target panic

[ChuckC]

Whose got it.  What is it ?

It was stated by many the it is a fear of missing.  Maybe in some cases, but I think it is way more complicated than that.  

In fact, I think it has little to do with fear of anything but rather your brain taking over.

ChuckC

I've got it, and been fight'n the darn stuff for 25 years--the wrong way.  

What is it?  I don't know, but it's bad, very bad stuff.  I started shooting left-handed.  Funny, the stuff isn't on the left side, and since I know what it feels like, I've been able to stay ahead of it.

I "think" it's a breakdown, or short circuit of your form.  It appears, in my case, to be a collapse.  

If you can pull through your shot, you can't have the stuff.  It's crazy.

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Hi...My name is Ryan and I'm a TP'er! I think I'm genetically flawed as my father has it, and so did my grandfather. It's kinda like God forgot to give us that part of our brains!

For me, with Trad. bows, it's getting to full draw without "locking up" before I get there, or "snap" shooting prior to full draw. With wheel bows it was more of a not being able to hold my pin on target without anxiety or wanting to let go.

I shoot a "clicker" to substitute for my lack of control. (how pathetic it is that my control is put into a piece of tin that clicks) I can also use a form of stimulus "clicker" in that I draw until my fletching touches my nose and that's what tells me to release.

I'm very happy with my shooting now but still have TP. It's almost become like some of my old girlfriends....I've kinda got used to it even though I've tried everything to get rid of it!!

[Kenneth]

Originally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
Hi...My name is Ryan and I'm a TP'er! I think I'm genetically flawed as my father has it, and so did my grandfather. It's kinda like God forgot to give us that part of our brains!

For me, with Trad. bows, it's getting to full draw without "locking up" before I get there, or "snap" shooting prior to full draw. With wheel bows it was more of a not being able to hold my pin on target without anxiety or wanting to let go.

I shoot a "clicker" to substitute for my lack of control. (how pathetic it is that my control is put into a piece of tin that clicks) I can also use a form of stimulus "clicker" in that I draw until my fletching touches my nose and that's what tells me to release.

I'm very happy with my shooting now but still have TP. It's almost become like some of my old girlfriends....I've kinda got used to it even though I've tried everything to get rid of it!!

Ryan, you must be my long lost twin!  That is my exact same symptoms.  I've dropped down in poundage and have been trying to reestablish an anchor with my thumb knuckle on the back ear instead of the feather in the corner of my mouth.  Dropping the poundage and practicing holding on target as long as possible has helped me a lot but I still have to concentrate real hard or I'll short draw or snap shoot as soon as I reach anchor when I know that I'm actually going to shoot.  I have also thought about getting a lightweight left hand bow and training with it so that I have a backup is something goes wrong on the other side.

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Oh yeah.... I've heard drinking helps!

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Chuck,

We could have talked for hours about this after the rabbit hunt.

[doowop]

I had "it" for years. Switched to lefty and never looked back. I am shooting better than I ever have by concentrating on every, every shot. My trigger to shoot used to be when I reached the corner of my mouth. Now I set my bow arm, find anchor, set my sight picture, and kick in my back muscles. My back tension is now my trigger.

[Cecil]

It is bad stuff probably the number one thing or reason why people quit shooting.I have it my self have tryed alot of things but still have it.

[ChuckC]

we can some time.  over a beverage or something.

I have been struggling for..... over 20 years, maybe 25 years.   I shoot pretty well at my range either way, but when I get it all right, I typically don't miss, which is why my "not fear of missing" statement.  

If I look at the arrow tip, or anything EXCEPT my target, I can pull and anchor and hold my 83 pound longbow (its a workout bow).  If I look intently at my target and something touches my face, on the worst days the arrow is gone.  That something could be my elbow,  brain don't care.

I have been taking RoD J's lessons in video III pretty seriously and changed up my shooting style, nearly totally.  It is a constant struggle but i am getting it back and anchoring, if only briefly.

Tough stuff.
ChuckC

[mshunter]

Glad to see I am not the only one with this problem!!  Sorry, but misery loves company!  I do not have a problem until a deer is my target.  For some reason I spend more time worrying about whether or not they will see me draw or if there is a clear lane to shoot or whatever else and next thing I know I have shot either over or under my left and right is ok???  Any help would be appreciated, it gets very frustrating!  On the 3d in the back yard out to 20 yds is not a problem but put fur on it and it better be 5???
thanks for letting me vent and not feel alone.
nat

[Roy from Pa]

I had it bad for years when I used the tip of the arrow as my front sight. If I got anywhere close to the bull or spot, I'd just let got of the string. After switching over to just staring at the spot, instead of aiming, it went away. Now I can switch back and forth and use the arrow tip as a sight, and the panic is gone.

[swamp donkey]

Its your subconsious brain making your decisions. For some its not being able to come to full draw without their hand opening, for some its freezing just "OFF" the bullseye/kill. You can switch to left handed but you'll probably get it again since its a mental thing n not physical. I beat mine by using a clicker, which pretty much gave me instant control, for about 6 months. Then I switched to a mental clicker. I count 3 in my head and start my pull thru, when my mind says 3 I release. I've been doing that for about a year and the TP seems to be under control. I don't need to count any more while hunting but I still do unless its a fast shot.

[LongStick64]

For years I thought I had some form of TP. I could never settle down at anchor or at least feel solid at anchor. After watching MBB 3, it was something that Larry Yien said about TP might be actually be some form issue. So I setup the video camera and started to work on some issues. For me it had to do with not really getting to a full draw. I was focusing too much on getting my draw hand to my face, that I wasn't expanding enough. I started to concentrate on my drawing elbow, letting the drawing elbow lead the way. Worked miracles for my form. Now I get a solid anchor and full extension, and of course no TP. So you may want to work on your form in front of a mirror or a video camera, or a friend and see if it could be possible that your form may not be helping you complete your shot. Good luck.

[limbow]

For me, what Longstick64 said!!!!!!!!

[MercilessMing]

Same here.  If I focus on the drawing elbow then I have a full extansion and arrow goes where I look.  The other thing helps me is to stare at the target all the time and follow through.  Sometimes I took my eyes away from target right before releasing and arrow went the other way I look.  By just staring at the target even after release makes the follow through right.

[muley40]

I came down with it in 1978 and have been fighting on off ever since, when it gets bad I go back to the clicker, you never cure it, you learn to adapt,

[JF]

Try swiching hand, worked for me .John

[lb55]

Never had it when I didnt believe in it, now that I do it's always knocking on my door and showing up unexpectedly, very rude !! do not give in to it and talk your self out of making the shot!! Funny how it never shows up hunting or stump shooting.
Ted

[reddogge]

I don't have it or ever had it but I sympathize with those that do.  Some of my friends have it and I agonize for them.

My problem was an occaisional jerked release sending the arrow wide right or left so maybe it was a form of it.  To solve it I used my 30# target bow, worked on alignment and getting my shoulders and feet squared, my forearm into a straight line and my releases got cleaner.  No more jerked shots.

Would working with a lighweight bow help target panic?  Just asking.  Holding a 30# bow is a lot easier to do than an 83# bow.

[Earthdog]

I've had it to the degree that I would collapse or flinch slightly on release,,or instead of releasing.
I realised it was when I put to much pressure on myself to make that all important shot.
So now I've taught myself to approach the shot in a less intense manner,keep thinking positive thoughts,and I now tell myself to do the right things,I don't tell myself not do the wrong things.
Just a small mind set change but it works for me.