Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Shooters FORM Board => Topic started by: GregD on June 02, 2008, 09:06:00 PM
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I'm wondering how many guys have completely gotten over TP without changing hands, or adding a clicker or making any major changes in technique. Just completely regaining control of the shot and shooting the way you did before TP? Thanks Greg
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i overcame it with intense unrelenting practice, practice all the time. all that anchoring and releasing drove it out of me. Practice with a 3d target. go to shoots. start bragging about your abilities even when you know you cant do it just to put a little pressure on yourself helps too.
This is pretty out there stuff but I more or less tricked myself out of target panic
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Greg, I can say I have totally gotten over target panic without switching hands or a clicker. It all started with a heavy bow along with I started snap shooting and then holding on the target while I was drawing. Had it as bad as I have seen anyone have it,seriously considered going back to the compound. The way I cured it was to start shooting the gap method where I would come to full draw and then look at where the arrow was in relation to the target, it made me stop for a second or two. (Prior to this I never would see my arrow while shooting). From there I eventually evolved into a split vision where I pick my spot but in my periferal vision I am aware of my arrow. This absolutely cured it for me, I now have control of when I release. I know this probably contradicts Asbel Push/pull method but for me I need to come to full draw for a second or two, to not slip back into tp.
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Greg, I had this for about 2 years. I can't remember where I read this but it worked for me. Every night before sleep step outside and nock an arrow. Come to full draw and hold, while pointing at something you DON'T want to shoot. I chose the back glass of my wifes new SUV. Do this three times nightly for a week before going back to the bale for regular practice. It worked for me, but if my wife knew... Good luck!
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kwig,
I love it...that brought a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing that and congrads on conquering it!!!
Ray ;)
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The day I say I am totally over is the day I can never miss what I am aiming at again.
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I posted this twice on pow wow and couln't figure out why it wasn't there, I guess someone moved it. I'm driving myself nuts with this and I'm wondering if it can be beat entirely. The only people I meet who've been successful either switched hands, added a clicker or draw to anchor, then look at what they want to hit and aim from there. I'm wondering if anyone just retrained their brain Thanks Greg
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Greg,I can say that although I'm not totally cured(I hate to say cured when I know it could return),by using Jay Kidwells' techniques,I am now in total control of my shot.My brain has been reprogrammed to release when I increase the tension in my back.I can hold as long as I want and let down or release.I still have occasional shots where I anticipate the release and throw a flier but my progress is unbelievable overall.It has taken me about a year to reach this point by faithfully using the exercises everytime I shoot.They really work but you have to realize that it takes time.In the past,I always wanted to be "cured"in a couple of weeks but that is not how it works.I shot for years with TP and the problem couldn't be cured in a few short weeks.Ity takes a whole reprogramming of the brain and that takes a committment to be willing to do whatever it takes for however long it takes.I'm still working on it and will probably continue to do so for the rest of my shooting life to prevent the return of TP.It can be overcome with hard work.Jay Kidwell's book."Instinctive Archery Insights"has a section on how to beat TP.
RayJ
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Greg a clicker and a draw check are just band aids in my opinion. Also changing hands seemed also to be temp fix for most people that I know of that have did it. For me it does not really ever go away. There are days I master it and there are days it gets me. The days I master it I shoot world class and the days it gets me I shoot mediocre but still acceptable because I know I will master it again soon. I really think it’s a normal thing for just about any shooter that tries to reach a higher level of shooting to go through. Other than the select few that seem to be wired differently and never get it.
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To quote Lewis from Deliverance, "you don't beat the river". TP is the same way. Just think of it as the "crazy aunt" you keep locked away in the attic. You'll hear her puttering around up there from time to time, just try not to listen to the voices screaming "release"!. Just kidding, good advice here. I have bouts to some degree about every other year. I'm convinced it's a type of "control freak" personality disorder!
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Greg,
I'm going through it right now with great success at getting it under control. Well first i approach the target at a close distance, pick my spot, and draw to anchor, all the while telling myself..."dont shoot idiot" i do this about three times before shooting. When i can shoot the way i -should- everytime i then move back 5 feet(sometimes one step) Also when i have my wife shooting with me we take turns shooting, when it is my turn to shoot, i have her count to five, starting when i reach full draw and anchor. the rule is that i cannot shoot on 1-2 and cannot after 5, i must shoot at a natural timing while not "conciously" releasing for the shot. Anyway i have gained significant control in a short itme will doing this. Also let me add, if you sart messing up, go back to a closer range and try not to shoot over 30 minutes..Practice with a purpose... Hope that helps.
