Remembering the fundamentals

[SteveGabriel]

I shot a 14 target Hunter Round for a 108. Last week, my first time, I did a 133. I was losing it and kept analysing the shot.
I skipped the 2nd target initially, the 70 yard walkup as it is also used as a broadhead testing area and there was a guy there tuning his broadheads.
By the 2nd to last target, a 64-58-55-53 walkup, I gave up on getting a good round and I focused on the white spot. I got a pair of 4's. Last target was a 23-20 walkup. All 4 in the target.
I thought about it and realised that earlier I was thinking 1) get the bow shoulder correct, 2) draw using back tension 3) get a solid 2 point anchor and after a quick check of the arrow point-to-target gap 4) a clean release.
Almost all my shots had the correct horizontal positioning but the vertical was off, too high or too low. Then I realized that I hadn't taken time to AIM! My last 2 targets confirmed this.
I then went to the 70 yard walkup that I had bypassed earlier. At 70 yards I was under the target. For the 65-61-58 I had 2 4's and a 3! I simply took the time to AIM!
Always go back to fundamentals...

[Desert Archer]

Steve,

This past winter I was in a terrible slump. The kind where no matter what you do your shooting gets worse. One of the things I figured out to change was my approach to the shot sequence. Instead of trying to analyze each shot and figure out what was wrong, I concentrated on simply doing everything right.

I think the problem with analyzing what you are doing wrong is you are concentrating on the negative. Once you know how to shoot (correct form and follow through) just concentrate on executing the shot as carefully and consistantly as you can. The better I can do that, the more the score takes care of itself.

Dave

[SteveGabriel]

Dave,
Thanks for the sound advice. On those last few good shots, all I did was worry was think about the shot I was taking at the moment. On that 65-61-58 group all 3 arrows were within a hand's length of each other. I actually checked. I admit my hands aren't exactly "dainty" but the grouping was still tight.
Yesterday I shot the same round with a compounder and although we didn't keep score I never had 3 misses on one target. Now when I think of it, I wanted to do well in front of my "competition". Today I shot alone and I guess I suffered for what programmers call "the paralysis of analysis".

Steve

[Desert Archer]

...I guess I suffered for what programmers call "the paralysis of analysis".

LOL - Steve, I can't program a remote control for the TV, but that sounds about right.

Dave

[SteveGabriel]

Ok, I shot 14 field and 14 hunter targets today.
Had PR's for the field round! Field - 139. Hunter - 129.

Biggest problem's were the proper gaps and getting proper backtension. On the Field round I had 2 targets where I only got 1 hit. The problem here was that I forgot to get proper back tension. On both targets I reshot the missed arrows using proper back tension and I got hits on 5 out of the 6 arrows. Had I done this on my first go round I would have had a 155 for the field round.
Well no I know how I have to focus: 1) draw 2) anchor 3) aim 4) transfer to back 5) follow thru.

I'll get there someday.

[Desert Archer]

I'll get there someday.

Of course you will, and probably sooner than it some times seems.

268 for 28 targets is a good start for no longer than you have been shooting field. I had lost or destroyed quite a few arrows by the time I broke 250 for 28 targets. Hang in there and keep shooting!

Dave