Do you guys ever have "bad shooting days"? Go out to practice and shoot some arrows and for whatever reason just don't have it? I pretty much shoot everyday and every once in a great while out of the blue I will just not be dialed in. Just don't have it and it drives me nuts. I simply shake my head and put my bow away. I'll either pull it back out later in the day or the next day and be dotting my target like nobodys business. Seems like you shouldn't have any "off" days. I guess it's like anything else though. Bad day of golf, bad day at work, etc... I don't know if it's a mental thing or what, but it drives me nuts. Not horrificly bad where I'm winging arrows aimlessly, but just not quite right.
I know exactly where you're coming from on this. This is my second year bow hunting and I have the same thing happen to me on occasion. The thing that bothers me is what if I have that "bad day" when its the one shot I get in the woods.
I havent had it happen in quite some time and when I did my first arrow was always dead on. Then it would go down hill from there. I did notice a couple things that would effect me though. If I hadn't eaten in a while that seemed to effect me and also energy drinks or coffee. I did do some frustation shooting last night for the first time in a while and shot better than I have in a week or so. I was holdin an 8" group with three arrows in very low light conditions at 60yd. For some reason I stay more focussed on my shooting when I am trying to get my mind off things.
No, never. I am a machine when it comes to shooting a bow and welcome anyone to challenge me. Believe that and I'll tell you another one! Every shooter has an off day here and there. Its part of it. I've had days where I couldn't miss and then days where I would shoot to the left or right, up or down, or both. Its the human factor. Sometimes we're just not up to shooting, sometimes we may grip the handle slightly different then we did the day before, sometimes we don't focus like usualy, etc. The list goes on and on. Don't fret it. Its perfectly normal. Oh, and a really important thing to keep in mind. If one day you're driving tacks at the range and the next day you're off by little, DO NOT move your pins, or tinker with your bow. Just shoot it as normal. Good chance that the next time you shoot, you'll be right on the money again.
I guess everyone is different cause when things are bothering me I shoot better. I use it as an escape. A way to focuss on something else to get my mind off life. Thats when I shoot the best.
All to often I do NYB. That's shooting a bow for ya though. When anyone struggles 99% of the time It's form related. When I struggle It's because I'm not hitting my anchor point 100%. A 1/4 to 1/2 short draw can effect my shooting terribly. It's a bad habit I picked up 15 years ago and It still haunts me here and there.
ya i use to but i then took a picture of the way i griped my bow on days i did good and then days i did bad and saw i changed my grip thatll do it
Same here. I can shoot fantastic for a few weeks and i start backing practicing out farther and farther then i go out one day and I'm like wth? My arrows are going everywhere. It's like there's a force field around the spot I'm targeting My latest was I was not keeping my release arm aligned with my body. I started tucking my elbo back behind my head more and I'm shooting dead nuts again and loving bow hunting once again
If I am having a bad day shooting... I tend to get aggravated and cuss a bit. I am too stubborn to quit cause I hate walking away on a bad note. The wife usually hears me cussing, sticks her head out the door and starts razzing me. I whine the bow is no good/broke and I need a new one. That usually gets her fired up and she tells me I don't need a sticking new bow. I tell her to get in the car... we are going to town to get me a new bow. Then the wife really gives me hell then. It is hard not to chuckle at her which puts me in a better mood. Then I drill the bull eye... look at her and say... I guess there is nothing wrong with the bow. :p Seems to work everytime. I always shoot good when she is watching and razzing me. It lightens my mood and I relax. She says it has more to do with my big ego and being a show off. I don't know how she comes up with that !! :p :D Tim
I struggle a lot with my anchor, seems I'm never satisfied one way or the other, I can touch six arrows right where I want them in one session, then the next day, shoot 2" right, I fight with my anchor all the time, I try to blame the bow, checking for loose sight, rest, fletching contact, bad arrows, etc, It's me, I've got to stick with one anchor and be done with it.
really? because I get far too frusterated and end up moving my sights, its safe to say I move them every 5 times I'm on the range...if not mine my wifes. I guess I'll try this and come back the next time and see what happens. To reply to the thread, The more I practice and work on my form my anchor ect...the less bad days I have, but I still have them here and there. My wife on the other hand a complete novice has them more often than not but she is a work in progress, and when she slames bullseyes at 20-30 yards I smile everytime.
I am in this little funk right now but I do find my mind wandering a bit lately when I am practicing.
I always treat my first shot of a practice session like its the real deal, because you only get that one first shot out in the woods. Then I notice on my off days it goes down from that first shot, but on the good days every shot feels good as soon as I tap the release
Hey ole friend. Been around... ya know, that time of year for me. Artistically manueving the white ball gracefully around the golf course
