Help me beat target panic

[Draven]

You said:
"My brain DOES NOT ALLOWED expansion until focus is steady
Say it out loud as you go."
Is that your mantra? If not, please say the correct version because it makes no sense to write something when you thought something else.

[Daz]

Originally posted by Daz:
If you have been using Joel's style of training, go back to the basics of the verbal steps. If you are completing each step of the shot cycle with the verbal cueing, the fletching touching your nose SHOULD NOT trigger the shot.

Slow the shot sequence down and name each step.
Mine for example is "Draw, settle, anchor, focus,expand...".

The anchor command occurs when my two point touch anchor is obtained. My brain does not allow expansion (to release) until focus is steady. Say it out loud as you go.

Start with draw. Then move to next step. Only move on in sequence when you have mastered control over previous steps. It may take several sessions before you get to "expand". If this is the case it may be several sessions before you release an arrow. That's ok. Control of the shot means control over all aspects of the shot.

Read my second paragraph of my original post above.

It is clear what my mantra is. Five words.

[Draven]

OK, my mistake Daz.

[Daz]

It's all good.

[Tradcat]

Here's what helped me. (1)stare at the tip of the arrow until I come ALL the way to FULL DRAW. (2)Anchor (3)shift my focus from the arrow tip to the exact spot I want to hit and then make everything else disappear. (4)visually burn a hole into the spot I want to hit and release and follow through. ***When I do my part in this exact routine***, the shot usually takes care of itself AND that's when the "instinctive" part takes control.

[jim phenes]

i agree with every reply on here I to have went through target panic .A good friend of mine gave me very good advice one week before ny opened my bh were flying bad he said do what I was doing 2 weeks prior I did and they flew like a ft. only other advice I have is shoot every day it helped me a lot. even now season has started I still shoot every day at least 10. good luck you will work it out.

[Arctic Hunter]

Thanks for the help everyone. I got a lot of great tips and even had a short conversation with Dan Toelke who gave me something to try that was new to me. I'm working my way through it, and am feeling pretty confident again. I've gone through a lot of masking tape writing notes to my self in order to keep my shot process in check.

I honestly believe it'd be easier to cure cancer.

Thanks again.

[LongStick64]

For myself I have battled it for years and by making some changes I can say I am better at keeping it at bay. The first thing is to come to the realization that it will always be there waiting to creep up on you. A few things helped me. 1. Shoot less often, if you are shooting crappy, nothing will prolong it than shooting often and ingraining the behavior deeper. Shoot less often but make every shot a million dollar shot. Put everything into it, focus hard and don't shoot unless everything feels right.
2. Pay attention to your form, are you really anchoring in the best position or is your alignment way off, indirectly killing your form. My issue was my draw elbow was not in line with the arrow, simply by shifting my anchor gave me a firm back feel that gave me greater confidence in my shot.
3. Work on your focus and how to really block everything else out expect what you want to focus on. Some people focus on the target, some on the gap, some on the arrow, some on both, you decide, but focus.
4. Many people including me are aiming the second they place an arrow on the string and bring attention to the target, as they go through their sequence the anxiety builds and a rush to shoot signal goes off. I dealt with this quite often but  worked through it by using drills without shooting.
In the end the journey is yours, don't be afraid to commit to the challenge.