Bridge Program

[Sirius Black]

This week I've started the program by Rod Jenkins in MBB3, 5 yards from target, then moving back in 2 1/2 yard increments. I'm at 5 yards and it's going fine, but I wonder if it's okay to still go roving maybe once a week? Would this set me back in my training at all? Is anyone doing Rod's Bridge Program, or have done it? Thanks!  

[lpcjon2]

I have no knowledge of the program, but I commend you on making an effort to better your shooting.

[moebow]

Sirius,  

The whole idea of Rod's bridge program is to grove in your form with "perfect" shots.  When at a given distance you make a less than perfect shot, you are supposed to go back to the beginning distance.  The "bridge" is a really good way to improve your shooting but most instructors/coaches will tell you that shooting at a given target (that you want to hit) will set you back.

The recommendation would be to not shoot at a target during the bridge program.  You may want to email Rod and ask that question, he will give you good advice as to when to start really shooting at a target when using his approach.

[Lechwe]

Rod recommends not doing that until you have completed the bridging portion. Speaking from experience it will just cause you problems. Stick to the program, you are almost there now.

[Sirius Black]

Thanks everyone!  

[kenn1320]

Im just starting the bridge program and Rod answered my question on another site. He said you want to "groove" your shot in on the blank bale for about 3wks. Quality shots is what your after, not quantity. After that period, then you go to the 5yds and when you can execute every shot(dvd says 60shots) then you step back in 2.5yd increments. As Moe pointed out, if at anytime you have a shot that isnt the same as the one you practiced, finish that session on the blank bale. It wasnt clear to me if you start over at 5yds on the next session, or at the same yardage you left off on?

[AllenR]

I'm not sure about Rod's program, but Len Cardinale recommends that if you have a "less than", you stop shooting for the day.  Then the next day, go back to the bale for at least week to get the problem corrected and develop trust in that part of your form.

For most this is a bit too disciplined.  Also, you have to know exactly how each and every part of your form is supposed to operate.  If you can do it, you will make progress.

One way to look at the bridge is as a process of finding what it is about your form you don't completely trust.  Each step back adds just a little bit of pressure.  The resulting less than's are the things that you don't trust.  

It takes repetition on the bale to develop the necessary trust.

It's much better if you don't go stump shooting or shooting at any other target.  However, IF you can accept your shot as it is and not try to change things, it usually doesn't do too much damage.  It will delay your progress.

Hope this helps,
Allen

[Bowwild]

String Bow practice.  Target panic is caused by missing for no apparent reason and then feeling bad about it. Your mind then tries to interrupt what you know to be good form to provide you an excuse for missing.

[cjgregory]

Sirus.  Just saw Rod yesterday.  HIs take is that you follow through with the Bridge Program as it is.  Of course, this is after you have drilled your form for a minimum of 21 days at the blank bale with no target.

Remember, to get your form into your self-concious takes 21 days.  This is also the time that Larry Bassam quotes in "With winning in mind".

"The shot sequence is more important than the arrows impact."

[cjgregory]

Allen, Rod uses Len Cardinales Bridge.  Straight out gives him credit for it too.

Rod went through the Bridge to become world class.

The key you mentioned is that one needs to understand each aspect of thier form.  Without instruction or a coach this would be a mind crushing challenge.  Knowing what good form "FEELS" like would be what the instructor like Rod Jenkins or a good coach would get someone too.  If you don't know what it feels like its virtually impossible to get back to what it feels like...one has never been there.

A perfect hit may have absolutely nothing to do with form.  The question remains...Can you do it 90% of the time or even a 100% of the time?

[McDave]

I've taken classes from Rod, and would recommend them to anyone who is considering taking a class.

As far as the bridge program is concerned, however, I believe that it would be an exercise in futility for me unless I had regular access to a coach.  The reason is that errors creep into my form that I don't notice, and I would imagine that I would continue to incorporate those errors into my form as I shot into the blank bale unless someone pointed them out to me.  So after a while, I would just be practicing my errors.

When I'm shooting into a target, I can see the error as soon as it happens, and I've been shooting long enough now that I can usually identify what I did to cause it and correct it.  If it persists, I find that I can benefit from a session on a blank bale because I can focus on solving that particular problem without worrying about anything else.

If blank bale practice and the bridge program works for some people, and I'm sure it does, then that's what they ought to do.  I just haven't figured out in my own mind how to be sure that I don't just end up practicing my own errors.

Ideally, I would have access to a coach who would give me a tune-up from time to time.  Since I don't, I need instant feedback when I make an error, which I don't feel that I can get when I'm shooting into a blank bale, unless I do something really obvious like pluck the string or drop my bow on the followthrough.

If anyone has any ideas on how to get better feedback from the blank bale than I'm getting, I would like to hear how to do it.

[Sirius Black]

Thanks CJ, everyone! McDave, you have a good point too. Anyone with more input, please keep it coming.

[Greg Skinner]

Yes, CJ and McDave, that has been the exact problem I have experienced with the blank bale without a coach standing there watching me shoot - I can't know that I am practicing with perfect form because I have no feedback telling me if and when I am doing something wrong.  The only way I have of knowing if it is a good shot is if I hit the target I intend to hit - i.e. feedback.

"A perfect hit may have absolutely nothing to do with form. The question remains...Can you do it 90% of the time or even a 100% of the time?"

CJ, that sums up my problem exactly.  Most of the time if I focus on form and do it correctly, the shot goes where I want - but not 90% of the time.  Probably closer to 60%; and most of the time I know what I did wrong to miss.

The biggest problem for me is just lack of consistency - and it's all mental.  I make enough good shots using correct form that I know it is not happenstance or luck; I know what it feels like.  I know how to make a good shot if I can get the mental focus to do it, but, for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to drill one arrow after another into a 4" group at 20 yards the way I see others demonstrate on this and other sites.

The other problem I have is lack of consistency from one day to the next. It feels as though I have to re-learn the process every day that I go out for a shooting session - no matter how hard I try to ingrain the feeling when I am shooting well and without any conscious thought.  I can see where the blank bale work would help to in-grain the shot, but somehow it doesn't seem to work for me.

Don't know that this helps anyone else, but it feels good to vent.

[cjgregory]

Oh I understand Greg.  To change that you would have to blank bale 21 days in a row.  During that time NO TAGETS.  In fact if you have a big target just shoot with your eyes closed.  I have learned that the feedback from a shot is the worse possible feedback during the 21 days.