yes,  It sucks, but tomorrow all will back to normal.... remember we are all in process.
Joe

I just had the worst two weeks shooting I have had in a very long time.  After a great summer of shooting well, it was a big let down with deer season just around the corner.  This weekend in the middle of a three day shooting marathon I was ready to sell most and beat a tree with at least one of my bows.  I was very frustrated, but I kept shooting.  Some would say to hang it up, but my problem was an old one that comes back now and then;  I just had to figure it out, and a little shooting break was not the answer for me.  I finally figured it out. After trying all the other things that sometimes made it go away with no luck, I concentrated on one area a little more and kept making changes until it happened.  Clean arrow flight constantly.  The problem is gone now for three days, and I have full control of it.  It has been an off and on problem for almost two years.  This time I can make it happen and take it away.  I was never able to do that before.  Now I have only about a week and a half to dial in the rest of the shot for this new variation.  So far so good.

Hang in there and keep at it!

I sometimes have good and bad  in the same day . I think a lot of it depends on fatigue . But it makes it all worth it when things come together and you bust a few nocks off . gillchaser

One day I'm lights out the next I can't find my arrows. Put the bow down...

Sale em all cheap.Well maybe not cheap.But I do feel like breaking a bow on a big rock once in awhile.Or pitching it into a river.

Sometimes I feel like I could just bend the bow in half and turn it into splinters.

Ofcourse we all know ita not the bows fault.So just bang your head on a wall a few times and have a cold one LOL.

I cannot believe it! Your a musician ( good one from what I have heard of you) and you have never heard of ' some days are diamond - some days are stone'.... ??????

 

Whatever the shooting problem there is a remedy.If your shooting fine 1 day and then missing the whole target the next then thats not "good days bad days".Something is wrong in your shot process that needs remedy."Good days bad days"bad day-- should be not keeping all the arrows in the bullseye(but the arrows should be pretty close and grouped) and good day-- hitting the bullseye consistently.

And also here is a quote from Bill Leslie that I saved for when I have one of those "bad days".

"The cure for your trouble is really a very simple one , lololol It really is. so simple in fact that most people do not believe it. The answer is also the cure for target panic. I have never had TP and I know I never will.

For this to work it really helps if you believe in God. If you will take this to heart it will cure what ale's you.

You have to realize that there is only one perfect being in this world and I'm pretty sure you or I are not him. You have to understand that no one is perfect and forgive yourself for your mistakes. Man, Ya just have to laugh at yourself and forget it.


You can not be too hard on yourself either. I know shooters that beat themselfs up because they hit the far right side of the 10 ring and not the middle. I mean, holy cow ! , your in the 10 ring. There is not a picture of it on the scorecard. It's still a 10 !!!!!!! You should feel lucky that you are not in the 8 !!!!!!! Again that's thinking good thoughts not bad thoughts.

Good thoughts = good shooting , Bad Thoughts = bad shooting"

Thanks for the encouragement feller's. Im at work now, but once I get out I am shooting again......between poly dips on my new hunting woodys! I need a change in targets as some suggested. A tennis ball on a string, water bottles or something. The ol' bag is getting tired.

I take the advice of an Olympic archery coach (and traditional hunter).  I've made a "String Bow" training aid. It is just a loop of string (about the diameter of parachute cord)made to fit your draw length. Warm up your mind and shooting muscles with the String Bow. Whenever your actual shot isn't feeling right (maybe evidenced by less than stellar results) get the String Bow out and review your form.

To make the String Bow:
1. Start wtih 90" piece of string (about 1/8" dia
2. Fold it in half.
3. With bow hand hold the string 8-10" below fold
4. Place draw fingers in the fold.
5. Raise bow hand and draw hand
6. Draw the string through your bow hand to anchor
7. Pinch the string in bow hand to mark spot
8. Tie an overhand knot at this point
9. You've made a loop that is your draw length
10. Practice the shot, especially follow through

When you can imagine the string bow is your bow and the bow is the string bow, you are there. In my 45 years of shooting this is the best advice I've ever been given.

For more information I recommend two DVDs.

1. Beyond NASP --  www.nasparchery.comm
2. Stricklands Traditional Archery--www.stricklandsarchery.comm

Hang in there. My "signature" on these posts is my mantra when it comes to shooting a bow. You've shot long enough that the physical side of archery has taken a back seat to the mental aspects a long, long time ago.

Yup, set it down and come back later.

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
President Calvin Coolidge

I have been shooting for years also and know what to expect when I pull the string back. If thing go array, I automatically start looking for the problem. The mental side of shooting is black and white, to me.

Don't overlook the mental side of shooting. I play a lot of billiards and coach several players on my teams. Much like shooting traditional archery, if you approach the shot with any doubt in your head, you need to step back for a second and refocus on what your doing. A lot of people talk themselves out of a shot well before they even attempt it. I will guarantee you this, if you approach any shot with the mentality that you "might" miss....you are right, you will miss.

Stay focused.

Regards!

Bowwild that sounds very interesting. I am going to tie up a rope tonight and work on it. I assume you "draw" the rope until the knot hits, then "release" it? Also, I assume you have some tension on it when you hit your anchor? Thanks for the tip, even though my bad day was only one day, I think it could help me out everyday!

That string bow is how I learned to understand back tension. I follow that up with the form master to work on form and strength without having to shoot arrows. Great for practicing during commercials in the living room.

I've been there more then ounce. I'm sure I will be there again! I always try and end off on a good note though. Even if its one arrow in the kill zone. But thats just me..

Pearl Drums,
You actually seat you bow hand in the bottom of the loop where the knot is. YOur string hand is in the other end. Yes, you put 20 pounds plus "force" on the string at anchor using your back muscles and then as soon as the drawing elbow budges rearward, release.

If you want to send me a PM with e-mail I'll send you a photograph and some drawings.

when I have them I just get up close and shoot,works for me