Switching to lefty to beat target panic

[Greg Dearth]

I am looking for opinions/advice on your thoughts of switching from right handed to left handed in order to over come target panic. I am especially interested to hear from those who have done this.

Hi Greg,

Remember everything Rod Jenkins taught you.  Follow your shot sequence on EVERY shot, don't deviate from it.  

Start with a light bow. You absolutely MUST over power the bow and NEVER shoot any weight that you can't completely control.

Did I mention that you MUST concentrate on the process (shot sequence) and never be concerned with result (where the arrow goes).

The first will take care of the last.    

[McDave]

Greg,

There have been a few people posting here who have switched from RH to LH in order to cure target panic.  At least one person has reported that his target panic has not returned in many months (years?).  Maybe he will see this and post.

Maybe switching to LH will give you a permanent, or at least a long-term cure.  Maybe not.  If you are left eye dominant, you should probably give it a try; it can't hurt anything.  OTOH, if you are right-eye dominant, it might cause you to shoot worse than you can RH.  Even then, I would say give it a try, because being able to shoot LH when you want to is a valuable thing to learn.  I shoot LH a little bit just about every day, just because I think it is good for the overall health and symmetry of my body.

There is a funny thing that usually happens when someone is looking for a cure for target panic.  Almost everything you try will work, for a while, because anything different that takes your mind off target panic will make it go away until you get used to whatever it was that you changed.  I assume that applies to LH shooting too.  I'm not saying it's not a permanent cure for some people, just that there are temporary cures for everybody.  Jim Ploen once said that folding up a dollar bill and putting it in your shoe under your left heel would cure target panic....for one shot.

I think the training regimen Jim Castro wrote about above has merit.  The one I wrote about in another post works for me.  Jay Kidwell's and Joel Turner's methods work for many people.  I have known many people with target panic, and I have never personally known anyone who couldn't lick it if they tried enough things.  Maybe not permanently, but for a long time.

[Greg Dearth]

Thanks for your input guys. I plan on trying it by starting on a blank/blind bale to mostly just get used to the feel of the shot. Then basically follow Rod Jenkins instructions from there. If anyone else has any other thoughts or inputs , fire away. McDave, I'm not sure if it will be a permanent fix or not , time will tell.

[YosemiteSam]

I am doing this.  But I'm not sure there is a cure for target panic.  It's more of a management issue.  Think cancer, not chicken pox.

I don't really have a dominant eye so I can shoot either hand with, what I see, just a mirror image of my sight picture.  I also bought  a left-handed riser for my bow so I can have fully-interchangeable parts.  I usually have both bows strung and will shoot each of them throughout the week.

At first, I had to really focus on each step of the shot.  Since nothing was automatic, I could shoot without anticipating the shot at all.  But eventually, I started to get better.  And things became more automatic.  TP started showing itself again on my left side.

My only real "cure" has been in finding a mental trigger for the release.  For my left-hand, I try to do it without a clicker.  I'll feel the back of the arrow point (my preferred method) or the string on my eyebrow.  My right hand needs more help since I'm more prone to TP there so I use a clicker.  I'm still way stronger with my right so I plan to keep hunting right-handed with a clicker.  But shooting left-handed has helped a good deal.  I get more odd-ball flyers left-handed but my groups are now almost as good with my left as with my right.

But all that effort wasn't really intended to "cure" my target panic.  It was more to help balance my muscles due to some back problems and, secondarily, see if I could do something about target panic as a bonus.  It helps.  But it's not easy and it isn't a cure.  Echoing Joel Turner, you still have to get control of your shot.

[Dan Jones]

Greg,

After years of struggling unsuccessfully to overcome the damn panic, I switched from left hand to right about 3 years ago. I resisted doing so for a long time because I am left eye dominant. The switch has been successful, and to my surprise eye dominance has not been a problem at all.

I now regret the years I lost trying all the "remedies" and "cures" and "bandaids" for the panic. I think that all my efforts to end the panic only made it worse. Once the panic becomes as deeply embedded as my case is/was, I don't think that it can be overcome on a lasting, satisfactory basis. I can shoot left-handed with a clicker, for example, but in my experience shooting a bow with a clicker takes the joy or fun out of shooting a bow. I can also shoot left- handed as long as I stay very close to a target or don't aim at a specific point, but I didn't find either of those evasions satisfactory in the long run.

My advice to you would be to do as some others have said - get a light bow, work on developing your form, don't worry about small stuff such as putting a glove or tab on the wrong hand, and go out and enjoy archery again.

[ChuckC]

I am one of those and so far i am TP free.  I am shooting more consistantly than i ever have.  One thing i will advise... This is only an opinion, but i believe it.  

After you switch and get past the awkward stage (happens pretty quick), work on developing an honest to God draw / aim / release sequence where each is separate and distinct.  

Do not get back into Hill style fast shooting.  Get to where you get to a solid anchor before you start seriously aiming.   Separation of the steps, each step in its time and not before.

It works and you can do it.

[Greg Dearth]

Thanks for the tips guys, keep them coming.