Aiming method

[Terry Green]

I'm pretty convinced we all aim, but some of us are in denial.   

Believe what you want, I don't really care.

It gets really old people telling other people how they shot, what they see and don't see.

Most of the time I don't even remember drawing the bow, much less where the arrow is.

[Red Beastmaster]

I tried aiming once. It was scary! It was like I had no control. Same feeling as when I tried a release 37 years ago when I shot compound.

I went right back to instinctive and never tried it again. And yes, some of us look at nothing but the spot. Honest.

[Doug Treat]

I also use a “mark on the riser” method. I call it a gap sight. I have several white dots on the riser for different yardages and then I shoot the windage by feel. I have tried a lot of different methods but my gap sight method seems to be the most consistent way to shoot for me.

[UncasUK]

As I understand what's being pointed out, if you have dots or markers on your bow
you are holding the bow vertically, so how does this work if you cant the bow.
I cant the bow at 45 deg look down the arrow, line up on target either under, point on,or above
depending on distance.

[kopfjaeger]

Split Vision, Split Finger, Deep Hook, Anchor middle finger in corner of mouth. Have been shooting this way for 53 years and see no reason to change. It works for me.

[Terry Green]

As I understand what's being pointed out, if you have dots or markers on your bow
you are holding the bow vertically, so how does this work if you cant the bow.
I cant the bow at 45 deg look down the arrow, line up on target either under, point on,or above
depending on distance.

How is your shooting now?  If I had to hold verticle I *might* have killed 1/4th of what I have over the years. I've shot animals with a horizontal can't and even a trotting hog 'reverse' cant.

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

I been shooting pure instinctive for over 50 years, it seems very natural to me. From the grip of the bow, my stance, my draw, my anchor, my release, and follow through is fluid and I hit my target most all the time. If I don't it was something in my mechanics of the shot I did wrong. I feel strongly that one must build his or her shot to make it feel comfortable and fluid to that person and be easy repeatable each and every shot. To increase accuracy pay attention to trajectory of your arrow this will help you in (Instinctive shooting)

[GCook]

I think what a few "instinctive" shooters forget is not everyone can shoot that way consistently.  You may not be "aiming" or a better word might be "sighting" but your brain, eyes, muscle memory and experience is doing it without conscious thought.  Just like many people cannot pitch shoes well, throw a baseball to a given point accurately or consistently make a free throw not everyone will be able to shoot without sighting. 
Those who can, especially past 25 yards, are the exception.

[JR Chambers]

GCook. Bingo

[Terry Green]

I think what a few "instinctive" shooters forget is not everyone can shoot that way consistently.  You may not be "aiming" or a better word might be "sighting" but your brain, eyes, muscle memory and experience is doing it without conscious thought.  Just like many people cannot pitch shoes well, throw a baseball to a given point accurately or consistently make a free throw not everyone will be able to shoot without sighting. 
Those who can, especially past 25 yards, are the exception.

I'm sure,  but I'm not one of them.  I also think that a few of those that can't shoot instinctive thinks nobody can. 

[Skates 2]

T, BINGO

[varmint101]

How is your shooting now?  If I had to hold verticle I *might* have kill 1/4th of what I have over the years. I've shot animals with a horizontal can't and even a trotting hog 'reverse' cant.

Terry! I kilt my second deer last year reverse cant! Came by me at about 3 yards and bow was obstructed by the stand. Flipped it around and shot it reverse. I thought of your video. I actually have practiced it ever since. Only took 15 years to pay off. 

[Terry Green]

How is your shooting now?  If I had to hold verticle I *might* have kill 1/4th of what I have over the years. I've shot animals with a horizontal can't and even a trotting hog 'reverse' cant.

Terry! I kilt my second deer last year reverse cant! Came by me at about 3 yards and bow was obstructed by the stand. Flipped it around and shot it reverse. I thought of your video. I actually have practiced it ever since. Only took 15 years to pay off. 

 

Sounds like you don't need to be worrying about any dots. 

[GCook]

I think what a few "instinctive" shooters forget is not everyone can shoot that way consistently.  You may not be "aiming" or a better word might be "sighting" but your brain, eyes, muscle memory and experience is doing it without conscious thought.  Just like many people cannot pitch shoes well, throw a baseball to a given point accurately or consistently make a free throw not everyone will be able to shoot without sighting. 
Those who can, especially past 25 yards, are the exception.

I'm sure,  but I'm not one of them.  I also think that a few of those that can't shoot instinctive thinks nobody can. 

I agree.  I've seen some lights out instinctive shooters who would challenge any gapper.  However I'm not much past 20 yards.  I envy those who can.

[Sam McMichael]

I also think we all aim. The difference is how we do it. Gap shooters, string walkers, etc. work out measured aim methodology using the conscious mind to the max. Others, such as instinctive shooters have shot at "the spot" enough times that the brain automatically adjusts the hold. If these guys let their subconscious mind do its work without too much external interference, their arrows go where intended. That's only my opinion. Personally, I believe that I use a sort of split vision (?) style. I don't have a naturally good hand/eye co-ordination when I draw, so I look at the point briefly to make sure it is more or less pointed at the target. Once I pick a spot, I no longer actually see the point and shoot like a pure instinctive shooter. In short, I think whether we deliberately line up a shot with the gap, etc. or use an instinctive point and shoot, we are aiming.

[Terry Green]

Sam, I aim with my eyes, and bring the equipment to me, and its just not limited to just 20 yards.  My conscious mind has no idea where the arrow is. Hope to met ya some day GA boy. 

[JR Chambers]

I do what Terry does

[Steelhead]

I never used any aiming methods even when I short compounds in the mid 80s.A guy was trying to show me how to use the sight on a compound and I just did not groove with it or really like it.So shot the compound with fingers and no sight.Thats how we did it in the nieghborhood and at camp wit with recurves.So I was used to not using a sight or aiming method.

I got into recurves and longbows in the early 90s and just shot them the same way I always had.Ofcourse I had to learn how to shoot them and that took some time and alot of practice.Not unlike shooting alot shots with a basketball or throwing a baseball etc.Most sports do not require a sight and thiers no place for them in most sports that do require accurracy and precision.Think about it.

To be a good instinctive shot requires good technique and in my mind lots and lots of shots to become natural at it and proficient.I used to shoot 200 arrows or more a day year round.Sure some talent helps as Mr. Cook pointed out and he made a good point.Some may and probably will do better with an aiming system and thats great just like shooting without an aiming system is great.No need to judge either way really.Instictive is really great for hunting especially in situations where things happen fast and you need to react and not think and those situations will happen if you hunt enough.

Have fun man and enjoy!
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[Mike Malvaini]

I'm sure everyone aims, its just that some don't consciously aim. Some have a real hard time understanding that concept. 

[PrimitivePete]

I know I'm aiming because I am intently focused on my target, is there some subconscious reference point I am using ? probably, but I haven't figured that out yet