frustrated more than ever...HELP..!!!THANK YOU!!!

[Zradix]

I'm frustrated past any point I've ever been with trad.

A few weeks ago I got my first deer ( doe ) with a trad bow.
At that point I was shooting the best I ever have..not great but my best.

I was keeping my arrows in a 4" group at 18-20yds 90% of the time. The "flyers" might be about 6-7" off center.

For the last week I'm all over the target.
I'll get a couple in the bull then I'll fling arrows from one side of the target to the other.

...or I'll fling a couple arrows from one corner of the target to the other then stack them in the center.

I've checked everything, brace ht, nock point, draw length, paper tested...nothing is off with the equipment..IT IS ME.

I have a mental checklist I go over during each shot. I have a static release. So I pull to my anchor, settle in and shoot.

The really weird thing is normally I KNOW when I make a bad shot. I caN just feel that something was wrong.

This past week, every arrow that's off is a complete surprise. Everything felt good with the shot but the arrow is a foot off.

I was planning on hunting this weekend...
No way I'm going to take a shot at a deer ( or any other animal) shooting like this.


I doubt I'm the ONLY one to have this happen.
But who knows...Maybe I'm cursed..lol

Anyway, if any of you have gone through a similar situation, what did you do to get back on track?

Thank you

[Matthew Bolton]

I quit thinking. I force myself into not thinking if that makes any sense. An example would be start shooting 5-10 before sundown. It forces me to be fast with my practice which doesn't allow me to think. When I do this my arrows fly where they are supposed to.

[YORNOC]

Too many possibilities to list, but your anchor sounds okay. You may be torquing the bow, do you use a very loose grip or do you hold the bow with a full hand?
 There are so many small factors its impossible to fix you from a forum. When you start flinging all over, stop shooting. Take a break, then go back later concentrating on form and loose fingers. Your mind can be your best friend or worst enemy. If you are not relaxed, dont shoot.

[Marc B.]

I've gone through it too. When it happens I stop that shooting session then. Try it again tomorrow or even take a couple of days off and come back. If you keep forcing things no good will come from it. I think things like this pop up from lack of concentration and the worst thing to do is over-concentrate on it.

[GRINCH]

John try pulling to anchor and releasing,sometimes when I hold to long I get erratic,to me it just sounds like you are over thinking the shot,when it looks good let it go.

[Kris]

John,

You're trying too hard!  It's not your equipment or tuning, it's your concentration.  Relax a bit and shoot fewer arrows.  

When you start "flinging arrows" quit!  Practice with 3 arrows and take your time shooting them...MAKE THEM COUNT.  Or...go out stumping with just one arrow and a Judo point and shoot leaves, sticks and clumps of dirt at varying distances.  Stop shooting targets...make it fun again and regain your confidence!  

Get out hunting and enjoy yourself.  Take a shot only if you feel confident.  There is a lot to be gained by just watching deer and NOT taking a shot.  Have fun..you already have a deer anyway!

Good Luck -

Kris

[Margly]

Zradix!
Ask someone(or do it yourself) to film you during a session of 10 arrows. Do not stop the camera! Guess you'll find some errors jerking it up for you like gripping the bow hard, plucking the string, or my own favorite: moving the bow in the release making the arrows make shotgun patterns on the target...

Maybe you should try to make a paracord around your wrist and around the grip so you can shoot with your hand open for practice for seeing if the grip is doing damage for you?

Just my 2C.

btw also look into the shooters forum! A lot of good help and specialists there!


Best of luck!
Margly

[huntingarcher]

I shoot only one arrow then go pull it walk to another spot and shoot.If I stand there with a hand full of arrows,I will shoot tight with a couple and then spray the rest all around.When I get frustrated I will lay off shooting a few days.
Another thing I do is actually set up a small target in front of my large target like a ping pong ball on a string or tennis ball.I also do not shoot a lot of arrows maybe 10-15 and always try to end my session with a couple nice shots.
If your form is good, you are just over thinking it,causing your shooting to nose dive.  

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

For me, when that happens, it's generally tension in my string hand and forearm. I need to pretend my fingers (mostly middle finger) is simply a hook attached to a string tied to my elbow. Total relaxation of the forearm (as if it was the "string" attached to the "hook").

