STUCK

[Bow Bum]

Has anyone ever been stuck with their shooting?

After last year, and a lost deer (10 yards). I've really been trying to get my grouping down to consistent sub 6" groups at 20 yards.

Well...There seems to be some invisible barrier. I've been stuck at 10 yards on a day to day basis for more or less over a year. Some days I'm good to 25 and can touch arrows, other days I just give up and stop doing whatever it is that I'm doing wrong. I can't really determine what it is that I'm doing wrong on the bad days and right on the good days. I know I struggle with my grip and follow through with a mech bow, and suspect that's the case with my recurve. I'm frustrated because I'm unable to determine what it is I'm doing wrong and correct it like I can with the wheels. Its a bummer for me since the recurve problem distances are at my hunting yardage. the wheel problems do not become evident until 30 yards, which is past my chosen yardage limitation.

I really want to hunt this fall with my/a recurve.  u but really want to be able to shoot a tight 20 yards group almost at will so I can feel good about my 15 yard limitation.

Any Ideas, or maybe some help near the Hamilton MI area?

Sorry for rambling.

Brian

[bofish-IL]

You might contact Moebow on here he is an instructor and has helped me on line with my shooting.

I think he is even from your state. He also has several instruction videos on u-tube

[mgf]

IMO, the first thing to do is put the accuracy expectation into perspective.

I don't want to start an argument by mentioning an NFAA 300 round but the target and the numbers makes a good measure.

If you can hold a 6" group over 60 arrows at 20 yards (we're talking hunting so just make it 60 consecutive shots with no time requirement), that puts all your shots within the 4 ring. You're going to score a 270 if only half of those make the 5 ring. I think you're more likely to score a 180 or so if you can really hold that 6 inch group.

That's pretty good shooting anywhere you go and there aren't many who can beat it.

To add more perspective I think Dewayne Martin who shoots 290's with his target bow said he shoots 270's or 280's with his hunting bow...a 6 inch group?

The point is that a REAL 6" group over a significant number of arrows is REALLY good shooting. We all get a super tight impressive group once in a while. During my last 300 round I put 3 consecutive shots in the 'X' but that doesn't mean that I can hold a 1.5" group at 20 yards just because I did it with 3 arrows. LOL but I still only finished with a 265 which is NOT holding a 6" group...I had some 3's in there which is outside of that 6 inches.

[Bladepeek]

We all want to improve, but mgf makes a good point.

When I was a pistol competitor I learned (eventually) that it isn't the guy who shoots the most "10"s that wins. It's the guy who doesn't shoot any "8"s (or worse). Once you have the basics down pat, it's all mental. Just never turn loose a bad shot - don't worry about making the perfect shot.

I'll bet on those "good" days, the arrows go in touching because you are being very consistent in your form. On the "bad" days, you are probably struggling with some form issue that isn't letting you relax and do things right. I have a hunch my "bad" days are worse than yours.

Just make sure you don't practice bad habits when things are not falling in place just right. And take some videos. Arne (moebow) can spot things most of us would never notice in our own shooting. Once he points out a problem area, you can sit back and watch your videos when things go right and when they go horribly wrong. Then you work on that issue that is making things go wrong.

[Green]

Spending money on equipment is great.  Spending your money and your time on/with a coach is the best investment in your shooting you'll ever make.

As was said above, Arne Moe is an excellent source of internet coaching help.....he got me on the path to great form about 4 years ago.  A weekend with Rod Jenkins took what Arne taught me and put it into perspective and practice.  Terry Green is always willing to help shooters as well.  

If you'll take some good quality video of yourself shooting from the side, rear/above, and from the front, these guys as well as McDave will generally be able to help you in taking that next step up the ladder.

[Todd Cook]

Lots of folks will help with form, style, technique, and those are all important.

But for me, when my shooting gets in a rut, it's almost always concentration/ follow through. When I can watch the arrow all the way to the target, I usually hit pretty close.