Shoot the target and not the arrow

[moleman]

Ive discovered that for me that if my shots start to wander, its usually because im shooting the arrow and not the target, meaning that my focus is on the arrow more than my intended target.
Shooting instinctive is really pretty simple if you just follow the Golden Rule of Picking a Spot, but some days thats easier said than done.
Is it just me, or do others struggle with that from time to time?
What do you do to improve your focus on the spot, and not the arrow?

[Rob W.]

I suspend a 2" plastic ring an arrow length in front of the target. It can rotate so I practice shooting only when it is fully open to me. Hitting or brushing it either spins it for next shot or swings it for a timed shot. Either way my focus is not on the arrow.


Rob

[JamesKerr]

I try not to do it, but we all have days where our concentration just isn't great.

[3arrows]

If it was easy they would be doing it on TV.Pick the smallest spot you can see.

[ishoot4thrills]

My eyes bring the target into focus and my arrow is blurry but I still use it as a reference point below my target. It's similar to pointing a shotgun at a dove in flight, except I'm generally not shooting at a moving target with my bow unless I'm shooting aerials.

[atatarpm]

I am gald you brought that up. Now that I think of it that way I do have that trouble from time to time "shooting the arrow and not the target".

[atatarpm]

RobW I like that idea and think I"ll try that

[ericmerg]

i take a big sheet of white paper and put a tiny black dot in the dead center just big enough where it stands out at whatever distance your shooting it naturally attracts your eye and forces better concentration

[Plumber]

I just stare at what I want to hit.forget about the bow .just let the bow do its job.our job is to focus on a spot.this will work for everyone.
however you must have good form an a well tuned bow.you really have to block out everything the bow will get the arrow there.

[Crash]

I shoot brown burlap tagets.  Forces me to learn to pick a spot where one doesn't exist, just like on a deer.  After some time, you realize there actually are spots.  A tuft of hair, a shadow, a crease, the spots are there.

[Rick Butler]

I like that; "Shoot the target, not the arrow."