Ethan Givan Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 I have a problem when shooting at targets with my bow not being able to pull my pin up to the bulls eye. I can hold right under it but when I try to bring it on up i cant. Its just a mental thing I think. I find myself jerking up to the bullseye and punching the trigger because of it. I dont have the problem however when shooting a deer target. Does anyone else have this problem or experienced it or am I just weird? How should i fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowhunter56 Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 target panic, if you find a way to fix it..let me know.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 You dont have to hold it on the target with precision.. let it float around and follow thru.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 Blind bailing or a backtension release are the best ways to fix it. Blind bailing you set a target up at 5 yards. Draw, anchor, and close your eyes..........Yeah I know sounds scary but it isn't at this close. Work on squeezing the trigger instead of jerking it. This will take time.........not hours. I mean weeks. Try shooting like this for a 50 or so shots feeling the release and sqeezing it. Then go out and shoot a spot target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultratec1 Posted July 8, 2009 Report Share Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) Ahhh the infamous target panic, how it can be a bear to deal with. Every archer that shoots will develop some form of target panic at some stage of shooting. It just depends on how you deal with it that will determine if you can rid yourself of it. One thing that is kinda funny is to pull your bow back and put your finger on the trigger like your going to shoot, however DONT. Notice how your pin drops out of the bottom like you were saying?? Now do the samething and when you have the pin on the target take your finger completely off the trigger and watch that pin float right to the center. Ahhh the power of the mind. Like Hutchies stated you need to try blank bale and another big BIG factor is your release. If you have a release that has any travel in it then it might be time to find something with no travel and one that you can WRAP your finger or thumb around without it going off. A shooter will try to slowly "squeeze" the trigger with a release that has travel but as soon as they feel that trigger move they are more apt to punch. Alot of shooters go with a pure back tension release. These are lifesavers when it comes to helping curb the punching of the trigger and target panic. They can also be the devil when you dont have proper instruction on how to use one. Once you figure out which one you prefer start the blank baling. Basically all this is where you stand at the bale and you have no care where that pin is, your not aiming because your going to be closing your eyes. Draw your bow like you are going to normally shoot but get your grip, anchor and stance. Once you get that close your eyes and relax!!! If your using a index release wrap your finger around that trigger (2nd pad of your finger is preferred). Once your finger is wrapped around the trigger slowly start your shot process, squeeze your shot, slowly start to squeeze your back while pushing with your bow arm. Let the shot go off and surprise you. The bow should jump forward and your release hand should come straight back. The only thing that your worried about is the feel of the shot. This wont be a one day fix, it will take time. Just make sure that each time you shoot, or blank bale that it as good practice and not just flinging arrows. Remember to wrap your finger around that trigger, anchor, grip is proper, stance and start your shot process. Now your aiming. The only problem with aiming is its all your mind. Every single bit of it. If we had a switch that we could turn our brain off while we shot then no one would ever miss. Your brain realizes what your doing and that as soon as that pin is on the target then its going to shoot. SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT. Thats all your thinking about either consciously or sub-consciously your brain is telling you shoot that arrow once that pin comes close the spot your intending to hit. This is where you just need to put a arrow in the bow, pull it back, go through the same process you did blank baling but DONT shoot. Put your pin on the target and let it float around. It might be alot at first but as long as its floating around and not frozen at the bottom then thats a start. Wrap your finger around that trigger and let that pin float. Hold that for a comfortable amount of time and let down. DONT SHOOT. Do this until YOU feel comfortable with your shot. Remember this is not an equipment problem, its just your brain telling you when to shoot. If your draw is long then that will not help matters but it does not mean that is why your dropping out of the bottom and freezing there. Once your comfortable with both blank baling and aiming try shooting. Start close, 10yrds if you want. Just make sure that while you are shooting that you are thinking about what you just got done practicing. Grip, anchor, stance, let the pin float and squeeze. The great thing about archery is that you control it. You are the one that determines how good you want to be. However when you/if you do try this, remember that it should still be enjoyable. I know that target panic is no fun but as soon as you cure yourself and you hold that pin in the center and you start to pound out the X then fun really starts!!! Edited July 8, 2009 by ultratec1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 I spent about 30 mintues blank baling tonight. I really tried to concentrate on squeezing the release trigger and following through. Then i moved out to 20 yards and shot a couple arrows and i could tell it had made a little difference. Im definitely gonna keep blank baling for the next few weeks. Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 You shouldn't be focusing on your pins anyways. Just stare at the spot you want to hit and let the pin blur into it. When I'm shooting I never see my pins except for when they first settle on the target. Once I get my pins set, I focus on my POI and the pins dissappear. When I started shooting this way, I became three times the shooter I was before. Trust me....it works and I think it will help you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okbwhtr Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 I usually move up and shoot ten yards and 20 yrds. Often stops this target panic. Sometimes target panic is just over thinking it. Learn to aim and like others have said let it float. But most of all dont let the brain over think it. DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 I had a pretty good case of target panic myself. I did alot of the things mentioned above and it helped a lot! This could be just my goofy head, but I switched from a single pin to a multi pin sight and that helped me even more....again all mental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Yeah, its definitely all in our heads. If I shoot at a 3d target, I dont have this problem as bad. Its when I have a bullseye that gets me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 theres a lot of good advice given here that will help you. the problem is that with a circle bullseye target we are obsessed with trying to hard to force the pin in the center of the target. forcing the pin to the center leads to tightend muscles and tight muscles lead to shaking and a even more unsteady sight picture. relaxing and just using your concentration to get the pin to the center is a lot easier. when we shoot at non bullseye targets, its a lot easier to hammer them in the right spot. i will have to say that making sure your equipment is set up right is a big part of the problem. having proper draw length and shooting form makes for you to hold better and hold more relaxed. when you relax and concentrate on the center, then you do not have to force the pin to the center. also is has a lot to do with watching the pin instead of the target. when you stare a hole in the center of the target with your mind, the pin goes where your looking. if your staring at the pin, then your pin freezes in that spot. i cant say how bad i had this, and i still battle it some today. but Ultratec1 helped me with this problem by just saying a few words at the right time. even though many people told me in the past to not watch the pin and stare at the target. it seemed that he made it sound so simple. "look where you want the arrow to go and dont worry about the pin". blind baling is meant for you to do that only type of shooting for at least a week or 2. so many people shoot 20 shots blind bale, then move to the 20 yard target and think it didnt work or worked only a little. it takes a while for this to work. good luck and keep us informed on how your shooting is going. