Target panic

[Doods70]

Getting frustrated. I can't seem to hold and place my arrow on the target without releasing prematurely.

If I draw high, and lower slowly...I release as soon as I see the center come into my vision, Same if I draw low and try to raise my bow arm...I release even before I see the center.

What exercise should I do to rid myself of this? I used to shoot Olympic recurve and used a clicker...never had a problem.

[2bird]

I have gone through this before too, it's a mental game for sure. There are more than 1 way to help but what I did was just draw on a target, and force myself to not let the arrow go, never even intend to release and then get my point where I want then hold it there for 3-5 seconds and then draw back down... also when I shoot I count to 3 before I release, it's hard but if you force yourself it will come more natural, well at least it did for me.

[McDave]

This is an old problem, which has affected a good many archers over the years.

A couple of good sources to try include the book "Instinctive Archery Insights" by Jay Kidwell, and the posts on this forum by Joel Turner under the caption "Target Panic Reality Check," and a related DVD.

Different things seem to work for different people.  Something seems to work for everyone.  Nothing seems to work forever.  My own personal experience is that it can get pretty bad.  Once you conquer it, the best way to keep it from getting really bad again is to nip it in the bud as soon as it starts creeping back in the door.  For example, if your problem is that you release the arrow prematurely, and you EVER release the arrow prematurely again, for whatever reason that might not even have anything to do with target panic, make sure that the next five arrows you shoot are not released prematurely, even if you have to forget about aiming and all the rest of your form to do it, even it you're in the middle of a tournament when it happens, or even if you just released prematurely on the biggest buck you ever saw.  Quit hunting, quit shooting the tournament if that's what you have to do, until you shoot five arrows without releasing early.  You're not going to enjoy the hunting or the tournament if you're releasing early anyway, and the one thing I can guarantee you is that it's not going to get any better until you do something about it.

But first you have to solve your immediate problem, and Jay Kidwell or Joel Turner would be good places to start.

[Doods70]

Thank you for this. Yes, I believe it is serious and you're right...I don't enjoy the tournament once it happens.

Will look into the people you mentioned. Thank you both.

Doods

[Green]

It is serious (and ugly).  I've had it a little over a year and am still working to be in control.  

Nobody can do this for you but you, so commit to getting control over your shot sequence.  Start with just working on anchoring/aiming at various distances from 5 feet to 50 yards, and then letting down....don't count, don't do anything but get your mind comfortable looking at the target/site picture while anchored.  Get comfortable being at anchor for as long as you feel necessary each time you draw.

Do this for as long as it takes....days, weeks,...it's a forever drill I think.

Teach yourself....and this is REAL hard.....to let down anytime you feel yourself losing control, or wanting to shoot before you're in control.  I have even started taking practice draws and letting down in 3D tournaments.  Kinda like a practice swing in golf.  

Do not put a time table on yourself, it's yours forever so everyday you must work to be in control.  I have been told that almost all of the world's top shooters in various archery disciplines dealt with, or deal with TP......you're in good company.      :D    

If you've shot Oly, then you obviously have a learned shot routine, and you know you have a great shooter inside you.  You CAN whoop it!

[Matt Parker]

I have used a clicker for 3 years and love it. That seems to be the only way I can overcome target panic for good. You must have used a clicker on your riser since you shot Olympic style.  You can mount one on your upper limb and it works great for hunting.

[Doods70]

Thank you Green and Matt. Yes Started Oly and used a clicker. Trying to be as "bare" as possible when I shoot and unfortunately, FITA rules do not allow clickers.


Will do as mentioned...practice drawing and letting down. Thank you

[Matt Parker]

I know many shooters that use the feather touching their nose as a trigger. You can fletch your arrows so the feather is around a quarter in from your nose. After you anchor continue pulling with your back muscles until the feather hits the tip of your nose. This should give you a non-anticipated release. You may have to adjust your anchor to so this.

[Doods70]

Thank you Matt. Will try this.

[Scott Barr]

I posted a method I recently discovered on another heading.  I have battled target panic for years and have tried many methods.  All seem to work for awhile and then the beast comes stomping back. Holding at anchor and letting down or just holding both seem to help some.  but I am still telling myself what NOT TO DO, which sets up the opposite affect. Recently I started using three targets on the same bale. I hold and acquire target site picture without releasing on one or more of the three targets. Then I settle on one to release.  This gives my mind something to practice without the negative self talk of "don't release."  Target panic and groups of much improved.

[ChuckC]

I have had target panic off and on (mostly on) for most of my life.  Started during my 20's and at times was really bad, especially when under pressure.  

Lots of tricks out there, some of them worked for a while.  

I ended up completely switching bow hands and it is gone.  No telling if it will come back, but in the interim I changed up my shooting 100% and I am using a very deliberate draw to a stop, anchor, then stretch and release format now, forget the fast draw like I used to love.

Good luck and my one bit of advice.  Don't keep wasting your archery life putting up with it and hoping.  Do something real to change it or you just may grow to hate what you are doing.
ChuckC

[jonsimoneau]

Target panic can be debilitating for some.  A buddy of mine has it badly.  I have had it...but not for a long time...and I don't ever want it again.  What works for me is to draw my bow in the house and aim at something I know I will not release on.  Do this often enough and you will regain control.  I have other shooting issues now but having had and beaten target panic I know that target panic is absolutely the worst.  Just know this.  It IS all in your head.  you can beat it if you have it.  Just stay away from targets.  Put the bow down for awhile.  Practice drawing and aiming at things in your house that you do not want to shoot. This works.

[jonsimoneau]

Also...I can tell you what will not work as far as trying to beat it.  Do NOT continue to shoot at targets and think it will go away.  It won't.  You gotta stop aiming at stuff.  Blank bale may work.  Shooting with your eyes closed may work.  But most of the time people do not do this long enough to get reprogrammed.  The best thing for me was to just cease shooting at targets all together.  In fact...for a long while...I did not shoot at ANYTHING.  I just drew the bow in the house...aimed at something I knew I would not let go on...and let down.  Aiming is the easiest part of shooting a bow.  You can go months without doing it and pick it back up. It is the aiming part that is telling you to release before hitting anchor.  Just eliminate that for awhile and you will get over target panic.  Again..this is just what worked for me.  But I had it really bad 8 or 9 years ago...and now I have had zero issues with it.  Its ALL IN YOUR HEAD! Good luck guys.