Mental Block

[wapitirod]

I've noticed over the past few weeks building up to hunting season there is a pattern to my shooting.  The first shot or two may sometimes be off a little but I figure that's just getting the muscles stretched and loosening up the arthritis in my shoulders.  The next 10 to 15 shots will be on the mark and then things start coming apart and the harder I try the worse it gets.  I'll quit and go out the next day and I have the same pattern.  Anyone else experienced this?

[Huntingnut]

Yep, been there, done that. The only thing that helped me was to practice less,like once a week for awhile. Sounds counter productive, but it really helped me.

[Maxx Black]

I've run into the same wall, I'm fortunate living on an acreage,so stumping is my alternative . For the last couple of weeks stumping was my practice session ,it paid off last night at the club 3d shoot. Confedance level much better. Maxx

[macbow]

I've been there. Part is loosing concentration and second,is loosing,strength in some of the muscles especially if not using the back muscles.
Shooting by myself was worse than if I had someone to shoot with .

[Green Mountain Boy]

Im with macbow, when I shoot by myself I always go downhill in a hurry.  When I shoot with someone else (usually my five year old daughter) I shoot better longer (not good but better!).  I think it has a lot to do with letting my muscles relax between shots and not trying to over think what I am doing!

[manitou1]

Is it possible that you are concentrating more on those first 15 shots and then become lax and not concentrating?  I know when this happens to me, it can sometimes be credited to the above.  Like the above poster indicated, you might try to break away from the norm and go stumping. It seems to help me if I get in a rut.
Also, like Macbow said... you might find yourself taking more time at the shot if you can shoot with a partner.

[Rustic]

Originally posted by Huntingnut:
Yep, been there, done that. The only thing that helped me was to practice less,like once a week for awhile. Sounds counter productive, but it really helped me.

X2 on this.