Static releases can be prone to losing back tension. Try a bit more back tension with the whole relaxed hand and forearm thing.

This generally works for me...hope it does the same for you. Best of luck!...Ryan

[onewhohasfun]

Like GFA says in his "Instinctive Shooting" book. "Usually when my arrows start to wander it is because I am forgetting to "push" with my bow arm." Happens to me on occasion. I need to lock that bow arm and shoulder in.

[joe skipp]

Archery is mental, like any other sport. Your thinking way too much about missing your vitals. Any negative thoughts will cause negative results.

Put the bow down for a day or two. Pick it up before you head out hunting, take a few warm up shots and go hunting. I found shooting at live critters takes my concentration level a tad higher than when I'm flinging Judos at leaves or stumps in the backyard.

[Dirtybird]

I was once giving some great advice.  It's all between your ears.  Over thinking the shot is driving you crazy.  Just relax and don't be in a rush and go back to the basics.  Don't take the fun out of watching the arrow fly down range.

[Zradix]

Thank you all for the helpful insights!

"Free your mind and the rest will follow"...might have to change my signature..lol

Lots of really good possibilities here.

I really truly appreciate you all taking the time to try to help me out.

Thank you!

[Dirtybird]

I would say if you have been shooting for some time it happens.  Best of luck to you and just relax and have fun.  One shot at a time.

[Caleb the bow breaker]

Joe is dead on,

Happens to me every year.  I start trying to force the issue and start changing things and just ruins my accuracy.  Put the bow down for a day or two and just forget about it.  I bet you will see things settle back in

C

[gringol]

Seems like you are so caught up in the baking that you are forgeting to taste the cake.  Your form is already established, and probably doesn't need changing, but you're thinking so much about each step in your shot cycle that you lose focus on the target.  Just pick a spot and let the arrow go, after release, keep your concentration on the spot.  Don't watch the arrow!

[Zradix]

Originally posted by gringol:
..... Don't watch the arrow!

That is HUGE !

I've definitely noticed myself doing that..ESPECIALLY when things aren't going well.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hey bro.... forget about groups and just shoot one arrow at a time and pull it before you shoot the next one.  break up your yardage and shoot one at 12 yards then 18 yards. try  different angles to your target and focus on one shot...

You are fine brutha.... confidence is a huge part of accuracy. you want confidence in your first shot....

my advise is forget about arrow grouping and get your buns out there and get another deer. You can do it.... Kirk

[30coupe]

When I do that, it is usually lack of back tension. I work on that by coming to anchor then thinking, "Back tension," rather than release. If I let the back tension build until the arrow just leaves, I am very accurate. I find that I am kind of surprised when the arrow leaves the bow when I do this, which is a good thing.

I also started practicing with a light draw weight bow, which really shows you the errors quickly. My shooting has improved considerably and quickly.

Here are the things I have discovered over the years (BTW - I shoot right handed):

Plucking the string = high right/right
Low back tension = left/low left
Anchor too low = high centered
Dropping bow arm/poor follow through = scattered
Not focusing on a spot = high

I'm probably missing some, but these are my most common issues. Hope this helps.

Some days I combine two or more of these.    Then I just go back in the house and try again later or the next day. I start up close (10 yards max.) when I restart. I concentrate on form, not accuracy. Surprisingly, the accuracy shows up when I do this. Then I move back a couple steps at a time. If I'm really struggling, I shoot only one arrow (rarely). Usually I use three arrows. As Byron Ferguson says, it is hard to concentrate for more shots than that. Once the arrows start to cooperate, I will vary the distance with each shot from 7 to 25 yards.

This is what works for me...usually.   :rolleyes:

[ron w]

As said....one arrow at a time. The first 5 or 6 times don't even shoot. Talk your self through the shot, Draw, anchor, sight picture, and then let down. Take the arrow off.....and the repeat. Run thru that routine 5-6 time and then the next time shoot 1 arrow go get it and start over. Only shoot maybe 8 arrows.....go have a coffee and come back and hour later. You'll work it out, just don't panic and over think this whole thing.