I always thought the tighter groups a person could shoot, the better shot they were. After 20 plus years of bowshooting I have realized that after that first shot, whether on the mark or not, rather than concentrate on hitting what I should be aiming at I tend to shoot for the previously shot arrow. I know that sounds crazy, but since going traditional I have found a whole new side to archery. It is the first shot that's the shot, once it's made you can't go back and should only look foward. By the by, shot the first 3d tourny and placed second. There weren't many traditional shooters and I never even heard the traditional class mentioned at awards ceremony. That's ok, us real shooters will continue fly under the radar....just waiting for the shot.

To me if you shoot tight groups, it means that you have great form which makes you consistent. A single arrow shooting at a specific target makes you accurate.

 Congrats on second thats great.  

For me, I don't shoot arrow "groups". I shoot one arrow, go get it, come back and shoot it again.

With the above said, the most important shot for me is the first shot I take at a 20 yard target, the first shot at a 17 yard target, the first shot at a 15 yard target, etc.

With the first shot at these distances, I want to put the first shot right where I'm aiming (looking) at.

Thanks for the input guys!  

Yep see it one the 3 d course. First guy shoots and no matter where his arrow is everyone else ends up there.

Congrats on the 2nd.  Sounds like some good shooting.

Dito  

Yep, good observation.

Just a thought on the tendency to shoot at the first arrow. Not necessarily a problem. Here's why. You have simply changed the "spot". As long as you are focusing on a specific aiming point (ie, the first arrow)and are hitting close by, you are still following good shot dicipline in terms of shooting form. However, I see the problem that arises if that first arrow placement is not good. Then you need the difficult discipline to ignore that  arrow and go for a better spot on the target. Unfortunately, that is where my discipline often breaks down.

Its great to hear that you are enjoying the transition to traditional and that you are having early success.