Paul.
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GregD,
The BEST way, IMO...IS to retrain your brain.
Jay Kidwell's book is AWESOME.
One of the best ways I have found to retrain the brain...is to do some blank bale work shooting close with no concern of needing to aim so you can focus on developing good, solid, repeatable form.
Once you are able to consistantly and solidly repeat your form...you can start to gradually incorporate aiming. Once you have decided you are ready for that...start at close distance by shooting at the center of the bale or by incorporating a large target on the bale and aim at that. When you can consistantly shoot at the bale or target and repeat your form solidly...step a little further back and repeat.
Ray ;)
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GregD,
Jay Kidwell posts on here occassionally and will probably assist you if you can find him. He had a thread titled Target Panic... I believe his handle is J-Kid. If you can't get in touch with him read his book which 3 Rivers carries. It's helped me more than anything else!
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Here's a link to the thread I was thinking of:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001918
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Originally posted by Tom A:
Greg a clicker and a draw check are just band aids in my opinion. Also changing hands seemed also to be temp fix for most people that I know of that have did it. For me it does not really ever go away. There are days I master it and there are days it gets me. The days I master it I shoot world class and the days it gets me I shoot mediocre but still acceptable because I know I will master it again soon. I really think it’s a normal thing for just about any shooter that tries to reach a higher level of shooting to go through. Other than the select few that seem to be wired differently and never get it.
I agree with Tom (except for the world class shooting part), you don't ever get over it as long as you are thinking and have emotions.
The approach that has helped me control it is to be agressive but smooth with my execution.
I used to come to full draw, start aiming and allow the sight picture to cause me to hesitate with the release. I would start to pull through, then see that my aimed wasn't perfect and slow up until I could consciously get it back. Hesitation and jerky execution ruined many shots.
When I'm shooting well I picture my execution as snow slowly and smoothly sliding off of a roof. Once begun, I won't stop it for any reason.
This is a constant fight because random thoughts keep popping up that distract me from the smooth uninterupted release.
I don't think that I will ever be totally cured, but I think that I can control it.
Allen
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I've been cured now for about 7 years I guess. I had it pretty bad and it took me almost a year to kick it. I finally lost it completely and the Mid Atlantic Classic when just a close friend and I went around shooting and he coached me. I had gotten it a year before shooting with a group of ten people at Denton Hill.
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Guys, Thanks for the responses. I agree about the Kidwell book, I think I've read it a dozen times. I have become an expert at all of Jay's drills. They just don't help me when actually shooting or hunting. I can do the drills all day but when I go to shoot an arrow I snap shoot it. Thanks again Greg
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Originally posted by GregD:
Guys, Thanks for the responses. I agree about the Kidwell book, I think I've read it a dozen times. I have become an expert at all of Jay's drills. They just don't help me when actually shooting or hunting. I can do the drills all day but when I go to shoot an arrow I snap shoot it. Thanks again Greg
I too struggled with this drill and that cure for years. I couldn't begin to guess how many "this will work" things I tried. Nothing helped me until I finally broke down and learned to use a clicker. Now not only am I shooting better than ever, it's actually fun again.
It may not work for you, but if you're looking for another option, it's always available.
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Greg,
There is no program that will control target panic in every archer. We are all different and developed target panic differently.
One thing that may help you is to try a "bridge" between Jay's drills and shooting targets & game.
This is simply starting close to a very large target and gradually working back to full distances and reducing the size of the target as you go. One important thing is to not shoot full distance until you reach it in steps. Also, if you shoot a bad shot, quit for that day and go back to the previous distance the next day. This rule suks if it's one of your first shots, but it is important to the bridge.
This bridge is not fun. In fact it can be very boring, but that it part of the reason that it is effective. It takes your good shot to the subconscious level.
