Snufer, here's my take on target panic: target panic is just a form of fear/anxiety, and comes directly from focusing on results, rather than process. If you had absolutely no ego (impossible), you wouldn't have target panic, because you would not be concerned with the result of the shot, or what someone thought about it. I shot many, many years of very serious target archery w/ compounds, and was very good, but anxiety about the result often kept me from reaching my potential. Shooting 3-D, I often could not execute a good shot because I had so much doubt about the distance, and I dreaded the possible outcome of the shot if I had misjudged it. At these times, I never made a good shot, even if I had the distance pegged, because of my fear of the possible negative result. On the other hand, in field, when I positively knew the distance, I could always execute a good shot, unless someone told me I was running up a good score, and then I would focus on the possiblility of screwing up my score, instead of executing the shot. You have to lose your expectations about outcome to defeat target panic, simple as that. If, anywhere in your mind, you had no expectations, you would be able to shoot a good shot. First, you need to quit shooting at any kind of target for a while; in fact, it's best if you shoot point blank at a big bag with your eyes closed, using one arrow only. You need to focus only on the process of shooting a shot, with no worries about results. It is best if you can get a really light bow to shoot for a while; I mean really light, like less than 40lbs, so you don't have to struggle at all to draw, anchor, and keep your hand/arm relaxed through the shot. When you can stand there and shoot good shots (full draw, solid anchor for a couple of seconds, relaxed release) for a solid week with no rigors, plucks, hiccups, etc., you can open your eyes. When you can do the same with your eyes open (sounds trivial, but trust me, it ain't the same), then you can start shooting at 5 yards on a big, empty bag or bale, with absolutely no aiming marks. You can progress back accordingly, but the backstop needs to get bigger the farther you go so that you have absolutely no need to aim in order to hit the backstop; you aren't ready to aim yet. When you can get to a reasonable distance, say 20 yards, and continue to shoot good shots (where the arrow goes does not matter, and at no time must you ever concern yourself with where it goes; if you find this happening, go back to step one), you can then move back to 5 yards, put a huge target on the backstop, and start aiming. However, the focus must always be on execution, rather than result; if you execute the shot, they will start going where you want them to. Continue this process back to 20, then go back to 5, smaller target, etc., until you can shoot good shots at any target, any distance. Any time you ever find yourself worried about results, go back to the point blank shooting for a while. This reads like a dissertation, I know, I'm an English major, can't help it, but from long experience I know this works. Target panic is much, much worse with compounds, scopes, very small targets, and the resulting sight movement that comes with it than it can ever be with stickbows. My last piece of advice would be to avoid ever going back to a bow weight that you cannot positively draw to anchor and hold for a couple of seconds without strain; that's a quick path back to target panic. This is just my opinion, but has its foundation in many years of dealing with it and helping others deal with it while shooting in some high expectation situations. Good luck, Paul.
Topic: Hypnotism For Target Panic? (Read 1597 times)
