Mentally Ready?

[snakebit40]

The biggest problem I have with traditional archery is being in the right metal state. I tend to over think every little thing I do. When I golf I'm constantly thinking about my swing during my swing step by step, and well turns out I do the same thing when shooting a traditional bow. I think about every little thing in my form while I'm drawing the bow. So when it comes to hitting a target I either hit the 10 ring or miss the target. Its gotten me so frustrated I'm starting to wonder if I should go back to a compound. (Which I don't want to but I don't want to injure any game). So I guess my question is how do you block out everything and just trust in your form? I really would appreciate any help. Thanks!

[straitera]

Big bummer IMO! Consider a new mantra, "fun first".

Your serious concern is also exactly my worry about scoring on a range. Analysis paralysis. Is it productive to my hunt only preference? No it is not. Burnt out long ago. Also why I have a shelf reserved for trophy pine cones. Maybe score less, stumpshoot more? Much appreciate your ethics re wounding animals. No guarantees even w/high tech. Have fun & do your best will build confidence.

[stickem1]

I sometimes try to over think my shot process also. What helps me the most is being completely relaxed when I grab my bow to go outside. I can usually tell how it's going to go on the first shot. Alot of times I will only shoot one arrow because that is the one that counts.

[Whip]

Best advice I can offer is to take down your targets. Put judo points on your arrows and confine all of your practice to stumpshooting only. I think you'll find yourself just having fun again and forgetting about all the mechanics. If you really feel the need to work on form limit it strictly to blind bale practice from close distance with no target face.

[Reaper TN]

Jonathon.....I'm pretty new to trad archery, about 1 1/2 years now.  I got away from archery altogether for about 10 years.  I used to shoot a 80 pound compound, no problems. This trad archery thing is a whole different animal though. I see the poundages that you shoot and I think you may be overbowed.  The first trad bow I bought was a 45 pounder.  I later bought a new 40# TD recurve and a used 35# recurve at a flea market.  Let me tell you, I shot the lower poundage bows much better, was more consistant, and had alot more fun shooting.  All my bows now are either 45 or 50 pounds and I don't plan to shoot any higher poundage.  My suggestion is to get a lower poundage bow and work on your form and release.  No problem thinkin' about what your doing, that's what will make you a better shooter.   Just an opinion from a sometimes frustrated fellow trad archer.

[Whip]

Best advice I can offer is to take down your targets. Put judo points on your arrows and confine all of your practice to stumpshooting only. I think you'll find yourself just having fun again and forgetting about all the mechanics. If you really feel the need to work on form limit it strictly to blind bale practice from close distance with no target face.

[Stumpkiller]

Breathing & mental calmness.  In karate we were told to imagine a lake calming after a windstorm or a coil spring relaxing as the pressure is released.  Imagine inhaling winds a spring in your chest (or balance point for you Qi folks) and exhaling causes it to unwind.  Snipers use breath control in the same way.  A few breaths, let out half of a breath and then take the shot.  They don't have to be loud or "whooshy"; just full, deep breaths.

No idea what the English spelling would be, but the concept is called : "meeso no kokora".  Literally - mind of bee paste.  Scribes used to record events on tablets made of beeswax.  From those they'd transcribe a permanent record.  When it came time to erase them and prepare for more writing they'd smooth the surface by pressing the wax out with their hands.  That is similar to the clearing of your mind.  If you relax and use a breathing exercise, it can become second nature that if you take a few breaths it will sooth you for the shot.

[McDave]

I can relate to what you say; I'm a "thinker" also.  It's a good and useful part of your brain; try to supress it and you're asking for trouble.  Better to let it express itself in situations where it might do you some good.

If you shoot close, at a blank bale, you can think about every little intricate part of your shot, and it might even do you some good.  Rod Jenkins goes into this in his section of MBB III.  Make an agreement with yourself that you'll think all you want about the shot when you're shooting at the blank bale, but when you're shooting at targets, the only thing you'll do with your mind is to concentrate on the spot you want to hit.

Rod has a little agreement he made with himself where he goes back to the blank bale for the rest of the practice session if he shoots anything less than what he considers to be a perfect shot.  You could make a similar agreement with yourself where you would go back to the blank bale for the rest of your practice session if you catch yourself thinking about the shot.

[lpcjon2]

To me it's like driving a car, once you spend time driving you automatically go through the checks and motions with out think of it. Get out and stump shoot like your hunting and focus on the target. The rest will follow.If you think you will not hit the mark :YOU WON"T: let it all be a natural event with in you.You can do it.    

[snakebit40]

Thank guys! You don't know how much help everybody is on this site. Where I live traditional archers are few and far between. I will just have to go back to the blind bale for more confidence. Thanks again and keep them coming, I can use all the help I can get!

[reddogge]

You are over thinking both the golf and archery. When I hit a ball I have one swing thought in my head before I hit the ball. Same thing when I pull back the bow. You know this as well as I, too many thoughts will take the spontaneity out of a shot. Just let it happen.

[owlbait]

Masters of the Barebow 3. Rod Jenkins. Groove the steps of your shot sequence until they are subconscious and then you can consciously focus only on the target.

