Who else has lost their confidence before?

[Brianlocal3]

That's right. It is easier said than done. I cut the 2016s down to 28 in and with a 125 thunderhead they are flying ok. I probably need to try 100 gr.  it's just every chart I looked at showed 2016 was my arrow. All I ever did before was go off the chart, then BH tune. With my recurve I would adjust nock height and build out my shelve.  Complete arrow Tuning is new to me.  Now the 2016s at 29" fly like darts from my NM Huron at 51@28.

[heydeerman]

Personally I prefer paper tuning to bare shaft tuning. I think paper tears reveal more than trying to watch a shaft that might appear to fly good. Its easier and tells you exactly what you need to know. Check out this page from one of the sponsors for info.

 http://www.wildernesscustomarrows.com/spine.html

[Brianlocal3]

Thank you.  I still can not get them to fly like i like.  I have them cut down to 27 3/4" and they are still showing weak. Its not so bad that its messing up my flight, but with a BH im not 100% sold on it. Now the 2016s at 29" are flying like darts from the 51# Huron.
  I have some GT 5575s cut to 30.5" 125gr up front and they fly like a  dream from the bow. I think I will just stick with them for now. But I do want to try some 2018s maybe they will be a touch stiffer.

[Hud]

I started bare shaft tuning arrows over 50 yrs ago and I wish I knew then, what I learned later, about paper tuning. Read this and see if it helps...stop beating yourself up  

[Brianlocal3]

HUD,
I did buy an arm guard. Thank you! And that web page along with wildernesscustoms site was very well written.
How do you personally get your target up high? My bag weighs like 50 lbs.

[heydeerman]

I paper tune in the garage. Put a hook in the rafters. Tie a rope to the target and pull it up. I use a bag target. I use a small ladder and tape paper to it. Pretty simple and easy to set up.

[heydeerman]

If you dont have a small ladder a couple 2x4 tacked to the rafters will work. Use screws for easy removal. You dont need a fancy set up to do this. I get brown wrapping paper at the dollar store and cut it to size. Use a black marker to mark the paper with the arrows you use. I'll take some pics and show you what I do.

[Brianlocal3]

Great Ideas.

[wolfhunter4life]

Hey Brian,

I too am having troubles. I'm shooting the same NM classic green LB that you are in 58#. Raked myself over the coals...shooting some 55/60 cedars I made up with 125 grain tips....not good. My draw is 28" and I cut the arrows at 28 1/4. Tried to bareshaft them at 15 yards and whamo...nose dive a few feet infront of the target into the ground. I have since ordered some Surewood 60/65s and hope that solves it. No more bareshaft tuning for me....only paper tuning.

[kestimator]

In regards to the original post...
Yes.
I've gone or am going through this.
I don't want to talk too much about it at present....but...
I love this Trad Thing...and try to stay light hearted....but there are days...
Well....I'll just say keep pushing through and enjoying the journey....
I shot with a friend of mine (a fellow TGr) the other day...He is a super shot and a very accomplished big game hunter...(off bear hunting at present)  
I shot almost as good as he did that day...
From what I see....he has a very confident approach...shoots a set-up he believes in...a miss to him only tells him where the next shot shoud be    ...he enjoys the challenge and limitations...
Lesson???
Don't expect edited camera take-out perfection..
We all miss...
We all make some "great" shots...
...it sounds cliche'd...but enjoy the journey and learning lessons...
Relax...this is all supposed to be fun...
If we need certain..or meat in the freezer...
we can use a gun..
Have fun...  

[Flying Dutchman]

Hang in there!We have all days or periods we shoot bad. it is not the bow, not the arrows, not the tuning, it is just you, having a bad period.
It will pass and most of the time you come back better then you ever was!

About tuning: I remember a story about Howard Hill. He would go into the audience, pick all kinds of arrows from different archers. Then Howard would shoot them equally well as his own arrows! So much for tuning....

[stagetek]

This may sound weird, but when I lose my confidence, I stop shooting for a period of time. Maybe a week or two, perhaps longer. If I keep shooting, it seems like I'm just rushing everything to hurry and get "it" back. For me, it's better to lay it down, walk away and forget about it for awhile. I come back with a completely different attitude, and usually much better results.