Hope this helps,
Allen
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My experience is about the same as TomAs. I've been shooting sticks for more than 40 years, and for a good number of those years, I was on the top of the heap(as measured by tournament scores). Not so anymore. I've been fighting it for years. Tried everything in the book(s). Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Usually manage to work my way out or it by hunting season most years.
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Greg,
My target panic started because when I switched from a compound to a trad bow, I was over bowed, but I didn't want to admit it.
I began to short draw and I wanted a consistent group SO bad that I released when it felt right.
My groups weren't too bad, just very inconsistent due to my unreliable anchor point.
Someone here, (I can't remember who but many thanks) told me "you don't HAVE to release!
It was great advice. When I shoot, every couple of arrows or so, I come to a complete full draw, pause, and let down. It may be 3 in a row, every other arrow, I don't know and just let it happen, sometimes I shoot, sometimes I just come to a good solid anchor, hold, hold a little more and slowly let down.
Then I may shoot an arrow or two.
I also only practice with one arrow.
I shoot, pull it, walk back to my shooting range, and shoot that one arrow again.
I also started all over again by shooting very close, with no target and thinking about FORM!
Another advantage of shooting only one arrow at a time at no target is you have no target!
When I shot more than one arrow into a blind bale, I had the habit of trying to shoot the nock of the first arrow! In other words, my first arrow became my target, or concentration point, and my form became secondary and the short draw and panic came back because I wanted to group arrows and hit that nock so bad!
Hope this helps a little, and good luck!
I'm sure you'll beat it!
John
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Sendero25, you dont have to do one arrow at a time. Put blunts on them and cover your target with a doubled up old rug or carpet in a solid color -no patterns. Now stand 10 yds away and go thru your sequence aiming at the middle section in no particular spot.When the arrow hits (hopefully from a solid proper form) it will bounce off harmlessly and you can load another blunt and shoot because theres nothing but the rug or carpet. By the way I am the opposite of most of you guys. I fire arrows like a machine gun as smooth and as pefect as I can in a very casual non stressful manner touch and go.When I shoot at a plastic bottle out to 75yds thats when I mix it up with slow hold at anchor shots along with the snap shots. Both are darn accurate there too.
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I just had to brake down and go to the PVC bow that was introduced to me on this site. It's about 15lbs draw and once I made some light arrows for it, I was amazed at how fun it was to shoot. I reset my form and am hitting a milk jug with it from anywhere in my yard. It has taken three years to get over all the damage I did in my younger years... My shoulder feels good and I am going to hunt some pigs this year with my HH Red Man 63@28!
Thanks Trad Gang!
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Greg, I struggled for a while with it and pretty much gave up shooting all together. I had shot ever since I was something like 5 years old. I thought I would never beat it, so I moved on. My dad actually emailed Jay Kidwell, who took the time to email me. He worked through it with me, and now, after a 6-7 year layoff, I am able to shoot with a good draw 90% of the time....and it's getting better! Email Jay and see if he can help.
Now, if only I hadn't broken my wrist a few weeks ago!
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i had a terrible time with target panic a while back. i picked up the book "instinctive archery insights" by kidwell. the part of the book that really helped me was to make a super light bow out of a 6 foot piece of 1/2" PVC pipe. we're talking like 5 to 10 lbs at the most. the point is to hold at full draw and approach the target from all directions, figure eights etc. then come on target and release. do this for a few minutes each day. this helped me a lot. i'd pick up the book, its a good read.
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I have found for me...and MANY other archers...that TP can be beaten by engraining our form over a long period of time by blank bale practice.
I also use a dry fire bow made out of PVC pipe to also try and accomplish the same thing.
We need to re-program our muscles and our brains to feel what it's like to execute a good shot...over and over and over again...until it is burned into our subconscious and into our muscle memory.
The key factor I have found that has helped me...is actually dedicating all my practice to just that with very little to no regard to aiming over days if not weeks at a time.
Ray ;)
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Black Wolf is totally correct. In my case I shot my PVC bow every night for months. Then I added some lite arrows into a bale (still no aiming) for several months. Then I started shooting at a scoccer ball with blunts at close range. It worked for me. No more jerking, plucking or dropping my arm etc... :D It just takes time, relax...
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Where can I purchase Jay Kidwells book?
