beginer target panic need help

[dangerous dan]

I purchased a bow a few weeks ago and had the local pro shop tune it. I read up on form stance release etc before shooting. The first time ever shooting a bow at the 20 yard indoor range I did what I thought was good all arrows inside the blue and white on a 5 spot. I even shot a tripple robbinhood on the first day. fast forward one week. I joined a spot leage and shot 254 out of 300, the next week I shot a 249. I felt really good about these scores and started setting goals such as 260+, 25 points with 3 x's, 90+ points on 20 arrows, etc..etc..etc.. I took a vacation up north for 9 days and wasn't able to shoot, but I did bring a bow-fit archery exerciser and an 15 lb dumbell. I would pull and hold the bow fit 3 sets of 15 and hold the dumbell perfictly still with arm extended as if it was a bow, I would do this 3 sets of 15 seconds. I shot at a target in the yard when i returned several times and did ok. The next time i shot league i shot a 225. I was frustrated and spent several days shooting many arrows into the backyard target. Next time I shot league I shot a 222. I am getting worse instead of better. Reading up I believe I have target panic, the pin seems to move more and the more I practice the worse I get. I am able to practice daily for 30 minutes at lunch and need to fix my problem before it gets even worse. From reading several articles and taking points from each I will start doing the followind during my practice sessions and see if it helps.
1. With a 5 spot on my target pull back and approach the x from the bottom, move away, approach from the top, move away approach from the left etc..I will do this without releasing and let down when done, This will be done 10 times at 20 yards.
2. Move closer 5 or to rards and turn the target over to the side that has no target. Draw, aim at center close my eyes and concentrate on release, goal is to make the release a suprise and do it with back tention, get a feel for what a good release feels like, Do this for 15 arrows and not concern myself with where they hit
3. step out to 20 yards and shoot 5 arrows at the 5 spot.

This will be repeated for 3 or 4 days then on friday shoot 20 or 30 arrows at the 5 spot initially

Is this a good plan, I won't to get the best practice I can during my 30 minute lunch sessions, but don't want to develop any more bad habits.

Thanks

[dangerous dan]

Just got back from lunch and practiced 1 2 and 3 above. The eyes closed close range seemed to help the most, I still jerked when 1 shot the 5 spot at 20 yards, guess i just need to shoot with my eyes closed for a couple of days to get the feel for the proper release. I also adjusted my itty bitty tiny winy little goose. I noticed at full draw the trigger fell directly between my 1st and second knuvkles and to get it to the crease of my second knuckle I had to rotate my hand i shortened it about 1/4 inch and also increased trigger tension hopefully this will help. Will do the bling bail eyes closed thing more this evening.
Will these things help or am I waisting my time?
I want to get the best results out of my practice, any advice?


Thanks in advance

[Cropduster]

Looks to me like you are on the right track. Be sure to follow through on each shot, in other words hold the draw until the arrow is in the target. Another thing you can do any time is to go through the shot sequence in your mind when you have time. This will help in getting the shot off without having the panic. I would think that the practice with the eyes closed at very close range would probably help as much as anything. Let us know how things turn out.

[bowhuntntxn]

Like I said yesterday on your thread, stop trying to hit an X. Blind bailing will help the most, but when you move back to 20yrds, do not put a target on. Pick a spot on the target, and try to hit it. Then try to hit your first arrow. Do this VERY slow and methodically, focusing on the hold and aim. Picture the shot in your mind, and see the arrow striking the target before you actually shoot it. If you can stick a colored golf tee into the target, and shoot at it, that will help a ton. This panic thing is overcomable, but you have to try really hard at it.

[dangerous dan]

I will bling bail some more tonight it seems to help

[Randy]

I had the same problem. I started shooting with both eyes open and it solved the problem for me.

[dangerous dan]

I had the same problem. I started shooting with both eyes open and it solved the problem for me.

I cant I am right handed shooting a right hand bow but left eye dominant i have to close my left eye

[quarterback]

Unlike a rifle, your bow, release, string, leather wrist strap and a bunch of other things are stretching a little bit with each shot. Nothing ever stays absolutely constant but it does settle down after a while. Perhaps all your stuff is still in "break in" mode. Be patient, grasshopper and practice a lot.

[Bill]

Dan,

Call the shop where you bought it, and ask if somebody there gives archery lessons (maybe the owner himself). Spend a few bucks on a lesson or 2 and have somebody work with you on the problem, and getting your shooting back on-track. All the suggestions made are good, but until somebody is standing next to you it's hard. You are right about not wanting to learn bad habits, which are 10x more difficult to un-learn later.

