.

Thanks

Frank

[McDave]

The great majority of people who shoot gap focus on the spot they want to hit and align the arrow tip in their peripheral vision. For most people, this means that the arrow tip will appear a little fuzzy and out of focus, while the spot they want to hit will appear sharp in the center of their vision.

There are really two types of gap, in my opinion.  The first type is where you estimate the distance to the target and have a predetermined gap where you want to place the arrow point for that distance.  For example, you might have experimented and determined that for a 20 yard shot, the point of the arrow needs to be 2' below the spot you want to hit.  The second type is really a cross between gap and instinctive, which Howard Hill called split vision. In that style, you don't estimate any distances or measure any gaps.  You just shoot a lot, noticing where the gap is.  Then for any shot, you just draw the bow and put the arrow point wherever it feels right for that particular shot.

[reddogge]

All of the above.

To further confuse you there are two ways to perceive the gap, at the bow and at the target, ie: a 1" gap at the bow might be the same as an 18" gap at the target. People usually choose how they perceive the gap one way or the other.

Basically the gap is the space between your arrow point and where you want to hit. Most people plot this on paper by trial and error and memorize their gaps from 5 yards to their point on distance where the arrow point is on the point you want to hit.

After practicing the gaps and  becoming comfortable with them most shooters concentrate on the target and just use the gap as a reference in their peripheral vision.

Try to Google Jimmy Blackmon's excellent videos on gap shooting.

[frankwright]

I did watch jimmy's videos or at least what is online. That is where I got the idea to shoot at the deer's foot.

In retrospect, if I was sighting down the arrow to see the tip I was basically gun barreling and it is no wonder the arows hit where I was pointing.

I was just looking at options to extend my range a little bit. I am good out to 18-20 but lose focus beyond that.
I watched the part of the video where all his shots stayed in the kill area at widely varying distances using the same gap.
I will explore this a little more.

Thanks

[McDave]

Using gap, you should be able to get fairly accurate out to 50 yards on targets, if not more.  Hunting, of course, is another story.

[DaveV]

There is a "magic" point where your gap becomes zero and you're shooting "point on"

I think you just found that spot.

Technically, if you were focusing on putting the point on the hoof, you were using "point of aim" not "gap" but it really didn't matter because at that distance your gap was zero so the two coincided.

[moththerlode]

My focus is strictly on the gap, for me the line is automatic with this and the gap is at the end of the arrow becoming a 1" gap verses a 18" gap at the target if my focus is on the spot. I don't estimate yardage and is it more instinctive on distance and gap.

[ChuckC]

If you are " gun barreling" you are not really gapping.  You need to either lower your anchor point so that gapping works in the way you  are shooting,  or (likely best) do as B Ferguson stated and experiment to find YOUR actual gap.  

If you have your arrow way up your cheek, your gap is gonna be very small.  Note, however, that by doing that, your point on will be relatively close and farther than that your gap will be above the target.

Put a small target (stick on circle, anything) on the upper portion of your backstop, then put another smaller target 18 or so inches below it.

Use your gap aiming at the lower one and see how it hits the upper one (the actual target).  If you are too low, raise the lower one, if it is too right, move it left etc until you have established a lower aiming point that allows you to hit the "target".  

Once there, you have your gap (for that distance, from the ground).  Now shoot some and enjoy. Then move closer and farther and see how that affects your gap.  

Gaps change depending upon distance, however there is usually more of a gap range (like, maybe, 18" to 6" or some such).

Whether you focus on the point, or the target, or the gap target is gonna be completely whatever works best for you after you've been shooting a while.  but give it a chance if you expect to excel.

CHuckC

[Mr. fingers]

Rod Jenkins  maps it out and explains it really well and kinda has a mathematical formula. check it out on masters of the bare bow. The first DVD.

[Golden]

I went from instinctive to gap a few years ago to help me with my 25+ yard shooting and it really helped me with the longer shots. now it's become instinctive for me. I don't think about yardage at all and shoot well( most days lol). I used gap shooting as a learning tool. I learned my 10 ,20,30 yard gaps then stated shooting from random yardages and boom!! one day the 2 different styles feel in sync.