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I had it for about 5-6 months in 2001 and I’m a tourney Longbow shooter, I would come up to full draw and freeze, I had to force the release and would jerk my bowhand, it was horrible and seriously thought about giving up Archery. I was a pretty good shot winning a number of National titles which made the fall from grace even harder to endure. I have read Jay kidwells book but unfortunately for me only after I had already solved the problem but it would be my first recommendation to everybody not only as a cure but to prevent the problem in the first place.
I started off having a break from competitive shooting for 3 months and stopped shooting for 3-4 weeks altogether. When I came back I started off just drawing up, aiming and coming back down, I did this for about 10 days and then started to release the shot at random and slowly my confidence and control returned. I also decided I was a little obsessed with scores and winning and changed my philosophy from scores and end result of winning\\losing to just how well I executed the shot, it didn’t matter if I missed just as long as the shot was executed with good solid form, I knew in the back of my mind if I could do this simple task the arrow would pretty much take care of itself and at least hit the target somewhere, this simple change in outlook took a huge amount of self-pressure from me and things improved rapidly.
At the time the experience had to be just about my worst nightmare but looking back, I now realize the experience taught me so much about myself, it’s helped make me a better shot and person.
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Had it bad. Beat it completely. Here's how I got it and how I beat it. I got it by shooting too heavy a bow and not practicing enough for that weight bow. Can you pull your bow back and hold it comfortably, for 30 seconds? Instinctive shooting requires that your shooting form be automatic so that your brain is concentrating on the target spot. Imagine throwing a baseball while thinking about the tension in your fingers! Probably wouldn't be too accurate with a distraction like that. If your overbowed you start to snap shoot. Once you start to snap shoot, your form is on the way out the window. Target Panic is the next. You've lost your anchor point and form. Trying to shoot instinctive but you don't really have an anchor point anymore, so when do you release the arrow? The answer is, whenever it feels good. Which is basically any old time and often without warning. You'll shoot an accurate arrow once in a while and spend the rest of the day trying to repeat that accident. All you've done is reinforce more bad habits. At this point, you need to stop shooting. I stopped for months before tackling the problem and I think the time off helped. You need to reestablish your form. Strength training helps you have better form also. Start strength training by pulling the bow back and holding it for as long as you can. Until you get above 30 seconds without major trembling, you are overbowed in my opinion.
I bought a heavier 70+ lbs bow and started just pulling and holding. Did this for over a month before I shot another arrow. Now I shoot bows in the 45-55# range and if I take a break for a few weeks I always start back by training with that 70# bow. I haven't had any problems since then. You can email me any time, [email protected] if you have any questions.
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like others said i would draw and hold as long as i could, i even grabbed a lighter weight bow so i could hold longer. i also would repetedly draw, take aim, hold and let down without shooting. this seemed to help me. good luck, Dan.
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Boys, make up your mind.Do you want to hunt or shoot target because the two just dont mix.If you shoot Hill style and use a proper weight bow you will keep your form close to true and theres no reason to hold for anything because its already sighted in along the way.We arent lookin for target scores here and groups that target archers achieve. Very very simple
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cvarcher I know some world class tourney shooters that also hunt, as you mentioned Howard hill wasn't he also both a great tourney shooter and hunter.
It doesn't matter if you shoot target or hunt, is it not the goal of all Archers to be as accurate as possible. The question was about TP and dont really understand where you're comming from.
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I had TP really awful a few years ago. I read Jay Kidwell's book. As well as several others. But, I moved from "Instinctive" to GAP / Split Vision. This allowed me to slow things down a bit, settle in, and be more mindful of any form issues. Also eliminated snapshooting. I don't claim to be a GAP or Instinctive shooter one way or the other. The reality is I am probably using components of both. Form and accuracy are two diffferent things though, and both need to be practiced regularly and separately.
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I got over it by "talking" myself through each step of nocking, drawing, releasing and following through on a shot. Concentrating an performing each task with perfect form. I did that until I could do it with my eyes closed and then I did just that. I kept my eyes closed until I was at full draw then I opened them and focused on the smallest spot and ignored the "target" as a whole.
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Originally posted by SteveMcD:
Form and accuracy are two diffferent things though, and both need to be practiced regularly and separately.
Ooooo...couldn't agree with that more! ;)
An archer is better off practicing on one or the other and not both at the same time.
