I can't seem to find my stride.

[Matthew Bolton]

Over the past two days I have been all over the place in my shooting. I haven't changed anything but I just can't seem to drive tacks. I'm constantly off by around 2-3 inches and it is killing my confidence and I can't figure out whats going on.

What can I do to bring back my confidence?

[khardrunner]

blank bale for a week or so. no targets.

[BobCo 1965]

Blank bale is good, but sometimes too much of it can be a detriment, especially a week at a time. Basically, you have no accuracy reference if something else goes out, and you could be reinforcing an incorrect form problem without knowing it (no reference to point it out). I like blank bale before and after practice and sometimes a whole practice. But, personally, I’d think twice before going out and shooting a whole week of it.

Back to the original question. Maybe think of some walk back practice. You said build your confidence. So start up close where you know you will be accurate. Then gradually start moving back. If something goes off, then move back up. Maybe mix in some blank, blink bale shooting as mentioned.

[gringol]

This might sound like a contradiction, but you might be trying too hard.  My best shooting occurs when I forget about my form and just focus on the spot I want to hit.  I think this works because form is more or less subconscious once established and when you think about it during the shot you may actually be changing something.

Blank bale and walk-back practice are good ideas as well.

[Matthew Bolton]

Well I managed to fix it! I realized that when I shoot split fingered I pull my elbow up and out when I shoot which makes me jerk on the shot. Today I decided to go back to three under and that fixed it. My release is clean and my form stays in line.

[njloco]

Do you use a glove ?

[moebow]

Matthew,

 At the risk of starting an argument, which is NOT at all my intent.  Your form should NOT change changing from 3 under to split or vice- versa.  Split and 3 under are just accommodations for aiming, not for form and release issues.  If your form changes (elbow position or what ever) simply by changing your hand position by the width of one finger, something else is going on IMHO.

Arne

[Matthew Bolton]

Well it was my release that changed. I adapted my shooting from holding at full draw which made me pluck the string to slow drawing through my entire draw cycle. That eased up my release and now I'm center punching the center on my first shots. Thanks for all the help guys!

[Matthew Bolton]

For clarification sake my elbow hiking up was just some weird thing that started happening that I worked through. I went back to split with a glove and bent more into my cant if that makes any sense.

[njloco]

It makes perfect sense, as your supposed to bend into your cant once it goes beyond a simple neck cant.