Anybody think that we tend to over think?

[buckeyebowhunter]

Not sure what arrow spine has to do with it but it sounds like that guy does not understand arrow spine charts. A 340 would never work out of a 47 pound bow unless he's shooting 600 grainz up front hahaha. And a 900 grain arrow from a 47 pounder might have some trajectory issues 

All jokes aside I am enjoying everyone's perspective on this subject. Seems there are many that have a similar perspective as mine.

[Alexander Traditional]

Yeah Robert that's why I was reluctant to post about the arrow spine. It really doesn't have to do with your question,but if someone got hung up on trying so hard to make an arrow work it could start to affect your shooting.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Yeah Robert that's why I was reluctant to post about the arrow spine. It really doesn't have to do with your question,but if someone got hung up on trying so hard to make an arrow work it could start to affect your shooting.

Yep I've been there. It's easy to do when you have a bunch of arrows laying around instead of ordering the spine you actually need. I'm guilty of it. But I'm kinda a cheap @$$ sometimes.

[MCNSC]

I started out by learning instinctive, wasn’t a great shot but could hold my own. Went to a shooting clinic to be told that pretty much everything I was doing was wrong. Although I did get more consistent, not more accurate, just didn’t have as many off days. Well I can’t hit a deer to save my life. I start going through the whole shot process and then don’t pick a spot. Put sights on my bow this year to make me pick a spot. Seems to help but no shots at deer this year to find out. I do know my confidence is back.

[T Sunstone]

Not sure what arrow spine has to do with it but it sounds like that guy does not understand arrow spine charts. A 340 would never work out of a 47 pound bow unless he's shooting 600 grainz up front hahaha. And a 900 grain arrow from a 47 pounder might have some trajectory issues 

All jokes aside I am enjoying everyone's perspective on this subject. Seems there are many that have a similar perspective as mine.

I'm shooting 340's out of a 44 pound long bow and they fly like darts.  Tried 400 and 500 but couldn't get them to fly as good as the 340's.  Was shooting them out of a 51 pound for 6 years.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Not sure what arrow spine has to do with it but it sounds like that guy does not understand arrow spine charts. A 340 would never work out of a 47 pound bow unless he's shooting 600 grainz up front hahaha. And a 900 grain arrow from a 47 pounder might have some trajectory issues 

All jokes aside I am enjoying everyone's perspective on this subject. Seems there are many that have a similar perspective as mine.

I'm shooting 340's out of a 44 pound long bow and they fly like darts.  Tried 400 and 500 but couldn't get them to fly as good as the 340's.  Was shooting them out of a 51 pound for 6 years.

Wasn't trying to start a debate on what won't work gear wise. If it works it works,  I was just jokingly saying that by most standards a 340 would be well overspined for a lighter bow. How long is your draw?

I enjoyed your story about the scouts and totally agree with the moral. Sometimes less is more I think especially with trad bows.

[Orion]

I don't know if I'd call it over thinking. Perhaps not thinking (enough). A lot of what's going on nowadays is folks wanting immediate gratification/success, and believing that technology, a new procedure, method, etc. will give it to them.  If they thought it through, they might conclude that success is more determined by perserverence and hard work. And that applies to more than just archery.

That being said, I do dabble in new/different equipment and methods, primarily to expand my horizons, learn more about them and sometimes just for the h of it. I have no delusion that they're going to be a panacea.

OK, my soap box is getting a bit rickety.  I'll get off of it now.   

[bowkill146]

To be honest, I think some of the problems come from people switching from compound to trad.  When shooting compound, they are shooting darts and when they switch over they figure there should be no reason that they can't do it again.  When it doesn't happen right away they figure they have to change something instead of being patient and putting in the time and practice.  As someone said, there seems to be such a need for immediate gratification now and people aren't willing to accept that things don't always go perfectly without some effort and time.

[HOOSIERGRIZZ]

I agree there too.  Every single time someone asks me about shooting a trad bow I tell them that if it's not fun for you to shoot regularly, then you probably won't like it.  It takes a LOT of practice, and that takes time and if you don't enjoy that you probably won't do it.

