How do you quiet yourself?

[twobows]

Noelle,
  I have never been calm when a deer comes with in range, I make the call yes or no if I decide yes I go blank and look through the deer and it happens. A short blood trail and give thanks to the MAN

[mikeschwister]

I do best when I just shoot, focus on the spot and let it happen. Then I enjoy the uncontrollable shakes and pounding chest.  If I ever get over that part I will probable quit.

Mike

[gregg dudley]

I always visualize 3d targets as game animals and I build a running commentary in my head.  "He's coming in, he dropped his head, pick a spot..."  I never have a sense of urgency when I am target shooting unless the season is approaching and I am shooting poorly.  I can get disgusted if I start making a series of errant shots, but it is still fun.

When I hit a hunting scenario, I do the same thing.  A little auto pilot voice runs through the narration until the opportunity presents itself and then I blank out conscious thought except for "pick a spot," and make the shot.  My theory is that by visualizing hunting scenarios during practice, I am making the actual hunt a more familiar experience.

I always remember the sight picture, but I very rarely remember making a conscious decision to shoot. What Jeff said before has a lot of merit.

Now, after the shot?  That's another story.  I come unglued after the shot!

[Tom Leemans]

I've found that if I breathe calmly, the adrenaline shakes go away after about 30 seconds. It seems much longer than that but I've timed it.

[N. Naiden]

"then I go blank" - that is exactly what I think many people do - they are doing something to center themselves and focus but may not know what they are doing?

I loved Shawn's reply, "I do nothing" - talk about Zen, that's perfect.

I have used a visualization sequence called 'grounding' and it works with breath and breathing, but I often wonder if there are better methods to doing it.

I have read Zen and the Art of Archery over and over, and confess my western mind sometimes gets in my way.

It is a combinations of opposites though, the comment of "tension and relaxation" rings true.

And it makes sense that military style trainging would help greatly - can anyone tell a totally uninitiated person exactly what is Marie style, or military style, training in shooting? Other that accuracy skills, do military agencies teach about staying centered and still in the midst of chaos? How do they do it?

One friend who was a Green Beret in Vietnam told me his preparation was far superior to those who were drafted - he listed the things he had been trained in, but never mentioned stillness, or centering. There are lots of names that would apply.

Thank you for the responses! For me this is the trick to being consistent - my form is fairly consistent, my quieted mind is another story....

[Weasel]

"How do you quiet yourself?"

One word; Xanax      

I TRY to remember to exhale slowly and focus on "the spot".  I remember the last buck I killed. I caught myself looking at the whole lung area, then narrowed my focus on a small spot at the tip of the elbow. It was really weird when I did that. My concentration went into a "tunnel vision" mode, just sorta zoomed in from the whole side to the small spot as if it were really in a tunnel. Funny what our minds do in those adrenaline filled situations.

Did I mention Xanax?

[insttech1]

Noelle...
Military-level marksmanship training is hard to explain...

I will give you an analogy that applies more toward rifle shooting, but applies to all disciplines...

bear in mind--this does not relate to "combat" conditions--this is about long-range precision and focus for marksmanship, specifically 500-meter open sights against torso silhouettes...

Form is first, as in anything requiring precision...and in archery, everyone has minor variations, so I can't tell you much except you must concentrate on consistency above all else...

You must be able to focus on your target, but not to the exclusion of all else...you have to keep some tiny portion of your mind "open" to external influence, like someone shouting cease fire, or determining that there are more deer behind the one you just drew on, etc...

I hear some people can not keep from shooting once they're drawn, and that just doesn't cut it for me...so therefore some little portion of that calculator still has to be free to work...

In true precision work, after your form and environmental variables, the next two detractors are breathing and heart rate...believe it or not, the ebb and flow of your blood thru your body changes the position of whatever you're holding, in tiny increments...just try and focus a rifle on a pop bottle at 500 yards....you'll see what I mean...

But the heart's rate and breathing can be controlled, to an extent...

It is natural to become excited on a game animal...but once you commit to the shot, that's when the body goes into autonomous function, IF YOU HAVE PRACTICED ENOUGH!!

You are striving for unconscious concentration, with conscious movement, as you know that too much movement will attract attention...

But once you get in a position to draw, and subsequently shoot, your body should remember, thru repetition, the steps required execute a good shot...

The steps are basically: form, breathing, and heart rate, release control, and follow-thru...

Form should come OK, thru practice...
Breathing takes more time...because of the added excitement of live game...same goes for heartrate..

Release control is just that--even though some say  you shouldn't know when it happens...well, you should!  That's is what controls where we hit...by knowing when to execute the shot after we pick an impact point to hit...it's just the last few milliseconds that the breath is held, and the heart has slowed to where the body knows you are steady enough to shoot--even if you don't!

Granted, you DO NOT KNOW THIS as it is happening, it just comes together...

The way to make it come together, though, is through enough practice of controlling your form on targets, that the body automatically reverts to that form when you draw on critters--including sub-conscious control of breathing, heart rate, release, and follow-thru...