[GregO]

Stop!! Go get the correct equipment, a left handed bow.
And, the funny thing is there’s going to be a whole gaggle of archers out there that are going to tell you not to do that. I promise you that if you’re equipment is not correct for you, everyone is going to tell you to get the correct equipment and NOT to fit yourself to the wrong equipment.
Q. I have the wrong length arrows, A. get the correct length.
Q. Wrong spine A. get the right spine.
Q. Wrong release A. get the right one…
On and on…
All good until you say that you are right handed and left eyed. And OMG, don’t get the right equipment.. They’ll tell you to put Vaseline on your glassed, get an eye patch, pull that left eye out, anything, but don’t get the right equipment.
Now I’m no pro, but I can talk from experience. I’m right handed and left eyed.
I switched to a left handed bow. It was a little uncomfortable in the beginning, and actual took about two weeks before is felt “right”. After two weeks I was shooting those spots waaayyy better that I had ever hoped for. Again no pro, but I do shoot 295-298 30-40 x very consistently. That’s with a hunting bow, 70# with pins. Not exactly your average target bow.
So IMHO, get the right equipment, give it two weeks and leave a lifetime of problems behind you.

[Arrowsmith]

I know you have already mentioned variations of what I am about to say.


1.Blank bailing with your eyes closed from about 6 ft. 20 reps a day.

2.Come to full draw and hold on the X from about 6 ft. Then let down and repeat. 20 reps a day. Do 1. & 2. for at least a week without shooting any arrows at anything other than the blank bail, eyes closed shots.

3. If your release is a wrist strap trigger release adjust the strap so the trigger falls in or slightly behind the crease of your first knuckle of your trigger finger. You can then pull into the trigger without punching the trigger.

4. After a week of this type of practice shoot a 10 yard 5 spot game. Shoot all 12 ends (60 arrows) from 10 yards. This will give you confidence, you can hold on the X much easier from 10 yards, and you will feel like the best archer in the world. Don't get me wrong. You can still drop an X from 10 yards but it will greatly help your confidence to shoot from 10 yards. Shoot 10 yard games until you are shooting 300 with 60x's. You can do it and it will make you feel great. Then move back to 20 yards and shoot a 5 spot game. Remember 10 yard games are good practice anytime.

[bowhuntntxn]

Greg O that is GREAT ADVICE!!!! I am kinda shocked that a shop would sell you the wrong handed bow to begin with. Ask Aggie2000tx about changing from right to left hand because of eye dominance. You will shoot a ton better, and it will be easier to improve when you do not have to fight your brain to make things work.

[dangerous dan]

I bought the bow from e-bay NIB for a great deal the bow shoots well. I pulled back a left hand bow and it just didn't work for me. I know I will have to work a little harder to shoot a right hand bow I am totally umcomfortable with a left hand bow. I know of somebody that is left handed and eyed that shoots a right hand bow and shoots 300's, and another person like me that is RH amd LE that shoots a RH bow 300's. It can be done, I will just have to work a little harder.

I strongly agree that this is 100% mental!
The first day getting the bow I was shooting really well
Then I started trying/thinking harder and my scores went down
I can practice from 20 yards relaxed and get 7 out of 8 arrows in the center white.
When I shoot one arrow at each of the 5 spots it is usually like this
XX544
X5444
54444
54440
44440
etc..I start trying harder and thinking more and I shoot worse.
A friend went with me to gander mountain and wanted to shoot my bow, I was totally relaxed and just joking around and hitting a paper turkey in the head at 20 yards.

What is happening is my left arm moves and the pin moves around the target, i try and stop it but the longer I hold the more it moves, finally when I see the pin near the center I hurry and pull the triger.

I believe I am thinking about it too much and lost confidence. I like the idea of blank bail and shooting from 10y, I beleive this will help with my release and confidense

[Randy]

I cant I am right handed shooting a right hand bow but left eye dominant i have to close my left eye

Yes you can. Thats exactly how I am. Start with your left eye closed right eye open. As you come to the target start to crack your left eye open. You may not be able to open it all the way at first but it will work.

[Arrowsmith]

There are other ways to shoot a right handed bow with a dominant left eye. You can anchor with the string on the left side of your nose, close your right eye and look thru your peep with your left eye. I have seen several world class archers shoot this way and really shoot well. Here is a pic ture of one......BTW the picture is of Dave Cousins shooting right handed with his left eye.