Due to coaching football, I have very little time to shoot, and have taken to shooting in the evening into a hill side where a light illuminates my target - barely.
I have been practicing at about 15 yards (after 17 I cannot see a target). I can tell when things go array by the sound of the bow, as well as know when things are going well - I guess I am less distracted by the arrow flight to the target. Anyway, I have never robin hooded so many fine wood arrows as by practicing at night - (reassuring, but a waste of good ammo).
I had my wife use her phone to film me in the daylight on Saturday afternoon, and my form is much improved, my accuracy is much better as well. I just now need a deer or two to cooperate and I will be in business.
Bob.
I totally agree with this. I do a lot of practicing in low light. Even after dark. I have a security light on the telephone pole next to my house. I set my target on the edge of the light. I shoot as good or better in the dark. I think it's because I see less of the bow and the arrow and I have to really focuse on the target.
When I have someone coming in to hog hunt with me I always tell them to practice in low light!!
I shoot at night or off light very often. I think it keeps the distractions down and only focusing hard.
been doing it for a very long time now. nothing i know of has helped more with focus than not seeing anything but the target.
not seeing your arrow is a good thing. for you unbelievers try it and ull see.
I use to shoot, standing out in the dark, and my big target butt in the back of my garage. With the garage light inside on, I could plainly see the target out to 30 yards. To get 30 however, id have to stand out on the opposite side of my residential street, which in my small lil town had virtually no traffic. I eventually moved, and now have much more traffic , AND I dont have a garage anymore. I miss those night sessions a lot.It did a lot for my shooting.
I sometimes continue my shooting into very low light. I treat it sort of like a "blank bale" session.
I think it helps me with form because I'm not so distracted by the target during portions of the shot where I should be thinking about form.
I've taken that a step further by applying a method that I've heard and read about.
I look at the shelf until I'm happy with the way I've drawn the bow and set myself up. For me anyway, looking at the target (especially one that I really want to hit (like a deer) only encourages me to short cut my "process".
I've long fought with being an expert tin can killer but missing deer by a mile.
One day I was shooting particularly well at the beer can so I thought I'd hang a blue face and see how I'd do on a 300 round...to put a number to my great shooting.
To my surprise I was all over that target. I set another bag right next to it with a can hanging in front. I alternately shot the blue face and the can.
I grouped great in the can but lousy on the target. Obviously I wasn't able to treat one target the same as the next.
Even after insuring consistent form there are still ways to blow the shot but having a more consistent starting point I don't seem to blow them as badly.