Instinctive vs. gap shooting

[tagman]

I need a break.

On a recent post, someone asked about instinctive shooting with a compound. A reply said that what he was talking about was actually called gap shooting.

When I learned to shoot a bow as a kid, I was taught to use the eye as the rear sight and the arrow tip as the front sight. Then, hold high or low on the desired point of impact depending on range. A certain range, depending on the bow, etc., would be the zero. I always thought this was instinctive shooting, but according to the other post it is gap shooting.

What's the difference between instinctive and gap shooting? If this has already been answered in another thread somewhere that I couldn't find, let me know.

[Mudslinger]

That is how I learned to shoot a recurve back in the days. I used the point of my arrow and held according to the distance I thought I was. I never really judged any distance or knew what to hold under/over for a particular yardage. When I was shooting field tournaments, the 80 yard target was my best since that was my point on. Hold the point of the arrow on the bulls eye and let her rip. I considered my sighting system a cross between instinctive and gap.

[q2xlman]

True instinctive shooting is like throwing a baseball. You don't use any "aiming" system other than your eyes. You just draw the bow and shoot. You don't need to know distance from what I understand. You just "know" everything is right or wrong when your holding the bow and looking at the target. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the way I understood it. I couldn't do it so I use sights, but would use the gap method if I ever go traditional.

[Daniel Ryan]

i shot instinctive and q2 has it right i just pull back fell for the right time and let er rip it also has to do with how well you know your bow and how you shoot it to make the adjustments

[loco cacahuate]

True instinctive takes lot and lots and LOTS of practice.
All I do is pick a spot about the size of an arrow hole and shoot for it.

[Superdog]

You are all right.The only time you would "gap shoot" is in target shooting (known distances).Otherwise you just point and shoot.And yes, lots of practice,but if your serious it will come to you sooner or later.
Put some blunts or judos on and go out and have fun.

[tagman]

In thinking through what you guys have said about instinctive shooting, the difference may just be the "focus." In gap shooting, you consciously line everything up ... the focus is on the "aiming system." In instinctive shooting, you still line everything up, but the focus is more on the target than on the aiming system. The rear sight (the eye) and the front sight (the arrow tip) still are being used but more subconsciously.

Does that make sense?