I dont know what my problem is but I'm getting worse shooting my bow. I just bought my bow a couple weeks ago and I only have time to shoot on weekends. I have a problem just squeezing the trigger and settling my pin on or close to the bullseye. Its almost like when I get my pin close to the bullseye I want to pull the trigger. I'm just about ready to go to a pro shop and get them to show basically how to shoot. I know shooting a bow is not rocket science but I've never been shown the proper way to shoot a bow. So with all that said, any tips? Thanks for the help.
07, go to the pro shop. I, like you started off shooting my bow without any help. Man I struggled for a good two years until I finally was able to figure it out. Save yourself the wasted time and go to the pro-shop.
This is something that I struggle with a fair bit. I call it target panic. As soon as my pin is close to where I want it I would usually rush to hit the release, and usually just hammer on it. It's taken me a lot of practice to mostly get over that. Our pro shop out here has a release that won't allow you to hammer down on it. You have to squeeze it nice and gently before it will go off. Using that one a few times really helped. They also have one that has a little gas shock or something in it, where when you clip it on your bow, you have to slowly hold down on the trigger until the shock is pushed down all the way and goes off. This one helped me with holding my pin on the target and keeping it there. Since it takes a while to go off, you can't anticipate the shot at all and you have to concentrate on nothing but holding your pin where you want it.
It sounds like you're describing target panic. This will make you flinch, throwing your shot off target. It's a mental thing that you need to work with. JMHO Jay, we must have been typing at damned near the same time.
distance I started at about 10 yards until I get used to shooting and get better and haven't tried anything farther than that yet. I dont want to back up at all until I get better at shooting. That's the reason I bought my bow now so I can practice and get used to shooting before next season. Thanks for the help.
practice and practice and more practice its like riding a bicycle you wouldnt good at it at first either but you kept at it its the sameway with archery its all about form control and attention you will get better and try to do things differently check and maintain your bow it takes time to develop its not over night good shooting
Sounds like it could be a few things but I would definitly take the others advice about target panic. If that isn't it I'd also reccomend working on your breathing before the shot. There are so many factors to take in before you even pull the release trigger. But if you learn all the ones that work in your favor it will become second nature when shooting. Hope this helps!
panic Yea, I'm pretty sure it is panic but not sure how I can fix it myself. I'll do my best though. Thanks.
The best thing that you can do is keep on shooting at only 10 yards. Try pulling your bow back and don't put your finger anywhere near the trigger on your release. Just concentrate on holding your pin on the target. Hold your pin there for around 5-10 seconds than let your bow down. You will be amazed at how easily you can hold your pin where you want it. Do that several times. After you get used to that. Than pull your bow back, hold it on where you want, after a second or two of having your pin where you want it, concentrate on really holding your pin there and slowly putting your finger on the trigger. Try to have your finger on the trigger, but not actually setting off for a second or two. Than just try to concentrate on just slowly pulling the trigger. I think the main thing is just shooting at a short distance until you get good habits and are confident in what you are doing. The problem with practicing while having bad habbits and not fixing those habbits is that they will just get worse and so much harder to break. So really try as hard as you can to work on slowly pulling the trigger and keeping your pin where you need it. Also one thing that helps is when you draw your bow back, make sure you start with your pin a foot above where you are planing on aiming. Once you get your anchor and your bow is level and you are all set up, than slowly move your pin down to where you want it and hold it there. I found that I would always start with my pin low and would struggle big time to raise my bow to the target and would get lazy and shoot too low all the time. These are just some things that I have tried to fix my problems. Hopefully they help for you.
07Tiger, when you're shooting you want to kind of "float" your pin onto your target. When you try to hold dead on, dead still, you'll find yourself wandering more, leading to "punching" of your release. I usually draw from below my target and ease my pin/bow up to my target zone, float over the spot and release. The single most important thing to good consistant shooting is doing everything the same exact way every time!
Another thing to remember as I am going thru it also since I'm new to shooting a bow is.... give yourself time for your bow drawing and holding muscles to build up. I was sore as all get out after my first long target practice....but don't do it too long if you feel tired or tight because if you push it.... your groups will open up because your newly used muscles are tired.... rest a bit before going at it again. As stated my PSE... "perfect" practice makes perfect.
You need to find a way to "squeeze" the trigger. Everytime you shoot, the bow going off should suprise you. Yeah it's easier said than done. It's the right way to shoot however.
Yea, I've always started low and brought my bow up to the target. I think I may by a heavier stabilizer and start drawing above the target and letting gravity pull it down and practice slowly squeezing the trigger.
the main key is to relax you cant focus your attention when you are not comfortable clear ya mind and just figure out what works for you as far as your grip your peep sight all the way down to the way you draw your bow hold your bow get used to holding it drawing it looking at your pins and looking at ya target picture ya pins on the target make sure you relax and ya breathing is correct and try shooting and not blinking b4 you fire your arrow and after you fire try to put ya pins back on the target for a sec follow through is very important to developing form and routine
As if you needed any more advice..... BACK IT UP!!! Shoot from 20yds. Reason I say this is that it gives the arrow time to stabilize, and gets you away from the target a little. Drop the bow about 5# if you have that leeway, and shoot, focusing on squeezing your back muscles, floating that pin, and gently easing back on the trigger. If you're shooting with your index finger, change to using your MIDDLE FINGER, as it's more unfamiliar, and less likely to PUNCH the trigger the same way your index finger does. I've been pulling the trigger w/ my middle finger for a few years now as I found it kept me from punching as much.
I'd love to drop it about 3 or 4 lbs but its already at 61 lbs and its a 60-70 lb pull. The guy where I bought it said he really didn't want to back it out anymore. Its not too heavy for me, just would like to have started in the high 50s or so when I started shooting. I just think I really need to start really taking my time with each shot and really paying attention to details and focusing.
