Target Panic! 100% Cure Rate - Let's Put it to the Test

[J-KID]

It took me a couple years to figure out target panic and come up with an effective treatment.  I think about these mental aspects often, even though I don't compete, so we'll have to wait and see.

I just finished a book, "Parameters of the Soul: Toward a Christian Psychology" and am working on getting endorsements and finding a publisher.  I'm getting the urge to start something else and I've always wanted to write a simple book on dog training.

My sports psychology attention has shifted over the past few years to understanding "the zone" and trying to figure out if there is a way to enter the zone at will.  I've personally experienced it on a few occasions and couldn't miss when I was in it.  It sounds like an impossible task but so did understanding and effectively treating target panic.  Maybe we'll start another thread asking for others experience with the zone.

[TradPaul]

Jay, thought i would let you know how my efforts have gone.

  Well i gotta say that i didnt think that it would start working in the first session, but it did that and more in the first 40 minutes. I went through the phases as you had told them to me...let me stop here and explain something....
   When i shoot at a target i get really anxious and just cant seem to hold that dang anchor to save my life unless i form a claw with my fingers which then results in a bad release and even then i cant hold it without flinching BAD. Well after going through the 1-4 phases that you laid out by the end i was having no anxious feeling of having to let go, i felt in control. i flinched a few time here and there but when i did, i didnt let go...it was like "flinch" ok there it went now it's time to focus on the target....Hold.....release. Now when i approach the target, at what ever distance, i can jump right in and do the " Move To and Away Drill (add release)" that puts me in the frame of mind that i need to be in, then after i do that a few times i can then just go right to anchor focus on the target and release naturally. So anyway i know i was kinda rambling, So thank you so much for taking the time to help, cant thank you enough.


P.

[J-KID]

That's good news Paul.  It's interesting that all you needed was to be "talked" through it, kind of.  Some people just want a little more attention than others!  Keep it up and I bet you will see your overall accuracy begin to improve beyond what it ever has been.  The drills not only beat tp, they increase overall control.  I do them all the time and I've never had tp.

[BLACK WOLF]

                 

Jay,

I wanna thank you for writing that book. I believe it's one of the best archery books out there. I know it's helped me personally.

     

Ray  

[TradPaul]

I think Explained would be a better way to put it, trust me, my shooting buddies have been trying to talk me into it for some time now  :D   Once i knew the reason for the drills and what associations my brain was making to cause TP it was like a light switch. Training is good, but training smart is best. Thanks again Jay.


P.

[Jimbow39]

Jay,
i hope you can help me. I know I have TP. I've had it for years and can't beat it. It is so bad now that I cannot reach full draw. I don't shoot the arrow early in my draw, but during my draw, when my thumb hits my chin, I freeze. I stand there at a little more than half draw, start shaking and cannot finish my draw. I end up shooting from this half draw position. I've been shooting for over fourty years and have had the problem for at least ten years in one form or another. I'm getting desertae. I love archery but it isn't as much fun anymore. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
JIM - [email protected]

[J-KID]

Jim - I'll email you some info and we'll get you shooting good again.

[Gordy]

Nice to see this thread alive and well.  After some 'minor' emergency heart surgery at the end of 08' and lengthy road back to normalcy, I'm looking forward to reading through "the book" again, to revisit my true demons.  

Always good stuff.  Thanks Jay,  I know I can get back to shooting my heavy bows in time .... love the book.

[bro-n-arrow]

I have suffered with TP for 55 years or more. I think that I have read everything and tried everthing,all to no avail.Would love to be cured , but have lost all hope of that. I have not tried hypnosis yet! Might be willing to try almost anything legal. Len

[twigflicker]

Leonard,

Give Jay's book a try... I know the ideas he teaches helped me tremendously... when they were done as directed... It's a cheap try..

I bought the original book from Jay years ago... he teaches where I went to school and I had taken some kids to visit... so I got to buy direct from him... then when he came out with the revised version with the target panic info... had to get it also... I'd suffered silently for years and finally decided to do something about it...

Jonathan

PS  I've been cheating lately... using a clicker as I wasn't taking the time to do the drills that Jay recommends... turkey season over... I'll be getting the book back out...

[Ostrorogi]

You, you and you come with me, rest of you panic!
Joke.
Why to panic. There is no target panic in my head, there is only decision in your mind that you will not hit the target or animal before you shoot. If you think like that than you allready decided that you will not hit the target...

[LongStick64]

For me the best thing about Jay's book is not that it helped with my bout with TP but with solidifying my form. I used his drills to help with focus and develop a smooth liquid form. Even though I don't have any problems with my shot these days, I still do the drills even when I head to the woods I warm up that way.

[Jimbow39]

Jay,
I've been working on what you sent me. Shot at a shot with a 34 pound bow yesterday. Still have problems with targets further than 15 yards. Will keep working on what you sent me. I was at least able to hit my anchor. JIM

[kbaamigo]

I have had problems for several years after a selfbow gave out on me. I took Jay's instructions and a lighter bow out this weekend and all I can say is WOW! After 30-45 minutes I was stump shooting with my old form without flinches or jerked releases. Sun afternoon I picked up my hunting bow repeated the session with the same results. My only problem was sore wrists this AM from too much holding and shooting but man did I have fun again!
 All I needed to do was re-progam my brain and Jay's simple progaram was amazing!
Thanks Jay,I owe you big time!
Kent

[wulf]

All I can say is wow!  I had NO idea so many others suffer this malady Target Panic.  I love my archery so much I would never quit but TP has controlled and frustrated me so long I figured it would be with me until death.
I read every post which is 11 pages long because I had to make sure that Mr Kidwell and his techniques weren't too good to be true!  I've come to the conclusion that he and his techniques are for real and just ordered his book.  Wishing everyone here goodluck!

[Flingblade]

I bought Jay's book a couple months ago and have had some success with the exercises; however I still have trouble at 20 yards and further.  I am going to try the exercises at longer ranges and try to come back to 20 to see how that works.  I will say I have been able to hit anchor and hold at 20-30 yards and was never able to do that before.  One question I have is do you ever release while doing the figure 8's or do you only release when not doing the exercises.

[J-KID]

Gary,
Once you are able to hold and hit anchor you should shoot a few arrows.  You can begin with a drill then shoot, or shoot as you normally do.  If you start to feel a little premature release or hold coming on do another drill or two then shoot a few arrows.  The idea is to do more drills and less shooting in the beginning and gradually get to where you do more shooting and fewer drills.  That process may take place in a single practice session or over the course of a week depending on your specific tendencies.  You should get to a point where you shoot and drill at a 10 to 1 ratio even if you no longer feel the need for the drills.  A few drills a day keeps the TP away.

[Flingblade]

Thanks for the clarification Jay!  I have been very surprised at how quickly I have been able to make progress because in my opinion my TP was deeply ingrained over many years.  My confidence is improving to the point where I am now going to shoot with the trad league at the local pro shop; something I never wanted to do before because of the TP.  At first I was focused on the drills and would forget to imagine my "button" on the target, but the last few times I have been shooting the button and have also noticed an improvement in accuracy.  The better the visualization of the button the better the shot.  I will definitely recommend your book to anyone battling TP!  Thanks again!

[J-KID]

Gary,
You did all the hard work.  I just pointed you in the right direction.

Shooting with your trad league will be excellent.  If you feel any doubts sneaking in, do a drill, get that button on the target and show them how it's done.  There is hope for all those suffering from tp and you are proof of that.

[Gene R]

Jay, thanks for taking the time to help me on my target panic problems. I will work on what you have advised. It is very kind of you to help. Thanks again. Gene