Yesterday I took a bow out for a shooting session. I was making a bad release on 40% of my shots. This is not normal for me. I would estimate i have a bad release more like 5% of the time.
what would you do?
I'm no help.
A bad release is normal.
Killdeer :rolleyes:
I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but fight through it.
I always try to finish with a good shot, therefore, I would have to shoot through it.
Blank bale
I voted quit immediately but I am probably more likely to continue shooting till I give up in frustration!
I have occasionally just moved right up to my target and concentrated on getting one arrow away cleanly, but probably should just quit till tomorrow!
Hang the bow up and fletch some arrows! tomorrows a new day.
fling the bow?
For me it would be a combination of both answers.
When i realize somethings wrong, i quit shooting for say an hour or so. Then i restart and try to figure out what im doing wrong and work through it.
I've worked in various mechanical trades for almost 30yrs and when I was young and things would start going wrong I'd fight it but it normally ended up the harder I tried to figure out what was wrong the more mistakes I'd make. As I matured I realized if I'd go grab a cup of coffee or soda and either sit down for a bit or go to another project the answers to the problems would come to me if it were a diagnosis issue and if it were a frustration issue I would return with a calm head and could work through the problem. I have applied this to everything in life from family issues to shooting firearms and archery equipment. I've found you normally start overthinking your problem and just make it worse if you don't walk away and clear your head.
I just Relax and figure I will live longer.
Couldn't help it Charlie.
But I am more in Killie's camp on this one. A bad release seems to be my norm
Shoot a different bow. Switching to a bow I haven't shot in awhile always seems to get me refocused.
Stop shooting. Work on something else. Fletch some arrows, sharpen a knife....whatever.
Come back to it when your mind is not on your release.
I'm betting you rarely have a bad release when hunting....too much going on in your head. get to THAT place.
I couldn't end a shooting session with a "bad shot"... Maybe it's just me but I'd need to work it out right then and there...
Sometimes we are just tired from a days work or upset with life that day and need to hide within ourselves and shoot some arrows... Then, because we are not in a relaxed state of mind, we mess up... There are those who say "put the bow down for now" and I can understand why... Not me though... I'll slow it all down and feel better after a few good shots...
It's All Good Charlie! Hope to see ya soon.
... mike ...
I have learned to stop, and immediately CHECK MY BRACE HEIGHT. My release is not perfect, but it is consistent. I've learned to have some confidence in that. Every time that I get weird arrow flight lately (and probably for the recent past), it has been due to my brace height creeping down on me. A week ago I was picking targets the size of ping-pong balls and hitting them reliably. Then 2 days later... arrows banging off the bow and flying like a plane with no rudder. I immediately measured brace height, and it was low. 3 days ago I went outside in the dark, set up an 8" ball to shoot at, took 3 shots at 30 yards and hit it each time, then went to bed. Last night, terrible accuracy... until I checked my brace and it was low again. (New string settling in.)
Throw the bow on the ground and stomp on it. :biglaugh:
All kidding aside; I know how you shoot, and a bad release is not common for you.
I like to go back to basics and try to figure it out. Usually that works and sometimes it doesn't.
If I am starting a 40 target 3D round, I am not going to quit for the day. See you Saturday.
Listen to Ken, he knows :)
Tomorrow is another day
F-Manny
I get an awful release about one in 50 shots, and find if I concentrate on getting a deep hook, I remedy the situation.
Quitting and coming back later is not an option since your brain "may" remember your last shot which just perpetuates the malady. Work through it and quit only after you are happy with your release(s).
I would stop and work on Jay Kidwells drills. The floating anchor and the move through the target drills. Personally, I get way better results by doing these drill than the blank bale stuff.
QuoteOriginally posted by TxAg:
I know I shouldn't, but I can't help but fight through it.
This sums it up good for me. :knothead:
Schafer
Go take the dogs for a walk or chase the wife around the kitchen table. Then go try it again later. Talk yourself thru the shot, focus on back tension and a steady bow arm.....you'll be fine!
Thanks for the answers fella's. Chuck, You are right I need to relax.
Mikey and Ken hit the nail on the head as I know they know some of my daily work frustrations. If my mind is "buzzing" from a tough day/week. I am shooting like crap.
For me its like ron say's. I have to calm down, and come back with a clean slate. Sometimes though for me, it can take a day or two.
I was just curious if people can work through it or if the problem would only get worse. personally I think I could potentially develop a bad habit If I try to physically work it out!
I build and help guys with shooting big bore hunting handguns and it's the same thing. If they start having issues (normally flinching) and keep shooting they start to develop a permanent issue that is alot harder to break than if they just walk away for a bit.
What Roger said.
Whats a good release :knothead: I might quit and come back. But if Im just funning around ,I just relax and do it.(shoot the target with my shot gun.)Can't do that im in town.
Charlie we all have bad days,walk away until you're in a better frame of mind.
I agree Grinch, Sometimes we are in a funk and really don't know it. Little things screw us up in our heads. I have tried to fight through it and I seem to just get worse as time goes on. If I put my bow down for even and hour or two and comeback it is a world of difference
If I quit when things weren't right I'd never get to shoot. I work through it trying to find what the problem is and very seldom quit on a bad note.
I'm an NRA certified and 4H rifle instructor and I always tell my folks that "perfect practice makes perfect". If you're having a bad day and bad habits are causing poor shooting, whether it applies to rifles or bows, quit! Come back later when those bad habits have subsided.
I learned to walk away from the session before frustration set in.