Duplicating Good Shots

When my rhythm gets too fast like today.  I talk to myself, I talk slower. I slowly repeat, out loud, while I shoot. Swing, draw, anchor, deep, release, follow through. I do this until the pace becomes second nature. When I had TP and could not establish anchor. I did the same by not shooting and going through the sequence by first closing both eyes then each eye separately, then with both eyes open.  If I am going to release, the entire sequence is done with the intention of hitting what I am looking at and releasing.  Getting a brain full of busy cross signals does not lead to good shooting for me.  Clear deliberate intentions do.

[Trond]

I'm not a good shot... yet. But I find that if I'm in "the zone" when shooting, my arrows seems to find their mark. I totally agree on letting down if things feel off. Those shots are gonna miss for sure, and every miss will affect your next shot. At least that's how it is with me.

[Burnsie]

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[ThePushArchery]

Understanding your shot sequence and knowing it inside and out and front to back is paramount to consistent shooting.

If you really think about it, the only moment that truly matters in shooting a bow is the millisecond your muscles relax in your draw hand and the limbs spring back to rest. Everything else leading up to that fateful moment just helps you more consistently execute that moment.

An archer that is in full control of their bow, their mental game, and physical form can draw the bow string on a different path to anchor (straight line, outside, etc) can hold at anchor for 2 seconds, 5 seconds, or 20 seconds - and still expand through the shot and execute a good arrow. How we get to that last millisecond is irrelevant, as long as at that millisecond everything is consistent and the same.

This is obviously easier said than done however. Blank bailing, Let down drills, dedicated form work are the vehicles that will get an archer to that skill level.

Trying new things / equipment / and being fearless to shake things up with what you're comfortable with are also great attributes to getting to the next level.

Never settle for "accurate enough". Keep driving and have fun. Gotta enjoy the process.

[KSdan]

This is really interesting to read. . .

I rode the wave of traditional archery which was around in Michigan in the 50s/60s- it waned some in the 70s with the intro of the compound. THEN there was a rapidly growing return of trad in the early 80s.  We were influenced by the Wensels, John Schulz, Fred Asbell, Byron Ferguson, Ron Laclair, Ken Beck. . and a few others.  

What I find interesting as I really do not recall much trad talk in the terms used throughout this thread (shot sequence, etc etc).  The thought of trad/instinctive was simplicity for hunting. It was all fluid, like shooting a basketball. We watched Ron LaClair shoot skoal cans out of the air, shoot with his feet, and determine his brace height with his fist and thumb (no bow square technicality there!) I recall an article Barry Wensel (maybe Gene??) wrote how it was easier to hunt shooting trad/instinctive. Many of us became convinced and returned to our trad roots.  Like others- I DID NOT make the switch back for the challenge!! I switched because I wanted bowhunting to be easier!    

Just for the fun. . .Some of you newer trad guys go watch (and LISTEN) to John Schulz's "Hitting em like Howard Hill" on youtube. Notice his personal philosophy. Really listen.  That was representative of the key voices many of us were reading and hearing.    

I realize there are many guys who like all the technical aspects to shooting, tuning, and equipment.  I also realize that most of the guys who learned like me never became big time archery tournament champions.  But I do wonder if newer trad guys realize that MANY of us just learned a few basic things/form issues- and for the most part we just went and "played ball."  Few of us became great tournament archers- but we sure harvested A LOT of game at 18yds and less.  It was fun and we got better as we enjoyed the simplicity of a stick and string.

Just some reflections this evening. Worth probably 2C      

Dan in KS

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Paven makes some damn good points about the difference between shooting groups in the back yard and applying your skill to hunting situations.....

That's where i think 3D shoots are very good for a guy.... I'm not talking competition and keeping score so much as actually putting yourself in different shooting positions and dealing with branches and shooting through windows at unmarked yardages..... the biggest thing is making that 1st shot count......

Even practicing at home or where ever you have to shoot. practice one shot at a time. Forget groups... either shoot one arrow & go pull it and shoot the next from a different angle or distance, or use multiple targets.... You'll improve your overall skill level much more shooting one arrow at a time.

Shooting at the same backyard target over and over can lead to a stale concentration level. I have been a victim of that.  Needing to make that first arrow count is a completely different mental state than mindlessly dumping a quiver load of arrows into a target that you cannot miss. My form needs to function cleanly when I am pumped and alert, anything less and I can have terribly sloppy form. I have also found that if I take lots of practice shots at 25 yards from varied angles and positions, doing the same from 35 yards is not as traumatic. I have less than a 27" draw with my longbows so I will never have a really fast arrow, but when the majority of my shots are shot under 20  yards, those 35 yard shots seem like a mile and the lob of my arrows is way more than I like.