Form issues should be worked out at the Blank Bale or some form of that practice until your form is embedded within your muscle memory and subconscious...so when you do go to try and hit a target...you not distracted by wondering or trying to feel if your form is correct.
Ray ;)
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I've been suffering from the same sort of TP for 4 years on and off now, Trying to draw on target and the moment the base of my thumb makes contact with my face then thats it, sometimes i can't even lose it from there (at some points i actually can't draw the bow more than about 3 inches) i've pretty much everything that i've read i've tried, physically im a stocky guy, i could physically shoot 70lb without breaking a sweat, but i've tried a clicker, using a compound, i've even totally dropped my poundage from 60 down to 35 over time...
Still...im not one for giving up, the day i stop tryings the day i stop breathing...
Anyone think Hypnotheropy could work??? haha
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This sounds like an AA meeting. Helo My name is Dave and I have TP. I had surgery on my left shoulder last March. The Dr. cut away some bone the was causing impingement. Since comming back I have had no problem with TP. I think its because for some reason I draw where I am looking now instead of above the intended target. Maybe we all need surgery. Some of us may need it more on our brains than shoulder.
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Well I think I have it pretty bad right now! I have been switching back and forth from my compound to my BW recurve and now I can't shoot either one very well. I used to be a pretty consistent shot - no more. I think I need to start completely over. I have decided that I really don't like the grip on my Widow. It is too small and I don't think I grip it the same each time. I am going to order the book mentioned above and maybe a new bow too! Wish me luck.
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one method i have used is to set up some type of large target(plywood in my case)get some sticky back dots of various sizes and put them on the target. draw your bow and stare at a dot....let down...repeat this without making the same pattern over and over..do this every day without shooting an arrow for a week...next you take down big target and stand in front of some bales and draw and anchor while eyes are closed..shoot arrow then repeat 10 to 20 shots per day.3 days of this and you should be ready to start normal shooting again :thumbsup:
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Best thing Ive seen for target panic is a clicker...PR
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Wow. I started this more than 6 months ago, I was surprised to see it still hanging around. I'll tell you what I've done in case anyone wants to try it. I couldn't beat it so I adapted. The first thing I did was switch to gap. I think it is twice as hard to beat as an instinctive shooter. I shot instintively for more than 20 years so that was a very hard decision. I switched to a tab in order to deepen my hook on the string, with a tab I'm able to point my fingers back toward my face and really get a deep hook. I put a clicker on my bow, I can't say I like the clicker but for now it's a neceessary evil. I hope to remove it by next year. I don't shoot as quickly or as fluidly but my accuracy and more importantly my consistency has improved ten fold. I plan to work on this a lot more after hunting season. I think this was the best thing for me to do so I could continue hunting. I want to thank everyone for they're advice and wish everyone still working on it good luck. Greg
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GET MAD AT THOSE TARGETS
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Beat it with relaxation techniques.
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Good news and Bad news!! Good news is that (from my experience) target panic will finally go away. May take several months but for me anyway, it haunted me for a long time and gradually just evaporated to the point now I never feel effects of it on the practice range. Bad news is that as soon as a "pressure situation" arises it comes back with a vengence!!!!! This has been very disappointing as I got into this to hunt deer, I could care less about a score on a target range as I want to fill my tags with a traditional bow. Soon as a deer comes out it is a full blown battle to execute. If anyone has ANY advice on how to beat this I would like to know!
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Have been shooting recurves and longbows for a half century and have had my own range for over 30 years. When I am in a slump I just call it lousy performance. I never hunt or otherwise shoot with a sight...untill I'm in a slump. Then I string up[ my ""zen" bow. It's an old '50's Bear Tamerlane with a sight. The 34# weight allows me to concentrate on the pin, my form and my release all at the same time. My good groups are also a confidence builder. No "Zen bow?, Great excuse to go shopping, or add to your Christmas list. Bow'narrow
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I read several of these replies, but not all of them... so if this is repeat I apologize.
