Just something I thought might help a new shooter..

[Javi]

When I was learning to shoot a bow the old fellow who taught me often said anyone has an excuse to miss once at any given distance but never twice..

The way he taught me was to vary my distance several times during a practice, he often had me walk away from the target and at his command turn and shoot.. We started close and worked our way out beyond 80 yards before it was done.. Like throwing a ball, you look where you want the ball to go and let your brain say how high and how hard to throw it..

We also spent a lot of time walking through the pastures and woods around the area and he would suddenly say, hit that stump or that clump of weeds, etc... and there was no judging yardage or worrying about it, you just raised the bow and flung the arrow. He never let me shoot two arrows from the same spot, if I missed we retreived the arrow and moved on.. But sometime that day he would have me shoot a shot from the same distance at another target.. After a while I rarely missed.. and became a decent shooter..

Today I am working to re-learn that behavior after 15 years of shooting a compound with sights and it isn't something you do over night..

[Stephen Claypool]

Good stuff javi!

[Javi]

Stephen,

Standing and shooting at a single distance is mostly a waste of time for an instinctive shooter, if you are doing that... Stop it now..

Form and release is best learned with the eyes closed at 4 feet from a bale.. don't worry where the arrow goes, focus on the feel of the shot.

Instinctive shooting is learned walking through the woods with a friend and letting them tell you when to shoot..  

Get some Judo points and hit the brush if you really want to learn instinctive shooting.. don't look at the point, burn a hole in the spot you want to hit and keep looking at it until the arrow is there.. if you miss don't shoot again, cause now you KNOW and that isn't instinctive...

[Longbowlogan]

Good info

[Stephen Claypool]

Ive been thinking about that while in the back yard shooting. I like to practice my first shot like its a real hunting situation and you only get the one shot. I have several different targets scattered through out the yard and just move around and keep shooting.
I like to go out stumping. Its fun by myself, but sessions would be longer im sure w/ a companion.

I do shoot multiple arrows from the same place too though. I like to check to make sure im able to group consistently. I know what u mean by "now u know". If im off the first shot i can adjust to be on. This is bad?

Im at the point now where im trying to get a good spined set of arrows for my set up. I dont see a way around shooting groups right now, but for sure when i have everything flying straight ill be taking more strolls throught the woods.

I understand the blank baling concept as well from my compound days. Learning back tension and feeling the shot was one of the hardest things i have ever done. Sometimes i still feel the need to go back to it when ive learned a bad habit or forgot a good one.

[moththerlode]

I have been doing the same , no yardages marked or pacing off, a bow with good cast makes it easier.

[Javi]

Stephen...

Here is a simple way to get you close on spine for your bow..

Take 1-3 of the .400 shafts, (I think you said you had 100 grain inserts in them) and put the heaviest field point you have on them (250 grain if you got them).. go to the nearest indoor range and with no one around.. aim at a spot (shoulder high) on the center bale... use both eyes and look at the point for left/right alignment..  then shoot all three.. If they go way right (more than a foot) of the target they are weak.. drop down in point weight and repeat until they hit in line with the aiming spot..  

Then fletch up a ½ dozen, put judo points on them and go for a long walk with a friend.. you can fine tune them later as you gain ability..

[Stephen Claypool]

I actually did that very thing today. The 32" shaft w/ 250gr up front were hitting dead center at 20yds. They were knock high at first, but i moved the nock down a 1/16" and they were going in straight. I think im ready to fletch em up and start shooting! Thanks for the help.