My dad and I shoot in the yard all the time, he's compound I shoot longbows, and sometimes I go out and shoot descent at about fifteen yards. Sometimes I go out which is hapening right now and I cannot hit anything. And my dad complains about missing by 2 inches at forty yards, when I'm complaing about missing by 2 feet at twenty. Does anyone else have this besides me... Just wondering?

I've just been shooting a little over a month and I am having a hard time developing consistency.

I've been having that problem all summer. Somedays I shoot good, others can't seem to hardly hit the plate (target) at all.

I try to quit on a good note. If it's an off day I try to end it short so I don't get too frustrated then start the next day already frustrated.

Don't rush the shot!Take your time. Draw anchor, very important consistant anchor point,pick a spot, a small spot,and a good clean release. If your tired  from shooting every day, [don't forget it's easy for Dad to shoot that compound with the let off on it]tell Dad hey lets take a break and go do something else today. Tired or tired and sore = bad shooting habits!Take a break. after a couple of days try it again , see what happens.

How long have you been shooting?
You are seventeen.
I am 51, and have been shooting since I was eight. There are days when I couldn't hit the ground with my hat. I have no excuse, but I know that most of the problem is the mental game, the other part is not having a back yard that I can shoot in. Sometimes I wish I had had some instruction, and sometimes I realize that most of what I do is self-taught. It seems I learn pretty well that way. A mentor might do the both of us some good! Can your dad help you with form issues?

You haven't been at it as long. Part of being seventeen is wanting it all to click right now, so that you can go out there and be terrific. You will be terrific, but it will take a heck of a lot more practice. And it will take more practice with trad equipment than it will with sights and letoff. I am still perusing the Shooters Forum, books, videos and any other sources of info that I can. But mostly, steady practice and careful thought about the shot are what it takes.

That and the times that the arrow threads a golden strand of joyous flight to a precise spot seen clearly in your mind.

Killdeer~you will get there.  

Learn form, release and back tension. Then start worrying about hitting the target where you want. Visit the shooters forum like Killie said and you can pick up quite a bit. I have years of mistakes I already made that perhaps can help you avoid them and I'm only one of many here that is willing to help you out.

me and my dad go out and shoot in the yard at least four nights a week together, and its one of my favoritw things to do. He is a compound shooter and he will go and shoot five arrows in a three inch group at thirty yards and ill shoot mine in about the size of a pie plate and when i have a bad night we just stop and call it early. because when you start getting frustrated you wont shoot any better. just cherish the tme shootin with your dad and have fun

you mean to tell me youre an inconsistent trad shooter? HuH.........Maybe you need to adjust your sight pins!  Or... Maybe your drop away rest isnt dropping away fast enough....Check those things first and get back to us!!  

killie has it right. It just takes time and practice. and more and more and more of it. 90% of it is mental, stop and think about the shot and concentrate on a spot all the way through the shot. Give it time it will come. But you may never shot like someone with a compound that's just the way it is.

QuoteI am 51, and have been shooting since I was eight. There are days when I couldn't hit the ground with my hat.

LOL - That about sums it up for me, too.

Killdeer, I love reading your posts.  You have a definite way with words.

BillJ

Killdeer,  

Consistent form breeds consistent shooting. When I miss, it's either not coming to full draw, or letting my bow arm move.

I have the same problem except it's my wife and she LOVES to rub it in.  
hmph.

(We actually have a blast shooting together, even with our different equipment)

been there......still doin that  

I'm with ya bud! If I can't get a deer at 4 yards, I may never kill anything!!  :(    :(

My $.02 says you are shooting at distances too far.  I know for me (I'm 58 and been shooting since I was 16), my effective range is about 18 yds.  There are some out there that can "hang" with the compound shooters but by and large the majority of us can't.  Find "your" effective range and don't shoot Hail Mary's to attempt longer shots than you are capable of.

Form first, distance second. I'dmuch rather have a 10 yd. shot at an animal whitin my range than shooting and hoping at one over 18 yds.  Too much can happen between the time the arrow leaves and makes contact with "whatever".

If you are just target shooting, again, find your range, practice form and don't shoot a lot beyond your comfort zone.

Best of luck.

Like Killie I too am 51 and have shot bows since age ten.  Lots of arrows pass through the air in that many years and I have days that everything clicks and is on target.  Then I have those days when nothing goes right and I just put it away for another day.

Dennis

I'm glad I looked at this, I was thinking I was the only one that was bustin nocks today and (maybe)searching for arrows tomorrow.