I had a case of "drive by shooting" form once upon a time with a compound bow (stay with me - this applies to traditional as well). I would come in from the top of my target with my pin as started trying to shoot just as soon as the pin got there. It got to where I would shoot on the move, before it ever got there - target panic. I was able to cure it after receiving some advice from a good friend. He advised to hold on the target until fatigue prevented holding the pin steady and then to let down. I did this repeatedly for several days, never firing an arrow. It was the best thing I ever did to chase away "the beast".
I've had this same type behavior shooting traditional. I don't gap shoot - I just stare at the spot I want to hit and let the sight picture take over. But what I catch myeself doing occasionally is shooting on the move. I get in too big a hurry and don't settle in before I release. I used the same routine with my longbow/recurve as I did with the compound. I'm sure mileage varies with each individual, but it sure helps me a great deal.
I also know if I make myself count to 2 or 3 before I release that my groups will tighten up quite a bit.
Good luck to you - you can beat it!
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I suffered with TP for four years until I couldnt take it anymore. I sought professional help. With the help of an Olympic coach, I put the monster in the closet. I will forever be grateful for the help Lenny Cardinale gave me free of charge. Without his help I probably would have switched to a compound.
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I have had it for a while. Been using Jays practice drills. it is a slow process got me a 30# bow. that helps to hold longer. If I try to shoot and it dont go right. I go back to just drawing settling on the bulls eye and letting down. I have started placing a image of a orange dot on what I am shooting. I can see how this is helping couse I am shooting at the same orange dot every shot. Good Luck to everyone trying to beat it.
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I had it bad when I first joined an archery club back in the 70's. Most guys were shooting 3 fingers under and aiming with the tip of the arrow. So I started doing that. At the same time I bought a little too heavy of a target bow. I would draw and start out above the bulls eye and move down to the bull. But I began to freeze above the bull and would just release the arrow. I shot good groups but always 3 inchens above the bull. It carried over into hunting and I shot over many deer. Then I went to a compound and sights and the problem followed me there. 10 years ago I went back to my recurve and 3 under, problem followed me there. So after taking heat from other trad guys because I was considered to be cheating shooting 3 under, I switched to one finger over and just stared at the spot I wanted to hit. Bingo, target panic was gone. I guess the tip of the arrow and the compound sight was giving me the problems. So after many years of shooting one finger over, I decided to try 3 under again just for kicks. The target panic was gone and I was able to hold the tip of the arrow right on the bull without any panic. But I still shoot one finger over now.
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OK, For those wanting to try and get control back in there traditional shooting for hunting purposes.
1. Start with a bow of no more than 40lbs.
2.Set up a dozen arrows with blunt tips.
3.go to an open field where you can shoot and DO NOT SET UP A TARGET.
4.Now your ready to groove in your form with your own technique.Draw your arrow to anchor WHILE looking out at the horizon.(you can do this real slow so you can see the draw hand coming back to the face (in your peripherel vision) and you can see the alignment of your bow ,the arrow in fact alot of things.
5.Now at the hold staring at the horizon line concentrate on that perfect release right off the face.
6.when you release stay completely stationary-do not move anything .
7. If you can see your arrow pick another area on the horizon but do not be aiming for anything yet.
8 do this for an hour as many times a week as you can.
9.When a month or two goes by of just doing this now set up a plastic soft drink bottle at about 75 yds away.
10.Shoot the bottle.Make this your practice spot and keep it no less than 40 yards away in time.
11.Forget the animal targets and bullseyes and cubes with dots.Just Plastic bottles and blunt tipped arrows.
12 I guarantee you will improve and regain control.
13.You can play with the hold at anchor counting seconds and releasing at differant times.
14. When ready to hunt -dont worry about nothing --shoot the darn animal in the heart!
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My thought on TP is that it starts when we focus too much on the last part of the shot sequence, the release. We tend to tighten up progressively as the shot sequence builds up. Basically we create a mind/body anticipation or panic. Best to try to focus on some other part of the shot sequence like the follow through. Make the follow through the prupose of the shot, not hitting the target. In other words let the shot happen do not try to control it. Did you ever notice that when people have target panic they can draw and hold at full anchor steady when they are not attempting to shoot at a target. Why because they are not building up to shoot an arrow. When they attempt to shoot at a target they get too focused on the shot, hitting the target that they forget eveything else. So my best tips are to get into solid form, perfect alignment, and then focus on the follow through make it the reason you are drawing back.
