psychotrigger vs shot seperation

[Lee Lobbestael]

I have shot with a psychotrigger for several years now and it has been the absolute best thing for my mental game. I have killed a few deer each year this way and felt like I was in complete control each time. I have messed around with every kind of trigger out there and have invented some of my own, but I found that each one has its drawbacks.Some require extra gadgets and what not on your bow, others do not "click" solidly or loudly enough. Some require don't work well in the cold because my finger or spot on my face goes numb.  I also think that I shoot more accurately without one WHEN I'M IN CONTROL mentally. Knowing what I know now about the mental side of archery, I have been messing with using shot seperation rather than a non anticipatory psychotrigger. I separate each part of my shot into separate tasks.
Here is what my shot looks like today. I draw and lock into my anchor. I actually whisper "lock" when i do this.(Task 1) Next I say "aim" and I focus on my tiny spot (Task 2) finally I say "expand" and I increase back tension and the string rips through my fingers.(task 3)
So far this seems to be working.  Before taking up Joel's teachings I would just anchor and allow my sight picture to dictate when the shot would go off. For me that is a recipe for target panic. I know that Joel advocates using a trigger but I have heard him mention in a couple podcasts that if you don't want to use a trigger "that's fine" but you have to be vigilant about shot seperation. With "aim" as a task separate from release, I can sit there and aim without anticipation for 10 seconds if I want. I hope what I'm doing now is sustainable because I really enjoy shooting with no extra gadgets on my bow.

[Stumpkiller]

We all have to come up with a style and method that suits us.  And sometimes it is a fluid process between them.

It has always been my feeling and goal that whatever you can do to remove gadgets or layers to the shot cycle is beneficial.  "Things" have a habit of failing or falling out of adjustment.  If you are doing this to overcome target panic - God Bless 'ya and do what it takes.

There is a cadence from the point at which you address the target and commit to the draw to when you release.  Focus, draw, anchor, release.  The pause at anchor may be perceptible by others or not; so long as you are at the anchor and focused on the spot.  Personally, if I hold too long I start to think about whether I should hold high or low and things deteriorate rapidly.
 I am not a conscious gap shooter though for field archery I "imagine" target spots above the desired impact point.  Personally I try to clear my mind ("Mizu no Kokoro" (mind like water) as my Sensi instructed) during the shot and just focus on the target center.  A mental checklist would spoil that.  

As a hunting implement the bow and archer should be adaptable enough to hit a running rabbit or squirrel.  You can't run through a mental checklist when a bunny breaks cover.  It all happens in one smooth movement.  You also should be able to use multiple forms as cover and conditions require.  Push/pull, straight arm, swing arm, horizontal bow, etc.  Don't become too rigid in your delivery.

[LongbowArchitect]

I use a 4 part "shot separation" sequence similar to Lee's. #1 Draw & anchor. #2 Aim. #3 Expansion to conclusion. #4 Follow-through. If I don't mentally and physically separate those 4 parts and give each enough time to execute then my shot becomes hurried which can then lead to target panic. I frequently work on form at the blind bale and close bale to make sure my 4 part shot sequence remains grooved in. If I don't do this often then my subconscious mind will look to "streamline" the sequence and pass-over the parts it thinks are unneeded.

[McDave]

A shot separation sequence like Lee describes is very important to me too.  It allows me to come to full draw without worrying about aiming.  I believe that starting to aim as I was coming to full draw was the main cause of my target panic.  While I pre-aim in the early part of my draw so I don't have to make major aiming adjustments at full draw, I’m not focused on the target until my draw is complete and I'm expanding.

Like Charlie, I don't want any words going through my mind from the time I start my draw until I follow through.  Instead, I am physically aware of what my body is doing during each step of the shot sequence.  I'm also physically aware when my body doesn't perform a step correctly.  I don't have to say it to myself to know what is happening, the same as you don't have to tell yourself to step on the gas or put on the brakes when you're driving a car: you just do it, and you know what you've done, so you could put it into words later, if you had to or wanted to.

I went through a similar transition to Lee's, in that I started my journey out of target panic using a psychotrigger and now I'm happier not doing that.

[Firstlight]

An interesting read.  I'm still in the psychotrigger stage, feather to nose, activating the shot.

Joel's method has done wonders the past couple of months.  Haven't tried it at a pressure event, but I will on Dec. 3 @ a local 3D shoot.

I can see the relationship in transgressing from psychotrigger to an ingrained "shot sequence" as I now actually have a shot sequence which isn't centered around the site picture triggering the shot.  

All is progressing well and I'm happy with not having a short draw target panic, rule my shot.