Right now is when I shoot the most, getting ready for the fall. Like most of us, I TRY and shoot every day, but in reality I do not....Hunting seasons, weather, spring turkeys....they all distract me away from training and practice.
So right now....turkey season is over, the weather is nice....I tend to fling at least a couple arrows every day. I usually shoot in small batches, not long runs of a hundred arrows LOL. 12 well thought out arrows is better for me than blind repetition.
Sometimes I will notice something off. My release, my grip...and I will just focus on that for a day or so.
I would love to hear about your training methods...
I have been trying not to shoot alot of arrows at one time either. I try to vary my distances every arrow in batches of 3.
I have been trying some new things, like "trying " to hold longer at anchor ect. Sometimes it's successful, more than often not.
I came to the conclusion just to relax and shoot the bow the way I have always have done in a relaxed manner. The more thought I seem to put into it, the worse I do.
I got most of this from Nate Steen and his blogs. So nothing I thought up.
Part One:
I shoot really close up to the bale or whatever and concentrate on form things like getting well into my anchor, no plucking, smooth release, I don't let my release hand fly away from my face after the shot. Full draw with good alignment. At this point not worried about what I am hitting/ just the draw, anchor and release and my form. Usually in my garage, often just a few shots at a time, in between chores or whatever.
Part two:
I just get outside and enjoy the bow. I try to shoot quite a few arrows at longer ranges 75 yards or so. Usually kind of at a branch on the ground. Also not really concerned about hitting anything, just watching with my peripheral vision for good on line flight, getting used to the bow. (Especially with a new bow.)
At this time I try not to analyze ever aspect of my form, or critiquing every shot, just enjoying shooting in a fluid, relaxed style.
Now I shoot at branches, stumps, leaves, whatever catches my eye. Trying to concentrate on hitting a spot and keeping good form all the way through the shot until the arrow hits.
I very seldom shoot at foam or bag targets, practically never shoot groups, anymore. I use judo heads way more than field tips now a days. Thinking about getting some blunts.
The exception here is I will shoot broadheads into a foam cube to make sure they fly well.
One thing I almost forgot:
SMILE when shooting, it's supposed to be fun.
Once again, all the good points above came from Nate Steen. The questionable stuff is probably from me😜.
This is just my routine these days.
Quote from: MnFn on May 04, 2026, 09:40:43 AMI got most of this from Nate Steen and his blogs. So nothing I thought up.
Part One:
I shoot really close up to the bale or whatever and concentrate on form things like getting well into my anchor, no plucking, smooth release, I don't let my release hand fly away from my face after the shot. Full draw with good alignment. At this point not worried about what I am hitting/ just the draw, anchor and release and my form. Usually in my garage, often just a few shots at a time, in between chores or whatever.
Part two:
I just get outside and enjoy the bow. I try to shoot quite a few arrows at longer ranges 75 yards or so. Usually kind of at a branch on the ground. Also not really concerned about hitting anything, just watching with my peripheral vision for good on line flight, getting used to the bow. (Especially with a new bow.)
At this time I try not to analyze ever aspect of my form, or critiquing every shot, just enjoying shooting in a fluid, relaxed style.
Now I shoot at branches, stumps, leaves, whatever catches my eye. Trying to concentrate on hitting a spot and keeping good form all the way through the shot until the arrow hits.
I very seldom shoot at foam or bag targets, practically never shoot groups, anymore. I use judo heads way more than field tips now a days. Thinking about getting some blunts.
The exception here is I will shoot broadheads into a foam cube to make sure they fly well.
One thing I almost forgot:
SMILE when shooting, it's supposed to be fun.
Once again, all the good points above came from Nate Steen. The questionable stuff is probably from me😜.
This is just my routine these days.
Interesting.....I am committed to more stump shooting this summer, and less foam.
Forgot to mention, I like to shoot at things that are off the ground too. I think I read that Schafer(spelling?) would stick a coke can or plastic bottle on a branch and shoot at that sometimes.
I will often stick a small plastic coke bottle on a marking flag (like they use to mark underground cables, pipes, etc.) and shoot at that. When you hit, it gives a very satisfying sound!
I'm a month out from a bear hunt and shoot daily from a treestand in the yard at small bits of paper on the ground at about 10/15/20 yards. Shooting Snuffers only, and about 2 dozen arrows a day in 4 arrow batches. I went to the TN classic and shot a little there. That was the first shooting I've done in 3 months that was not from a treestand. Goal is 24 well shot arrows with 100% "good enough to kill a bear" every day.
R
TN classic pic