Fixing My Brain

[thumper15]

Target panic that is. Over the last 5 years or so I've been struggling with not hitting anchor when drawing a bow. Now this was not a problem till I bought Byron Ferguson's book as that convinced me to experiment with anchor point. What I found out was because of my facial structure the side of my thumb was hitting my cheekbone before I hit anchor. Because of that me brain said fire as soon as my thumb hit my cheekbone and therefore I started to have a major problem making myself pull through to anchoring at the corner of my mouth. I bought a book about target panic and began to annilize my problem. I decided the following, if I drew my bow with no arrow I could hit anchor to the spot before experimenting. So problem 1. Anchoring with index finger instead of the middle finger in the corner of my mouth. 2. Being able to draw with an arrow pointing at target and hit anchor.
Step 1. I planned on blind folding myself put an arrow on the bow and just concentrate on anchoring the old way without loosing an arrow.
Step 2. Once I felt I had that starting to be under control off came the blind fold but kept my eyes shut until I had that controlled.
Step 3. Eyes closed draw bow with arrow and once I hit anchor open my eyes again untill controlled.
Step 4. Draw the bow with eyes open and holding on target a few seconds and still not loosing an arrow.
Conclusion, after a couple weeks of going out 3 or 4 times a week I have been able to draw the bow, hit anchor, be on target, hold a few seconds and not loose an arrow. Best of all my brain isn't screaming fire when all this takes place. I'm still testing this out to make sure I don't revert back but I'm still not loosing an arrow till I know without a doubt I have this licked.

[Big Ed]

A clicker may help also. I know a lot of guys that hunt with them also.

[flintznstyx]

I use a timer. Set for 8 sec. Push the button, draw , anchor and settle in focused on spot. then wait till beep squeezing the shoulders together.
Working great for me.

[KSdan]

Good for you.  Not sure the book you read- but Sports Pysch (trad shooter as well) Jay Kidwell offers similar training issues to train your brain.  The process you have gone through retrains the brain responses (like all high end athletes must learn).  It really is a brain thing that takes brain training to overcome.  Once you learn the techniques you will need to practice them regularly.  For sure- at present you have reset your brain that full draw does not mean release (classic conditioning).  You should read Kidwell so you understand what you have accomplished and continue to keep your training honed.  If you just go back to shooting, you will use conditioning to train your brain back into target panic.

Good shooting
Dan in KS

[Tall Paul]

The thing that really helped me the most, after struggling for years, was an article Fred Asbell wrote a few years ago.

He recommends coming to full draw, and then letting down without shooting the arrow. I call them "let downs". I mix them in with regular shots during my practice sessions.  

Supposedly, you're gaining control over your brain by teaching it that "sometimes you shoot, and sometimes you don't".

[thumper15]

Kidwell wrote the book I mentioned earlier. I tried what Asbell wrote about. I decided to break it down a little more, and so far it worked way quicker for me than just draw and letting down. Just drawing and letting down was working on too many cues all at once. Combined both Asbell and Kidwell ideas and bingo it worked.

[mcgroundstalker]

It's good to take in all the info you can and break it down "your-way"... All of the experts have something to offer... We need to grasp a part of each then work it out within our own mind.

Glad you have a hold of it!  

... mike ...    ...

I fixed my TP by using the eye closing method a coach of an Olympic  shooter showed me.  1. Draw bow, eyes closed, tighten up, let down, until it is natural.  2. Do it with eye over arrow closed, til same.  3. Same with other eye. 4. Same with both open.  5. Both eyes closed, right in front of target, draw anchor, feel yourself pulling through, release.  Then do it the with eye sequence of 2,3, and 4.  If you feel the TP butterflies, start over from the beginning.
A test, draw with your aiming eye closed, aim at the target. If you release the instant you open your aiming eye, you have TP.