[LimBender]

Where I live traditional archers are also an endangered species and I suffer from what you talk about. It is very frustrating.  I will not hunt deer until I can get rid of the erratic misses in my practicing.  With compound a bad miss at 20 yards was 4-5" or so, but with a lb its missing the dang target.  Sometimes I'm rocking along with nice groups and launch one way over or under the target.  

Part of this struggle for me has to do with ignoring the arrow (maybe this plagues you as well).  I try not to look at it as a reference but my brain sometimes doesn't want to cooperate, especially at longer distances.  Recently I shot at night to a lit target so I really couldn't see my arrow tip, and not surprisingly I shot more consistently.

I agree with reddogge.  In golf I try to have only 1 or 2 swing thoughts, and I'm trying to get my trad shooting form automatic enough that I only need 1 or 2 shot thoughts like "push pull" or "focus, focus."

I think stump shooting sounds like good advice from others and would like to do more, but I live in a neighborhood and already have enough problems shooting around in my yard.         I do throw out water bottles and other stuff to shoot every now and then and it is fun.  For whatever reason I tend to shoot better at objects then a target.  It seems to take some of the thinking out of it.

[Pat B]

Concentrate on your form and forget about shooting at a target. Once you get that down and imbedded in your brain you should be able to shoot without thinking. Let your brain do all the work for you so you can concentrate on where the arrow will go.
  Begin with a proper stance then move on to how you hold the bow and the string. Then draw your bow to anchor, hold for a second or two then let down. Do not release the arrow. When you feel like you have the draw down smoothly draw and release at an unmarked butt. You still have to concentrate on stance, holding the bow and string and on your draw to anchor and release. Once you are confident in these things beginning shoot at a marked target from 10 yards, then 15 yards and so on until your groups stay together and your max range.
  Shooting one arrow and retrieving it will help you concentrate on your target without the interferience of other arrows in the target. Also, instead of a marked target pick a spot on the target butt to shoot at. An irregularity in the surface, a stain or whatever.

[Rob W.]

I was in the same boat. I finally realized that talking myself through a shot sequence was not for me. Also that standing in my yard at shooting known distances did nothing for my hunting or 3d scores. Now I try to shoot a little less and my practice is stump shooting. During a 3d shoot or in the woods I just imagine I'm zooming in on a spot slowly as I draw and dont release until I'm completely zoomed in.

[Swamp Yankee]

The first three stumps I shot at on Saturday jumped the string on me.  Took the hint and put the bow away.  Sunday I found a herd of deaf stumps and had better luck.

[YORNOC]

Snakebit, besides everything said here already, dont forget there are many different traditional shooting techniques. I personally shoot point of aim better than any other method. Some guys use the Asbell lift and release the second you hit anchor, some guys gap shoot, etc.

So dont give up on Trad till you exhaust the different styles.. I know guys ten years ago who would never consider any other technique than pure instinctive looking and shooting.  Now half of them are string walking and kicking butt at every 3D shoot.

Find which technique you are best at and then hammer away. When I broke down and tried point of aim, it was like an instant switch went off. Cured all my problems, nice solid anchor, back tension, consistant anchor, extreme concentration on target, target panic was obliterated.    For you it may be another method.  
If you're not having fun, change tactics for sure.

[Javi]

You can fix this easily if you commit to the process..
First, set up a bale, block or other type of target so that it is at shoulder height.. then draw a line on the floor six feet from the bale… Then take your and straddle the line so that you are aligned to shoot at the bale..   With your eyes closed mentally complete each part of the shot process from drawing and nocking the arrow to the follow through upon release..    Now repeat the process actually using the bow. Be sure to feel each part of the shot process as you do it, if a part doesn’t feel right then stop and correct before continuing.. Do not allow yourself to shoot a shot that doesn’t feel right..  

Do no shooting except this process for two weeks shooting at least twenty five shots each night. Do not open your eyes during the shot process, keep them closed except when pulling the arrow and returning to the line..  

After that…

Get a piece of cardboard and draw a 1” wide line across the middle then hang it on the bale so that the line is level and horizontal. Draw a line on the ground at seven yards from the bale. Straddling the line shoot five arrows evenly spaced horizontally along the line using whatever aiming method you choose.. Repeat until you can successfully accomplish the task and then move back 5 yards and repeat the exercise…
 
Every other day turn the line on the cardboard to vertical and shoot 5 arrows spacing them along the line in a vertical pattern using the same criteria.
 
During the exercise mentally follow the shot process that you built during the blind baling, you should feel each step as you go and not allow yourself to shoot a shot that isn’t completely correct.

Concentrate on the process; not the result.

[traditional beagle]

Stump shoot alone . Make up games. No pressure. Go 3-D with a good friend who has fun and don't worry about a miss. Forget the score. I quit scoring a long time ago because it made me dwell on a bad shot way longer than needed be. Move on , do the best you can on every shot and continue to improve. Before long you will get to the place that you will start having confidence again. If it ain't fun you will quit.

[hitman]

Trust is a must. The more you shoot the more comfortable you get with your shooting. I gap shoot and look at my target with both eyes open
and hold til it feels right. I hold longer than most people but its what works for me. The main thing is to relax and have fun. 3-D is not my main objective but hunting is. I love to shoot discs out of the air but I don't hold a long time. Adjusting for different situations is what its all about for me. Loosen up and have fun. Good luck.