Have a clicker now what?

[AMB]

One tip that helps me, let the majority of the string pressure ride on the middle finger or 'bird' finger.

[A.S.]

2Blade, you are probably letting your draw elbow come up too high, thus putting extra pressure on your ring finger. Concentrate on holding it low while drawing the bow. Also, you may try just letting the ring finger lay against the string with very little pressure as you draw-this should more evenly distribute the pressure on the other fingers.

[2Blade]

Ok so I still havent short drawn in quite awhile im actually getting to shoot it feels great. I held a few shots after it clicked but for the most part im still shooting when it clicks. I did order Jay Kidwells book from 3 Rivers Archery should be here anyday. Im hoping it will open a few more doors for me and get me under control. Will this book help me get over TP any faster by using his methods along with the clicker. If not is it possible to hunt with a clicker thats not silent? My accuracy is pretty good out to 20 yards ive also been shooting at 30 yards and doing decent im  not short drawing at that range either. Thoughts?

[KSdan]

Yup- jay will have you do new shooting excercises that will help tremendously.  

I used the clicker and his training. It keeps me consistent throughout the season when I am not shooting as much or cold on stand.

I played around with my clicker by gently bending the solid-thicker piece.  This actually allowed me to change the sound of the clicker- mine is almost just the feel with no sound.  

My only nagging conern would be one of those still quiet winter nights.  But then again, just drawing may be perceptible in those conditions.

[2Blade]

My goal is to be almost TP free or fully TP by October if thats possible. I really want to be in a tree opening day with my longbow on my lap. Im hoping Jays book will help alot im looking foreword to receiving it.

Should I go chapter by chapter and do each drills then move to the next chapter for a more advanced technique once I have the previous one down?

[KSdan]

You will be ready . . . though you have to always be working with the drills.  Don't make things too hard. . . read it, learn, apply a few of the insights and watch your confidence develop.  Have fun.  

Don't be too hard on yourself.  Trad and instinctive is fun, don't make it harder than it needs to be. You have plenty of time- and even if you get to October and have to limit yourself to 12, 16 or 20 yds.  Enjoy the process. Most wonderful things in life do not come over- night!  Even your hunting style will change in time.    

By the way; it is always interesting to me when I hear people say they shoot trad because they wanted more of a challenge.  I have no doubt this is true for many (maybe even most), but I switched because I wanted something easier and more economical.  After reading an article by one of the Wensel's about intinctive shooting- it just made sense.  I now enjoy the simplicity of the whole matter.

Good shooting and hunting
Dan

[NYRON]

Hey 2Blade,

I see that you live in Ithaca. I work at Cornell and live just south of Ithaca in Van Etten. I've been shooting with a clicker (on and off) for about 3 years. I published an article on clickers (Follow Your Impure Thoughts to Curing Target Panic) in the Professional Bowhunters magazine about 2 years ago. I'd be happy to show you how I install and use clickers. A few modifications will greatly improve their usability for hunting. I can also show you an alternative draw-check method that works like a clicker, but uses no mechanical device. Anyway, drop me an e-mail and I'll see if I can give you a hand.

Ron Rohrbaugh (rwr8@cornell.edu)

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

A couple wraps of black electric tape around the middle of the spring will quiet, if not silence, the clicker.

[2Blade]

NYRON I sent you an email.

I got Jays book today ive already began reading it. Im currently reading about Instinctive Shooting in it just to understand it better then will move to the next chapters.

KSDan one of the reason I like trad is because shooting modern day equipment is so expensive. Plus ive always liked the way traditional bows look and shoot and they are much simpler to maintain. Not to mention ive shot my modern bows instinctively with fingers anyway so it was a matter of time before I got in to a recurve or longbow. And I want to get my animals close and there aint nothing like stump shooting that is my true love of traditional archery. Ive tried with a modern bow and have wrecked many arrows. Ive really taken a liking to traditional archery but quit posting here for the most part because it just wasnt fun with TP. Now I have a possible cure and im doing better now that I have in the past year so hopefully itel all work on and I can chase whitetails with my longbow!

[KSdan]

You are on the right track Nick.  TP is 100% curable when you understand what is happening in the brain.  I am 47 and was a one time collegiate athlete.  I also work/have friendships with pro/collegiate athletes who use this same brian stuff to become the elite.

BTW- I read that Wensel article 22 years ago.  Then stumbled into a couple of Alaska Bowman magazines (wished I had known they were collectibles- I would have never leant them out! ARGH!!)  Been shooting trad for 18 or so.  Been shooting the same- one and only bow- for 15 years along with the same wt/length/spine arrows.  Pretty amazing how it all becomes part of you.

You will do well.  Most of us did it without all the internet help. Its all natural.  Learning curve takes a little longer- but once you got it. . .ahhhh, like riding a bike!!

Dan

[Landshark160]

Originally posted by 2Blade:
If not is it possible to hunt with a clicker thats not silent?

I have a friend who fought TP for 20 years before trying a clicker.  It cured it for him immediately and he hasn't shot a bow without one in the last 8 years.  He has killed 77 deer while using a clicker that was not silenced in any way.  According to him, they just don't pay it any attention.  BTW, these south Georgia whitetails are about as spooky as they get.

[2Blade]

Thats good to know about the clicker my uncle thinks the same thing to that it wont bother the deer.

Been reading the book more really like the info makes alot of sense. Should I skip ahead to the TP section or just go chapter by chapter? Most of the stuff ive already read about as far as stance and eye dominance. Or is this apart of the TP that he discusses?

[2Blade]

I read Jays book and have been doing the drills and using the clicker. I can do his Figure 8 drill and hold as long as I want to on the target but when I want to shoot like I normally would I snap shoot. I can do all his drills out to 40 yards with no problem but still experence TP when I want just shoot. It doesnt make sence to me. Also how did you guys train yourself to hold after the clicker clicks.

[AMB]

What has helped me more than anything was getting a set of 40lb limbs to shoot during the off season and work on form.  This along with the clicker has helped me shoot the last three 3-d shoots calm and in control.  I actually shot a tournament today with my new 50lb limbs that I plan on hunting with and posted my best score to date, 191 on 20 targets.  Also, explain the situation to your wife, I told my wife about how target panic affected my and she said " that's stupid, just aim and shoot the thing!"  It really is that simple.  Not that easy, but that simple.  I don't know if one is ever 'cured', I look at it as cancer and in remission.  The clicker will never leave my bow for that reason.  You can get control with correct practice and time.  I've suffered for, well, all of my life.  The first tournament that I shot this year was the first one that I have ever shot without TP, it was the most fun that I've ever had!  Good luck to you.
Andy