Hey everyone,
Last September when I first started trad hunting I was completely self taught and I developed some habits that I couldn't break all the way through the end of January.  Since then, I have put down my bow and tried to erase everything from my memory about form and posture etc. in hopes of being able to start over with better form this year.  Well, I picked up the bow today and guess what?  No different.  The way I shoot is very unpredictable and I barely even get to my anchor before my mind screams at me to release, and I'm getting a little sick of it.  I have stood 3 ft. in front of the target to try and JUST work on form instead of accuracy, but I still get nowhere.  Buff is a member on this forum and if any of you have seen his videos, then you know the type of form and patience to release that I want to have.  My goal is to be able to wait 3-4 seconds at full draw before I release, and he is a good example of that.  Anyways, if any of you helpful tradgangers have some advice for me, it would be very much appreciated.  Thanks, -Lee

Contact Jay Kidwell, (J-KIDD I think), he has helped many a shooter with what your speaking of, sounds to me like a case of Target Panic. One thing that helps is to get or make a ultralight # bow, I made mine out of a 6' piece of 1/2" PVC and used parachord for the string, probably around 10# @ 28". Jay has some drills that will reteach your brain that it doesn't have to release the shot just because you draw the bow or are pointing at the target. I personally was on the verge of putting down my trad equipment all together until I spoke to him and read his book "Instinctive Archery Insights", I can't emphasise enough how much he helped and after just one 5 minute session I could tell there was a major improvement. Don't give up just yet between the man and the book you can be fixed.

leewillis,
I have been shooting trad. for more then 15yrs. and for some reason, I am developing the same problem. I have never been one to hold to long at anchor (one second or so), but now its automatic, and my shooting ability is suffering.
For me I don't think its Target Panic, just a bad habit.

Shortstroke 91,
I think I will talk to J-kidd as well. THANKS for the tip.

chris <><

Sounds like a good idea you got there shortstroke.  I think that if I could hold at my anchor for just a few seconds more then my archery skills will drastically improve.

One of the drills is to come to full draw with the PVC bow, arrow nocked and point it at your TV or picture frame window. Point it at something you know you can't shoot at. Ask yourself if when you shoot in your back yard how many times you draw and don't fire, if your like most of us the answer is none. Step 1 is drawing while aiming, step 2 is finding anchor and step 3 is releasing. Well your brain is trying to jump from 1 to 3 so you need to reteach it that it has to do step 2 as well. There are several more drills that Jay can help you with and I may not have explained this one as well as he does but jou get the jist of it. I can't recommend talking to him and reading his book enough, I think the paperback is only about $12 and the payoff is golden.

Thanks so much shortstroke.  I went to three rivers and ordered his book soon as I saw the good things you had to say about it.  Thanks again!