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Well I went out and shot tonight for about and hour and a half. I did some more blank baling and then i shot regular for a while. My shooting at 20 yards is getting better, but past that its just rediculous. Last year I could hit a a spot the size of a golf ball pretty regular, and now i struggle to keep groups the size of a baseball. Its very fustrating. Guess i should have kept shooting through the winter and not stopped. I never thought that not shooting my bow for three or four months would cause this kind of problem. "look where you want the arrow to go and dont worry about the pin".:)Tony I tried this and it was really hard for me. Because my pin has to be on the target for it to hit there so if im shooting at 30 yards and I just focus on the target through my peep then my 20 yard pin is going to naturally be closer to bullseye because its in the middle of my sight housing. maybe it just takes some getting used to but I cant help but pay attention to where my pin is setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Kat Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 It doesn't work cause your still seeing the pin. Once the pin begins to blur it will improve. Its awkward as heck at first, but the first time that bow goes off and you don't expect it to and the shot felt terrible......you'll see that fletching in the X ring.....Guaranteed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Alot of good advice here. So I'll add a pretty simple technique my buddy taught me along time ago when i had that problem...Dont raise your pin. Try drawing above your target and lowering your pin to where you want it to go. worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Alot of good advice here. So I'll add a pretty simple technique my buddy taught me along time ago when i had that problem...Dont raise your pin. Try drawing above your target and lowering your pin to where you want it to go. worked for me. another good point. allowing your pin to relax down into the spot is a lot easier than bringing it up from the bottom. one uses mucscles to bring the pin up, and the other allows you to relax into the spot from above. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Well I went out and shot tonight for about and hour and a half. I did some more blank baling and then i shot regular for a while. My shooting at 20 yards is getting better, but past that its just rediculous. Last year I could hit a a spot the size of a golf ball pretty regular, and now i struggle to keep groups the size of a baseball. Its very fustrating. Guess i should have kept shooting through the winter and not stopped. I never thought that not shooting my bow for three or four months would cause this kind of problem. I tried this and it was really hard for me. Because my pin has to be on the target for it to hit there so if im shooting at 30 yards and I just focus on the target through my peep then my 20 yard pin is going to naturally be closer to bullseye because its in the middle of my sight housing. maybe it just takes some getting used to but I cant help but pay attention to where my pin is setting. its going to take time. just dont try as hard to put the pin exactly in the center, you have to allow it to float. just keep at your practice sessions. you will get back to where you were shooting before. time off sometimes is good and bad. i actually took the whole indoor season off and havent shot any 3d this year at all with my target rig. im just concentrating with my hunting bow for my antelope trip. i could feel the rust when i first straed back, but it didnt take long for me to get back into a good shooting groove with my hunting bow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderhunt4 Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 lots of good advice on here. thanks to everyone. this is really interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skooba Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I also had really bad target panic. I was bringing my pins up from under the target. I started shooting low and even missing the target. But then I told myself that it was all just mental and started high with my pins and brought them down on the target. That was all it took for me. I guess i was lucky to break the panic that easy but it worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I went out and shot more last night and Im definitely improving. I was shooting really good at 30 yards, once I even busted a nock i was shooting so tight. I center punched the bullseye several times. Still struggling at longer ranges but im getting there. My confidence has really improved as Im finally getting back to where I was last year. Try drawing above your target and lowering your pin to where you want it to go. I tried this last night and wow what a difference it made. Im going to shoot that way from now on. Everyones advice has really been great. Thanks for all the help. If I keep it up I might be shooting better than I ever have soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Glad to hear your getting back on track...Just keep at it now, and you'll be in good shape before you know it...sometimes its the smallest things that can make the biggest difference. Good luck! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 Yeah all the advice by everyone has paid off. Im back to shooting as good as last year. I also figured out that it helps me to take some time between shots. Instead of shooting an arrow, knocking one and shooting again, back to back, over and over, I take a minute or two between each shot and take it slow. this helps my concentration for each shot. It has made a difference as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born4it Posted July 19, 2009 Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 Alot of good advice here. So I'll add a pretty simple technique my buddy taught me along time ago when i had that problem...Dont raise your pin. Try drawing above your target and lowering your pin to where you want it to go. worked for me. I had/have the exact same problem, and this is what I do. I lower, and I also practice doing a lot of the things everyone has said. In the winter, I shot in my attic at about 5 yards, and simply practiced holding on the spot I wanted to hit for at least a few seconds longer than normal, just to get used to the pin being in the "bullseye." Keep practicing, and it'll get better... Everyone feels your pain! Take care, Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 relaxing and just using your concentration to get the pin to the center is a lot easier. when we shoot at non bullseye targets, its a lot easier to hammer them in the right spot. Amen, Tony! I am by no means a spot shooter...in fact I hate spot shooting just because I can't concentrate on that boring dot to save my life! But when I have a 3-D target or animal bag target I find that I have much more control, concentration and patience and am able to consistently place my arrows in the vitals even out to 55 yards. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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