I'm leaving in about an hour for the Florida ASA (NAtional 3D tournament).... I'll keep you guys posted!
We got in Friday morning at about 2:30. The Pro/Am was cancelled today due to rain. I was still able to shoot some, but I'm ready for tomorrow.
Okay guys, I'm back. Let's just say it was a long trip. Saturday's round didn't put me in too good of shape. I couldn't hit any twelves, I was over judging almost all of my targets by 2 yards, and just wasn't executing. I ended up 6 down for the day and in 41st place. The course we shot was pretty difficult, but was definately "get-able" That's probably why I didn't update after the first day. I felt like I was shooting good enough to produce a good score, but just didn't do it. I was still hopeful that I could get something together on Sunday to salvage a decent round. Sunday, I really don't know where to start. I shot like 5 shots on the practice range just to make sure everything was close. I'll start by saying, the Sunday course, was the toughest course I have seen on an ASA range. I shot an 8 on my second target, but followed that with 3 consecutive 12's, which got me on one heck of a roll. I was judging really well, I was holding the bow great, and my shot execution was as good as I could hope for. I shot at two 14's, and hit both of them, which was HUGE. I ended up shooting 12 up for the day, with four 8's. I can't express to you just how good this round was. It was the highest on this range by a good margin. When people asked what I shot, and I told them, their jaws dropped. It's my best round in ASA by far. I jumped from 41st place to finish on the podium in 3rd, I lost by two points and got beat out of second by twelve count. I'm very pleased, and I appreciate all the luck you guys wished me. Wish me luck in shooter of the year!
Matt: You don't need my "good luck". You just need to execute. You're not gonna bring it, every day. You just gotta manage your off days....and take advantage on your good days (isn't it just like golf????). That's a GREAT tournament result. You did fine. Congratulations.
Execution is the biggest part of it Jeff, you are absolutely correct. Hopefully it will warm up here so I can start shooting locally more. I think this year is probably going to be a good one, I just need to start putting two days together.
Congrats Matt on a great finish. My only piece of advise is to take advantage of the time you have now when you're young, and run with this as far as you can now. As you get older, and the more responsibilities you take on in life........it's becomes tougher and tougher to dedicate the time you need to really play this game the way you need to be competitive at this level. Congrats again, and best of luck this upcoming year.
This is something that I have thought a whole lot about. I'm a freshman in college this year, and have my class schedule worked around my archery. I have some time, but not as much as I want to be able to dedicate to it. I want to keep running with it, as far as I can. I would really like to make it to the Pro level but that's a long ways off. I'm going to work at it as hard as I can. The sky is the limit, I'm still young :D
It's really not, unless you convince yourself it is. Sounds to me like you just need to get comfortable with it in your head and to continue surrounding yourself with better shooters. I've been shooting a bow for probably 20 years now, with that said I wish I was your age when I really learned to shoot. By time I got the guidance I needed to really start shooting, I was past the phase in my life where I could chase it hard, and I really regret that. Good luck.
