Amazing the difference of a few yards

[tracker12]

I have recently started shooting at 35 yards.  What  I found when shooting further back was that I was looking at the full target vice the spot I wanted to hit. I only shoot at 3D targets so I have to concentrate on something on the target.  Once I started looking small my shots improved drastically.

[JDow3]

Originally posted by PaulDeadringer29:
Turn that bottom target around. Lee and Tiffany looking directly at you is messing with you, lol.

Well played

[JDow3]

Originally posted by Wabasis:
A lot of times when I go out to shoot I shoot so many arrows that after a while I start getting some fliers that stray even farther off target because the muscles are getting a little tired and my form is suffering. It's so hard to stop shooting though.      

TRUTH!  I never want to stop. I'm sure I say to myself, self, "this is the last round" at least 5 times on average. It is so difficult to stop.

Lately though I've just been going out more frequently with shorter sessions. That's helped.....a little

[JDow3]

Originally posted by tracker12:
I have recently started shooting at 35 yards.  What  found when I started shooting further back was that I was looking at the full target vice the spot I wanted t hit. I only shoot at 3D targets so I have to concentrate on something on the target.  Once I started that my shots improve drastically.

I bet that is difficult at 35 yards. I've been practicing (and told my daughters to do this as well) whenever I'm out and about or driving, I look at small things. Not the doors the handle.  Not the tree the leave. Not the paper but the line etc....but even with that it's not at 35 yards. One of these days I'll reach back there.

[old_goat2]

Didn't read all the posts, so this may have been covered, but I've always been told, if your missing high, your looking at the whole target and your eye will basically  automatically lock onto a straight line such as the top of the target presents. On game animals your eye will want to lock onto the top/backbone of the deer because it is a straight line for the most part, making you tend to shoot right over the deer. Just a thought.

[Msturm]

Keep in mind that I GAP Shoot, 3 under. But if form is the issue...

I had a buddy video tape 10 shots from each distance in 2 yard increments from 10 to 25 yards.  I watched them back to back after editing out the dead time (kind of like a highlight reel. More like a lowlight reel) ...

Low and behold I was extending my bow arm farther and farther as I got more distance between me and the target. (compensation, draw length for distance? who knows.) It was an unconscious mistake. But the video really brought it to light. After working on it for a couple weeks and really focusing on form shooting I can put a decent group together at 25.  

Try the video tape from a couple different angles. Find a buddy with a smart phone and tape at different distances and different angles.

It really improved my shooting rather quickly.

[old_goat2]

Good use of the video, I've always wanted to have slow motion video of my arrows while tuning for arrow flight. Don't know of an inexpensive way to do it though

[Homebru]

Originally posted by Msturm:
Low and behold I was extending my bow arm farther and farther as I got more distance between me and the target.

Probably more common than many will admit.  I try to consciously tell myself "it's 100 yards away" to get myself to settle in to full draw.

I actually get better practice at longer distances because I get to full draw.  It's easy to short draw when the target is "right there in front of you".

YMMV.
homebru