[McDave]

I agree there too.  Every single time someone asks me about shooting a trad bow I tell them that if it's not fun for you to shoot regularly, then you probably won't like it.  It takes a LOT of practice, and that takes time and if you don't enjoy that you probably won't do it.

I agree with this.  Something that Ken Beck, the “retired” owner of Black Widow Bows, once told us has always stuck in my mind: “The advantage of traditional archery is that you get to shoot a lot of arrows.  The disadvantage of traditional archery is that you have to shoot a lot of arrows.”

[Wudstix]

It comes down to getting the correct spine and length to shoot the broadhead weight you want/like.  Basic wood bow with basic wood arrows and lets go throw a few down range.
 

[Terry Green]

The best way to shoot is leave your subconscious mind at home and only take your conscious mind with you.

That subconscious mind has caused me a few bad shots.

O Lord Roy.... my subconscious runs my entire shot!!! 

[Roy from Pa]

Yes once a guy gets his shot routine down pat and harvests a few critters.

It's the new guys to archery that need to learn to control the shot sequence.

[the rifleman]

Wow---- this is the same revelation I've come to lately after constantly tinkering with arrow weights, lengths, aiming contortions.  I agree with you Buckeye.  My goal this year is sticking w one shooting style and arrows tuned to 10-11 gpp.  Good thread sir.

[SS Snuffer]

Years ago I shot a compound for a while got 20 or so deer and target panic. Switched to trad and loved it and shot well.
Then I noticed all the best shooters shot three under and set their bows to shoot point on. So I wanted to be a better shot so that's what I did, BIG mistake! Got target panic back and lost the fun of shooting. Went back to split finger and just having fun and started shooting deer again. Just sayin

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I try not to over think it I shoot instinctive and been blessed not to have to much trouble and when I do I quite on positive note and that positive note is" I am out shooting my Bow"

[George Tsoukalas]

There's room for all. Some like to dabble and enjoy it. Some like to keep it simple.
When I find something that works I stick with it.
Everytime I depart from this saying...if it ain't broke don't fix it.
I gave a nice osage bow to a  friend, of eternal memory,  who was a tinkerer.
I warned him not to tinker with this bow because every thing you see had a reason.
Next time I saw him I asked how the bow was shooting. He just sheepishly looked away.
Jawge

[redz]

As soon as I start overthinking the whole shooting process, that's when things take a terrible turn for the worse...

[Russell Southerland]

Ha! Paralysis by analysis will screw my shot up every time. As Terry Green says, I couldn't gap shoot my way out of a paper bag.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

I'm on the far end of the spectrum from most of you folks. I had target panic so bad I couldn't finish 3D rounds. I was drive by shooting, collapsing, yipping, flinching, etc. Even on animals... and I couldn't get my mind to control my body. The only thing that made a trad bow work again for me was to make everything conscious, develop a shot sequence, add a clicker, and commit to only shooting controlled shots. Joel Turner doesn't get much say around here, but he's the only reason I can set foot on a 3D course, let alone hunt.

Is that overthinking it? Maybe. But it's the only way I've found to shoot comfortably, and accurately, and I spent years trying NOT to go down that path. I wasted 4 years trying my hardest to just not overthink things. I've seen a lot of posts like this one over the years, and the idea is so appealing! I want to shoot like Terry or Howard Hill! It's smooth, it's accurate, it's deadly, and simple.

But I was too busy trying to emulate, without realizing I wasn't wired right for that. I remember that I didn't want to be seen a certain way for using a clicker. But there are guys like me who are wired in a way that we won't ever have fun with a trad bow until we set up our shot system in a hyper controlled, plodding, methodical, target style, externally triggered shot sequence. My point being, if someone reading this is struggling to make the subconscious process work, try the other end of the spectrum for a few months, then dabble in the middle, and figure out what works for YOU. And stress test that system with 3D shoots, or better yet, lots of hog hunting.

What's cool is that different ways work for different folks, and if you can repeat your own shot every time you will be good with a simple stick and string!