To Those Who Suffer From Target Panic

[caldwelr]

Hello all. I thought I would write this post in an attempt to help out those who experience target panic. If this helps a single archer, I would be very happy.
As a little bit of background, I am new to this website, but have been shooting a longbow for nearly twenty years. For I don't know how many years I have experienced moderate, but consistent, target panic. The problem for me was that I would never make it to my anchor (the corner of my mouth) while concentrating on a shot. I could never get it past the front part of my lips before I released. I tried a lot to concentrate and get it past that point, but it never worked. I still managed to  shoot decently, in my opinion, but it was very frustrating to me that I could never anchor where I wanted, and that my draw length was shortened.
There is probably a lot written on this subject, but the root of this problem is purely mental, of course. So yesterday while shooting, I found a way that I could overcome this mental block 100 percent of the time, at least for now. And it has nothing to do with trying to touch the feather to your nose as a new anchor, or anything else like that that I've read. Those methods don't work for me.
The key to me is to NOT concentrate on the anchor. As I'm sure many can attest to, concentrating on the anchor itself is very ineffective. It's never consistently worked well for me.   Instead, I concentrate my attention on the very tip of the elbow of the arm that draws the bow. All I do is concentrate on making that elbow point as far in the opposite direction of the target as possible, while expanding my shoulders... And the anchor falls perfectly in place! It just takes a different way of approaching the problem. It probably sounds pretty mental... BUT if you're suffering from this problem, you have something mental going on.
I hope this helps someone. Please let me know if it does. I don't know if this method has been discussed before. If it has, then I suppose this is just another affirmation of that method. If it hasn't, then maybe it can help someone out.

This is the first group I shot at thirty yards using this method, so it seems to be pretty good.

URL=http://s1364.photobucket.com/user/myusername27/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdcc69174.jpg.html] [/URL]

Thanks for your time and I hope it helps. Feel free to leave feedback.

[JMR]

I'm glad you found something that works for you. I found that concentrating on my elbow worked for me too.

[Ron Vought]

Had the same issue. Installed a clicker and worked solely on coming to full anchor. Once we look at the target the aiming process is established. Coming to full anchor is where I also struggled.

I shot without a clicker last evening at an indoor club shoot and did really well. Felt in control of my shot. The clicker is staying on for a while while I continue to establish good form and full anchor on a consistent basis. My accuracy has really improved even out to 50 yards.

Ron

[caldwelr]

Glad it works for you, too, JMR.  Hope your shooting continues to improve Ron... My form has stayed impeccable thus far, and my accuracy has increased, too!  Could shoot on a paper plate from sixty yards a little better than half the time the other day... I'm sure there are lots of better shooters out there, but I'm definitely happy with my progression!  Concentrating on the pulling motion rather than the anchor spot really helps with target panic.

[Flying Dutchman]

Had the same issue. Concentrating on the string elbow really helps me too. But every now and then I forget to do so, and my arrows start creeping..

[LongStick64]

My advice make sure if you think it's target panic and not form flaw. I've seen many form created target panic and am amazed the difference in shot quality when the shot is properly executed.

[Gentle-Savage]

something that really helped me this last week (only been shooting about a month, very new to the sport) is to focus on breathing deeply into my pelvic floor, and maintaining a QiGong standing position. Link to what that is    Here

the method I use to focus on breathing deeply is derived from the work of Dr Alexander Lowen, from his work on BioEnergetics.  It's about posture, breathing deeply, and being aware of your body and how it relates to your psyche.

as many of said above, accuracy and form is more a mental thing once  you have the motor engrams built into the musculature of the muscles involved.

I was really struggling to get my anchor point and follow through to be fluid yet precise, and after calming my mind of everyday life stresses, breathe deep, and allow my body to do what it needed to, something just clicked.

 

[Scott Barr]

Thanks Caldweir for the post.  I will give your method and mental image a go.  I have tried so many methods to get ahold of my target panic over the years.  Each seems to work for awhile until my brain figures out the new system and works to get there ahead of me.  I'm gonna think on what Terry Green said on another post as well:  "always thought about it being an athletic move rather than a repetitive one. "  My words.  Not exactly his. So maybe I need to try changing my shots and timing up a bit each time so my brain does not get the chance to jump ahead.  That is not to discount that form remains paramount.

Again, thanks for the sharing.

[caldwelr]

Scott Barr, glad to help!  Hope that it gives you success!  I've shot probably a couple of thousand times since my first post, and I've not had even one short draw... So, at least for me, it's worked!  In fact, I don't even have to think about it specifically any more, as I think I have re-ingrained into my muscles the proper way to shoot.

Again, thanks for all the comments and tips from everybody, and I really hope that it helps you Scott.