My battle with TP

[LongStick64]

I used to suffer from a type of TP where I couldn't get to a solid anchor and it was caused because I was being triggered by the sight picture.
Thankfully after watching every dvd, read books and post, tried everything...no luck. Until a FITA shooter with super solid credentials gave me a drill. Get close, 5 yards, and when you draw your bow, watch the arrow at your bow/arrow rest until you reach anchor. Then shift your focus to the target, you will have to adjust and move to the target. It will feel weird at first, 50 shots later and you will get the hang of it.
After awhile you'll notice that getting to anchor is no longer a problem. Next you need to work on moving into your bullseye and executing the shot. I move into the bullseye, tell myself I'm "On" and then make sure I remain strong on follow through. Once you get the hang of it, move back a few yards till you get as far back as you want to go. Basically you are removing the trigger to fire at the sight picture. Along the way you build solid form, solid form muscle memory, and a fine taste of leather in your mouth. And most of all you begin to build a solid platform to explore other parts of your shot.

Short disclaimer, I'm not a Pro, not trying to sell anything, just trying to give back to those you want try something that might work for them.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Thanks for posting this longstick, I will give it a go. Im getting close to keeping this tp at bay. If I get rid of it I hope it never shows it's ugly face again.

[JGRAHAM]

I'm also working on curing my TP.  I'm ok at ten yards by myself but when I'm at the range with the guys then I lose it.  Still working on it. Thanks for the post.

[xia_emperor]

I used a clicker and that fixed my TP. good luck to everyone.

[Jake Diebolt]

I set myself to five yards, and shot and shot and shot...

It took me two months, but I had it really bad. I couldn't even get the bow past 3/4 draw before I released. I focused all of my thought on getting the string farther back with each arrow, even if it was only a half inch.

I also found a secondary anchor point worked for me... I drew the bow with my thumb sticking straight up, and instead of drawing all the way back, I would set the thumb at the front of my temple. Not quite full draw, but I could hold for a few seconds and shoot. Then I would try and draw it back just a little more to the corner of my mouth before the bow went off.

Eventually one day, after shooting hundreds of arrow, My hand slid right back into my anchor point and I could shoot again.  

[Flingblade]

Thanks Longstick.  I'm going to give this a try.  I've been able to manage TP for a year now, but had it so bad for awhile I will try any drill to keep it at bay for good.  My only issue currently is maintaining good control with shots on game.

[NJWoodsman]

This sounds like a good technique to try. I'm dealing with this exact issue, but it's intermittent. It's worse on unfamiliar or longer distance targets, but not a problem close or on the bale.

[LongStick64]

It's about building confidence that you can reach anchor. You should be able after awhile to transition into your normal shot.
So for me it was these steps.

1. remove the trigger
2. build the anchor confidence and feel
3. control the shot through the follow through
4. create a new trigger

[Don Stokes]

TP? My favorite currently is Charmin Ultra Soft.

I guess I've never had full-blown target panic, but when I have trouble reaching anchor, a few shots with eyes closed until I reach anchor and hold for a second seems to work. I can't hit diddly that way, though.

[ron w]

My target panic is a bit different, When I get to full draw I can't get on target.If I'm above I can't get the bow down to the right sight picture.If I'm to the left or right I can't get to where I have to be. When I try to work it out I then start to short draw and pre-release. I have read every thing ,watched videos and I still have issues.......any ideas.

[NJWoodsman]

Longstick, I tried this technique last night, it worked great. Seldom do you find 100 % instant success with anything, especially in archery!

[LongStick64]

Good for you NJWoodsman, after a few sessions try shooting normally and see how you do.

My understanding of TP is the solution you choose has to be based on what is the contributing factor that causes the TP. Otherwise solutions may help you shoot decently but not really fixing the problem.

For example, many choose to solve the problem with a clicker. I have nothing against people using them, for many they really work. For some they become a slave to the click. they never gain control of the shot. If you ask them to hold the shot 2 seconds after the clicker clicks, they can't. So it becomes clear that the clicker is not their solution.
Identify what is causing the problem.
Ron W from what you are saying it's a version of TP that is common, freezing off the target. Have you tried blind bale work traansition to blank bale and then slowly introducting a spot. For the blind bale get up close, keep your eyes closed thoughtout the shot. At first get a feel for your form, relax into it, feel the control you have. shoot a few sessions just like this. Next progress to a blank bale, eyes open. This is the hard part, we are so trained to pick a spot that we are even doing it on a blank bale. Try shooting a large black cardboad face, remember no aiming just get to anchor and feel it. Once you feel ready for targets, I use spots, and I place a few of them on the target and take only one shot at each, and I even move them around after a few shots.

[ron w]

I have tried that blind bale deal. I have no problem coming to anchor thinking myself thru the shot and releasing. The problem comes when there is something that I want to hit. I can draw on anything that I don't want to shoot, the TV, the tire on my wife's car or the neighbors cat. It's when I want to actually shoot at something that there's an issue.

[Cecil]

ron w I had the same problems. if I would get to anchor I couldnt get on the target. if I tryed drawing on the target I couldnt get to anchor. I read and tryed every thing. masters of the barebow three has the best cure for tp that I have found. shot sequince will help. get up close draw, anchor, hold ,hold, then start your back tention. then just keep the back tention going till the bow just goes off. say the steps to your self every shot. dont fill right at first but after a few days it will fall in place. I dont worry about hitting the target but judge my shot by how well I shot it.

[ron w]

I have done that..... when you want to get "ON" target that does not help! I can do the blind bale thing all day long it doesn't address the problem getting on target!

[xia_emperor]

I use the clicker to tell me that I am at full draw.  I don't shoot when I hear the click. Rather I hear the click and I know I am at anchor. I use it like a second anchor point. I focus on the target and then expand until the shot happens. Before the clicker I could not get to full draw and I was flinging arrows all over the place. As I drew the arrow back I focus on the target and the shot would happen no matter what I did. The clicker took my mind off of the target. Somehow it worked for me.

[LongStick64]

Sounds like you have it working out perfectly for you Xia, good work.

[LongStick64]

Ron

Have you tried any of the Kidwell drills and if you have tried the drill where you move around the target in a figure eight pattern passing over the bullseye, what happens ?

[ron w]

I have done the drills and in fact just had a bunch of PM's with Jay about my problems. The figure eight or circling the bull seems to work but it seems to be a short term fix. It also dosen't seem the lend it's self to a hunting situation very well. I will say it does help some.

[Don Stokes]

A break from shooting for a while might help. It's easy to reinforce bad habits when you shoot too often, and a break can help your mental computer to reset. When you resume shooting, start with the basics again and try to reprogram yourself that way.

Dan Quillian used to say that it's better to shoot just one shot well every day than 100 shots poorly, or words to that effect. In other words, you can try too hard.