I'm going to be quiet honest. I have a tendency to pull the bow to the side when shooting. Im not exactly sure how to control it. I added a stabilizer today which helped some but not by much. I also shorten my release length then lighted up the trigger. Which all of this helped but only to a certain extent. Im not having target panic and punching the trigger but rather I'm not (I guess) following through with my shots. I'm so quickly to move my bow over and look to see where my arrows are hitting. With a rifle following through tends to be rather easy. At least it was for me as I just kept my eyes down the scope...but Im not finding this the case with archery. Any help guys it'd be much appreciated. Thanks JWOAdventures
The tendency to want to look and see where the arrow hit is always there. I had someone help me by standing me 10 yards from the target. Then I drew back, closed my eyes and release. The target was at eye level indoors. It helped me a lot. I also pick a spot on the 3D target to shoot. I use little red or white sticky dots. Aim Small Miss Small. Some guys shoot with both eyes open. This takes practice and I haven't gotten to that yet. I now have a 4 step process I go through on every shot. 1. I take a deep breath, hold it for 3 secs and then exhale. 2. I draw back and I inhale as I draw back. 3. Once on target, I tell myself, "hold the bow in place after the shot. I then slowly exhale and release. 4. I hold the bow in place after the shot for 2 secs. This works for me. I had the same problem.
A couple years back I messed around with shooting a back tension release.. One of the biggest points my instructor emphasized was exaggerating my release arm follow through when the bow went off.. Following through backwards.. (this is harder to put into words than I anticipated) Anyway, I took this technique to my hunting release. When I release my bow, I let my hand/arm go backwards in a circle like motion.. What I found in this is my form all together was better. It may be a fluke and it may be just me but all I did was focus on my release arm and its become second nature. One of the results of this change of habit is when I release the string my bow stays pointed at whatever I was shooting at. I have since noticed a lot of my buddies that leave their release hand up by their head, drop the bow... I don't know if this will work for your or not, but it may be worth a try.. just placing your focus on something else may help.
When I release, I let the release hand go back and touch my thumb to my shoulder each time. I also try to watch the arrow through the sights. Bright fletching, wraps, and lighted nocks will also help you to keep your eyes on it. I would go back to the basics first, make sure your draw length is good, and make sure your draw weight is well within your range. Try some up close shooting to touch up your form now and then too. Hope this helps. V
Do you shoot with one eye or both eyes open? I used to have a bad habit of dropping my bow arm to see, but once I started shooting with both eyes open I have not done that once.
I don't know if this is applicable but I play a lot of golf. My golf coach suggested, amongst many other things, that I find a pro golfer who's swing I really liked and to try and emulate him/her in setup, swing, and follow through. What this did was give me a repeatable pre-shot routine and good swing mechanics. I don't see how watching some of the top target and hunting pros demonstrate and talk about their gear and technique could be anything but good for you. For bow hunting I like to watch Cameron Hanes because he's not only over the top steroidal and kinda quirky, but he's also very passionate about how he trains and prepares. I use a thumb release so I wanted to watch someone with top form demonstrate their pre-shot forum and release. So I found this lady from down under named Erika Arena who's not only a target archery champion but very easy to look at as well.
I'm not sure I'd classify what you have as target panic, but its a pretty common problem. I never really had the issue, but here area few things that keep me "down on the shot" so to speak. I think above all else, you need to blank bale shoot for a while. No target or anything to aim at. Just short range, executing shots. Make each shot count in terms of execution. You're not aiming at anything, your simply practicing mechanics. I do this all the time, even if I'm not having any issues. What you're trying to do is retrain your brain to stay with the shot until the arrow impacts the target. If I recall, it takes approximately 2 weeks to learn a new habit. I like drawing my bow, settling into my anchors, making sure I'm going to hit the target. Then close my eyes and execute the shot. This forces me to focus entirely on my shot mechanics and execution. Another thing I like to do is "track" my arrow with my sight housing. Sure its not really possible, but just the idea of having to hold that sight housing steady on the target until the arrow impacts helps ensure you're following through more. The bling bale shooting, more than anything will help you. Its all about form and following through and nothing about aiming and seeing if you hit what you aimed at. For the average bowhunter, I really don't recommend a back tension release. Those things require a TON of commitment and time to learn to shoot properly. Yes, they're absolutely a great tool to learn proper form, release and follow through, but they can also add more frustration and other problems if you're not committed to using one. One other thing. Lighted nocks. Its a band aid and not the correct way to learn proper form and follow through, but I've found that those things, being so easy to see in flight, really you have no need to "peak". Combined with practice on the blind bale technique they work really well.
I had a issue with this when I first starting shooting a bow, I had good habits initially but formed a few bad ones on my own and dropping the bow was one of them, fatigue can be a cause of it too. I found a few minutes with a more experienced shooter to be a very valuable thing. I also don't "end my shot" at the arrow release, the shot ends when my bow rolls forward, or back as the case might be, towards the target and stops. It also really helps if you learn to call your shots. I can tell you where my shot landed without looking at the target from what I was seeing and did at string release. Did I pull it? was there any tension in my bow hand? was I pulling against the back wall when the shot broke? was I off center with my back arm? little things like that leak accuracy away. Dropping the bow is like raising your head on a golf shot to see where the ball went only to find out you missed it...same thing. For a shooter one of the best ways of curing it is dry fire practice against a blank wall, with an unloaded firearm of course. You can't do that with a bow, you have to make a shot each time, just change your focus from the target to delivering the shot correctly, then the target takes care of itself. Work on each part of the mechanics of making a shot, borrow from the other shooting sports as well, shooting accurately uses the same fundamentals no matter what you're shooting. Grip, presentation, sight picture, trigger press, follow through, same thing except the bow makes a thump instead of a boom.
I use to have the same problem. I have a wrist strap for my bow, and I would hold a completely open grip, open hand with the thumb out to the side, so it forms a sort of L shape, and after I shot, I'd count to three before lowing my bow. You gotta get in the habit of follow through, once you practice that way enough, it becomes a part of your shot!
I have had a problem similar, where I would skydraw. I knew this was simply too much weight, but since I got a new bow that draws like butter, and I worked on my form, I have improved.
That's pretty cool. Practice practice practice. I try to do a little at a time. I cook and while the lasagna is in the oven I go shoot a dozen arrows. I answer some emails and then shoot a few. Easy peezy.
Thats funny thats like literally the same thing I did, right down to copying Cam Hanes. I think after shooting the "pro's" shot for a while, we start to put our own spin on it and it starts to become our own, especially with golf.
I had a slightly different problem in that I would find myself clenching the grip for all I was worth. I tend to do that when I'm frustrated with myself. So I do much like Sam said and I talk myself through a set routine as I draw, aim and lastly mentally check my grip. I've had to, at the last second, open my hand and then replace my one finger lightly back on the grip. Having a routine can also help when it comes time to shoot on game. Instead of thinking of the animal (antlers) I am mentally talking to myself and checking off my steps. Happens in mere seconds, but it is calming because it is a routine. --and I also walk away and clear my head and then go back to the targets if need be. I build on the positive every single time I can.