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I can pull it right back there hold it move off the target get back on what ever I wont to do. till I tell my self I am going to shoot.
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I dont know if T.P. is the correct name for it, people who have never had "it" will talk smack all day long about it not being real. I know this from experience, you get 100's of reasons why your shooting badly, "Your overbowed!" "Your release is crappy!" "You just dont know what your doing!, listen to me and it will go away!" etc.
I wont say I have "T.P." but I have something in that area. It will always show up under high pressure situations, 3-d shoots, hunting, and such. Never in the back yard when I'm shooting alone. No pressure, nothing but a spot on the target to concentrate on.
I will short draw REDICULOUSLY (I'm talking a 20" draw here) and release. As soon as it lines up I'll let go, and anything over 20 yards turns into an embarrasing shot. Almost every single target, sometimes its a 20" draw when it lines up, sometimes 27", but rarely will I pull it together at a 3-d shoot for more than one round. Luckily that one round is usually pretty decent.
I dont know what it is, other than pressure. Its not the bow, because I have shot the course with a 35# bow and it still happened.
But, sadly it's always there, as I NEVER hit my actual full draw, which is a tad over 28". 27" is what I pull usually, just in the back yard practicing. If I really concentrate I'll get to my full draw, and in turn I will shoot great. But I cannot keep it consistently for some reason.
Some days its terrible, some days I can hit a lifesaver at 20 yards (on purpose :scared:
:D
The Kid
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Sounds like you have it pretty bad to me. 20" draw! Thats bad.You mentioned using a 35lb bow but is that what you are always shooting with or just a quick try test? Because I would say stay with that 35lb bow and start going back to blank bale shooting WITH NO TARGET.I cannot emphasize how important that part is. You need to go back to the start and practice shooting for your form and not concentrating on anything else -especially a bull or target.USe Rubber blunts so after the hit it falls down and you dont shoot at your own arrows.Do this for a month till its all ingrained in your head.Form must be perfected.
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Longbowkid,
I agree that TP is the kind of thing a lot of people can't understand until they have it themselves. Then it's one of the most frustrating things they can imagine. The worst part is that no two people seem to have the exact same problem, so these one-size-fits-all cures are often more harm than help.
I fought it for years using every method I could find: blind bale work, this drill and that drill, and a half dozen mind tricks. Nothing made a lasting impact until I caved in and bought a clicker. The first few months with a clicker were pure hell until I really learned to shoot it correctly.
Now my shooting is better than ever. I should have bought a clicker years earlier. But that's what worked for me. Your solution may be totally different. Either way, with hunting seasons winding down or over, now is a great time to may whatever changes you need to get control of your shot again.
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Yep CV it is. I may be over-exxagerating a bit there, but not much. What I'll do is as soon as my shoulder locks into place, I'll freeze. Then I have to concentrate to use my back muscles to come to full draw, or I'll short draw, and usually snap shoot. No matter the poundage of bow.
I shot the 35# for a few months and the problem went away. I have a 40# now and I do the same with it when I get in a rut.
Luckily during early deer season, my confidence level was through the roof with my 57# longbow, couldnt shoot twice with broadheads for fear I'd kill an arrow.
Recently I sustained a hand injury, one of my tendons is stressed, or partially torn , something on that order. And I had to stop shooting for almost a month. I'm just now starting to shoot again gradually, and theres still a fair amount of pain. "TP" is making an appearance. All it takes for me to cure it is intense concentration for a week or two. But the hand injury is NOT helping, when it hurts to come to full draw, it puts a damper on your concentration.
I would completely out-rule the "TP" aspect of this, but I can come to full draw, anchor, pause, and release on a pine cone next to my target. I can even draw on the pine cone, swing to my target, and watch my draw decrease and lock in place at about 24".
Jason, I have used a clicker before, I concentrated more on the clicker than I did on aiming. Wasn't really for me, or I didnt try long enough. It stayed on my bow about a month before I took it off.
Lots of different "cures" out there but all I can say is just find which one fits you, and focus on that.
The Kid
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Originally posted by LONGBOWKID:
Lots of different "cures" out there but all I can say is just find which one fits you, and focus on that.
The Kid
That's it in a nutshell! Perfect advice. :thumbsup: