I'm needing some help with shooting. I seem to have what everyone on here calls target panic. I can't settle my pin on the dot and just slowly touch off the trigger. I can slowly start getting close to the dot but seem to always nearly jerk the bow towards the dot and punch the trigger at the same time. That's aggrevating enough. To make it worse to me, I can take the arrow off and aim at anything, slowly bring the pin to the target and hold it there as long as I want. What's the problem? I'm looking at buying a thumb trigger release and trying that. I'll take all of the help, suggestions I can get.
I don't know if this will help but, are you puttung your release trigger between the first and second knuckle or on the pad of your index finger? If you aren't puting it between the first and second nuckle, this could be part of your problem. This can cause you to "punch" the trigger causing you to jerk. Its kind of like when shooting a rifle and a person pulls the trigger instead of squeezing slowly. When you don't have an arrow knocked, you know you aren't going to be releasing it. Give this a try, it will help at least a little.
Give this exercise a try: Do everything you normally would do (except finger off of the trigger) to shoot the target but instead of shooting, let down. Just like aiming without an arrow you will not be shooting and this hopefully will help you hold your aim. Starting out just getting the pin on the target spot and then let down. Do that until you feel "comfortable". Then begin holding on target a bit longer before letting down. If you are able to hold on target then you can put your finger on the trigger but do not shoot, just let down. It seems you may be thinking you need to shoot real quick before the pin goes off the target. You need to change your mindset that it is ok for the pin to float.
A back tenstion release is different than a thumb release, very different. Stick has a good suggestion. It's basically using your typical release as a back tension release. I like to think a lot of the problem is mental and physical, meaning... lower the poundage on your bow, take off as much weight as you can, get comfortable. Also, just relax, mentally. I had that problem when I was shooting like crazy and putting too much pressure on myself, mentally to make good shots. So really, all I did was shoot less and just work on your form, not about where it hits. If you go to midwest whitetails, there is a ton of good info on there about target panic and back tension releases.
I've been trying this exercise. Like I said, I can do everything I'm supposed to do when I don't have an arrow on. I can slowly move towards the target, settle the pin on the target, hold it there, and even put my finger close to the trigger and mentally act like I squeezing the trigger. This all may sound crazy but its true and its really starting to aggrevate me. Other than punching the trigger, the other problem is I can't get the pin to the target. I can only get the pin close to the target before its like my body freezes up and I can't move the pin any closer then I have to kinda jerk the pin towards the target to get it any closer then punch the trigger. I know this all sounds crazy, that's why I'm coming to yall for help. That mental stuff is aggrevating!!! I've got my bow cranked down to 60 lbs, as low as it'll go.
Took the words out of my mouth man, this is all mental. I wouldn't even worry about where your pin is right now. Get 10-yards away from the target, get ready to shoot and don't look at the target or your pins. Instead, visualize your hand in your mind, imagine it locking at the wrist, imagine that your hand is no longer a movable object. Then, while doing this, fire the arrow. Do this for awhile, and I'm talking like as many arrows as you can fire in a day. Then slowly start working in short shots. Start at 10 yards, if you have trouble again, go back to visualizing and working only on your hand. Another thing, if you are having problems getting something to work, stop doing it. If you continuously do something wrong, you are just going to psych yourself out and it will become frustrating and even more difficult to overcome. When you're doing these practices, remember that there is no pressure to do it right. Every time you shoot you have another chance to try again, wipe your slate clean. Relax and have some fun with it.
