Oh No not this.


Guest RJK

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I think it started during the later part of turkey season and has carried over into summer 3D shooting. It wasn't bad at first but now it's noticeable and it has slowed my shooting progress. I have developed target panic. I have done some research on the internet about practice techniques to help cure it but I was wondering if any of you have struggled through this and what you did to cure it. Just a little FYI my draw length and draw weight are not the problem, I can hold the bow back comfortably for extended periods of time and my shoulders do not suffer fatigue. Thank you for your help.

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Re: Oh No not this.

I've done a similar search and I know the information you've found.

Here are some things that I have found that help that were not in my google search.

If you're trying to get rid of target panic, caffiene and light exhaustion will make it worse. You've always heard the expression, perfect practice makes perfect...well basically that's what I needed to help overcome my target panic. Oh and did I mention liquor too...grin.gif

Seriously, little things like drinking a mountain dew, not eating breakfast, putting in a hard day at work. All of these will have an affect on your shooting. What you're basically battling is fundamentally "nerves" and any of the aforementioned could make it worse.

The best advice: Don't worry. At least you're doing something you love. It will work itself out. Practice...practice...practice. The techniques you've read about are not only good for alleviating target panic, they will also help you become a better archer.

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Re: Oh No not this.

You've started in the right direction by accepting the fact that you have TP.

I had it before and still get it from time to time. The best cure is to put the bow down and step away for a bit. Then when you start back up start out by doing a lot of blank bale shooting to get used to the way a shot should feel. This will help correct the bad habits you've recently develpoed.

After a blank bale shooting for a bit, then you work in the know yardage shooting, then move on to unknown yardage.

It takes time and effort but it's actually easily fixed.

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Re: Oh No not this.

Have you ever seen the movie Tin Cup? Where Roy gets the shanks? This is the same thing here. You need to find a release that is completely diffrent from what you are using. Are you doing drive-bys on the target? Maybe punching the trigger as soon as you get the pin on your objective? Try something that has no trigger, something that you can't punch as easy as a trigger/index release. I'm not saying that you can't cure yourself with a index release but it takes time to get over the whole "my pin is there I have to release now." mind set. Try a back tension or a thumb trigger release that you have to use back tension on. Get use to this release and feel how you have to push-pull and squeeze your back muscles to get the thing to go off. When you become comfortable with this and get used to letting the pin settle then try to go back to a index release. Just remember that you don't have to release the arrow the second that the pin is on the target. Let it settle and then start to SQUEEZE SLOWLY. Let the release completely surprise you. Take your time and practice. Just tell your self DON'T release this arrow until it is where I want and then again SQUEEZE SLOWLY until it goes off. I don't recommend putting your bow away and dealing with it later. This is just delaying a problem. Good luck with this and tell us how it goes.

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Re: Oh No not this.

Ultratec1 that is funny that you would mention "Tin Cup" because that is exactly how I feel. This is the worst feeling I have ever experienced. My brain says punch the trigger the split second the pin covers the target. It's like a voice inside my head saying shoot hurry up and shoot, shoot. Well after a week of working on this problem I am starting to see and feel some changes. I am essentially learning to shoot all over again only this time the learning curve is not so big. Thanks for all the advice and encouragement.

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Re: Oh No not this.

Like I stated in another post I went through the exact same thing and it gets real irritating at times. I switched to a carter solution 3 and used the thumb trigger. This got my mind off my index finger and in the mind set of getting the pin to settle. When it was in the spot that I wanted I slowly started to squeeze my back muscles together until the shot went off. After using this release for indoor this year I tried my index finger once again and PUFF the target panic was nowhere to be found. Just keep up the practice and work through it. The hardest part is telling your brain not to shoot when you get the pin on the target. Good luck and keep us informed. grin.gif

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Re: Oh No not this.

good advice from guys who know...

one of the main reasons that most guys cant squeeze the shot off is there aim is poor.. they cant get the pin to sit like they want.. this creates fear that the pin wont be in the spot when the release goes off..

one good thing to to do to cure this is to shoot at close range with your eyes closed.. what this does is take away the fear of missing and lets you relax and concentrate on just slowly squeezing the shot off.

once you have that feeling of how a surprise shot goes off then duplicate it with your eyes open at say 10 yards.. allow the pin to float on the spot and execute your shot..

it takes time and slowly move out to your max range.. if you feel anxiety or punching the trigger then move back to some blank bale and shoot some more at close range..

i have gone through exactly what your doing, its tough . you will get impatient and mad , but just relax and work though it..

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