I know some of this is jumbled, and maybe out of order, but in essence, once you have all of the aspects of your form down, there are three portions of your mind that we be "working"...

One is excited as all hell...
It's subconscious brother is stopping adrenaline production for 2 seconds as you shoot...
And the safety nazi in the back of your head is watching to make sure everything else is a "go"...

Hope this helps some...will check back later...
Marc

[insttech1]

ttt for noelle...

[Jeff Strubberg]

Noelle,


One thing that really helps is to visualize a perfect arrow as you begin your draw.  Practice it in front of a blank target.  Shoot calmy, in control until you execute one that is just right.  Then, the next few shots your goal is to see that perfecct arrow and let your mind "make it so".

After a while you will see your target approach the spot, being your draw and already be thinking "Yeah, like that."  the arrow is gone before you have time for more than that.


You know what?  This is one heck of a lot harder to write about than to do.  We adults complicate the heck outta the simplest things.

[Mike Brown]

If I shot in a traditional dress after work I would keep quiet about it too...  

[Roger Norris]

Honestly, I can't say. I don't know. When it's on, it's on, when I can't "get the focus", it's not on....I am forever trying to figure out why I shot well on a given day. I spend more time tryig to figure out why things went well, so that I can duplicate it. When I shoot lousy, I may analyze obvious stuff, like the mechanics of my form, but for the most part I just put the bow up and do something else. I almost typed that my focus is always on while in the woods.....but then I thought back to my pattern of choking on big bucks....I do know that if I start thinking about how nice that mount is going to look on my wall, I ALWAYS choke.

[jporter@work]

I set up an obstacle course between my longest shot and the 3d at home.  There are a couple of things in there that will deflect the arrow off target.  You have to focus on the arrow path and nothing else.  It took my son-in-law instantly to a new level of accuracy and confidence.  (I have a big back stop and 40 acres of woods behind the range.)

[Roger Norris]

jporter - that's a heck of an idea. One of those so simple "why didn't I think of that" things. Thanks!

[Warren H. Womack]

I think a lot of folks seem to make this harder than it really is.

Don't think, don't plan, just take the shot.

Warren

[Charlie Lamb]

As for me... just taking the bow in hand seems to "quiet" me. It's all the rest of the time I need help with.   :D

[Huntschool]

This may be overkill but here goes.....

Given everything that has been said about the "mental Zen type zone.. consider this.

Shooting in any genera is a subconscious response to a conscious demand.  The problem shows up when the conscious tries or is allowed to take over the operation.

Analogy:  Let’s compare brain function to computer size.  The conscious brain is about the size and ability of your common desk top.  The subconscious however would fill a 110 story one block square building something on the order of a super super computer.  Which one do you think should be in control of your shot?

I teach this concept in my NSCA instruction classes.  Kind of, after lots of practice, "if it feels right shoot.

There is no conscious effort once the shot has been started.

[StephenR]

I agree with most of these posts,but for me I learn everything the hard way,and for me I had to take enough animals to be able to "hold it together" and make the shot.By this I mean I shot several animals when i was so tore up I dont know how i drew the bow.Then I fall apart and my knees go to knocking and shakeing,and heart jumps out of my chest.How many animals?I dont know?

[Littlefeather]

I cannot quiet myself. I do not try to quiet myself. I do not wish to quiet myself. The rush of adrenaline is what I live for. If it was gone I would cease to bowhunt.

I have taught myself composure though. Its a personal thing that I cannot convey though. CK

[insttech1]

I agree with Littlefeather...

The "rush", knowing that you may harvest an animal, is awesome.

The goal is not cold, calculated shooting, at least during bowhunting, anyway...target shooting is another matter...and I rarely apply precision-level form when I practice with my bow...because I want it to be FUN!  I'm still consistent, and enjoy good shots and good groups, but I like to screw around and sling an arrow at 70,80, 90 yards at stuff laying around the yard, 'cause I enjoy it!

But anyway, I believe there should be a tiny lapse in the excitement, as the actual shot is executed.  Before and after are heart-pounding, but it's just the brief period--from the time you commit to the actual shot, to the follow-thru--where your ingrained subconscious slows you down a bit, then you go right into "THAT WAS AWESOME" mode...

Thanks,
Marc

[Douglas DuRant]

Composure is a good word for some of this. Confidence is another aspect. I think the adrenaline may even enhance subconscious performance, while it often seems to discombobulate the conscious.

Dr. Amberry says a pre shot ritual is a good way to set the stage for making a good shot. He bounces the basket ball 3 times before shooting. He focuses on the black rubber inflation hole as he does this then he looks at the basket and makes the shot. He says it is like an auto hypnotic suggestion which clears his mind as he concentrates his focus on the shot. He also says if your conscious mind can't seem to let go give it something to do like count or repeat a phrase like reach full draw, or follow though.

I focus on the spot I wish to hit and open and close my bow hand to check my grip then put tension on my string fingers as I bring the arrow up inline. This is my pre shot ritual.

Unlike Dr Amberry who doesn’t miss a basket, I do make bad shots from time to time. ;o}