Target Panic

[Etter1]

#4474

Who gets it and how do you deal with it?

I dealt with it as a compound shooter and about a year into trad shooting, I started getting it again. I have a problem where I can’t come to full draw and anchor correctly. I draw to about 3/4″ short and just can’t will myself past it. I can still shoot pretty well, and especially on stumps and game, but this is a hindrance that I’m just tired of. It even happens with hunting, but I can usually will that last little bit and the arrow goes where I was looking.

It’s gotten to where I shoot best when I haven’t shot in weeks. Just take the bow out once in a while and those arrows will join my eye.

This week, I started talking to a trad instructor over email that introduced some new ideas to me so hopefully that will help.

What has worked for you?

[Dave Nash]

#30947

Glad I am not alone’ sorry Etter..Hope you get it figured out and please pass along what works for you.I have read all the books , watched the videos and practiced my old butt off. Some days are awesome and others can drive me batty. I think to much at times and do better just let em loose.Guess that’s what keeps me going.Love this stuff. Best to all

Ole Dave

[Etter1]

#30954

Dave,

What I learned from this guy (who is a psychologist), is that it has nothing to do with over-thinking, anxiety, lack of confidence, etc.

It is a physiological response that the brain uses to simplify repeated activity and speed things up. He went into extreme detail on why it happens and the biological reasoning behind it. It all made a lot of sense. I’ll pass along his contact info it it helps me at all.

[Dave Nash]

#30960

Thanks and please keep us informed of the progress.

Dave

[gigglemonk]

#31187

I get it as well. I used to come to anchor and then release. 2 years ago I started adding an exhale before the release. Ive found that Ill start to exhale before coming to anchor but i wont release until Ive finished the exhale.

That extra time the exhale allows is usually enough to bring me to anchor.

Its been really helpful but I still get target panic, just not very often.

[James Harvey]

#31268

I had a similar issue with my draw and hit up my local instructor. He took one look at my draw and said “you’re drawing with your arm, not your back”. So then I spent a little while concentrating on flexing my shoulder blades together as I approach my anchor, and boom, there I was, anchored nicely. Those are short moving, torquey muscles too, so they take that load quite easily.

Obviously my problem/solution was mechanical, whereas you’re describing something with a psych component. Maybe you’ve just got to the end of my post and thought “well reading that was a waste of time”. Haha, sorry 😉

[Steven Hege]

#31556

Been dealing with it since I was 15 years old. First with a recurve and later in life with the compound. Now I’m back to the recurve and I got it back. Not severe but there. The book instinctive archery insights has some good info. The post above that talks about using the back muscles is good advice. I find that if i concentrate on that I come to full anchor and come on target better. Also. Get a really big target, step off 10 yards, focus on your spot, then close your eyes and execute your shot. I shoot with perfect form when I do this. Well. Typing this on the phone so hope it makes sense. Forgive the type o’s.

[Etter1]

#31683

It’s such a strange thing. I’ve had it so long that I’ve learned to compensate for it. I can still shoot accurately by stopping a little short and then plucking the string back to where I hit anchor and release at the same time.

I’m just tired of thinking about it and on the road to recovery.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#31703

The only thing that worked for me was a clicker.

[Wexbow]

#31727

Never had it, so major pinch of salt needed here, but I’m with Jim in that I think a lot of issues arise from not drawing with the back muscles. I’m a self-taught shooter but was lucky that the first book I got was by an Olympic dude that drilled form, form, form, which is built on your back muscles and then everything else in shooting is gravy!

[Troy Warner]

#31966

When my accuracy and arrow flight became a problem because of target panic I made a large target and stood about 3 feet from it concentrated on the spot I wanted to hit then closed my eyes drew the bow, concentrating on my form, to full draw hit my anchor held a count of 2 then released. It took a week and a half at 15 to 20 minutes a day of this before I shot at a target with my eyes open. What it did for me was let my mind concentrate on my movements all the way to full anchor and hold for the count of 2 to ensure stabilize my bow arm and release cleanly so my draw hand ended right behind my right ear. It really helped me to get past my target panic. I still do the exercise once in a while just to reinforce.

Good luck

Troy

[Etter1]

#32720

I’ll be steadily working at it. Thanks for the replies.

[Ralph]

#32917

I know mine is only temporary: I ain’t gonna live forever! 😀

It sucks but I’m working on it. Funny how it only happens when there’s scoring to be had. Now if that ain’t a brain thing!:x:x

My old 50’s model widow doesn’t have a problem though. :)) But nobody was watching!!

[Ralph]

#35080

Guys, I really had a case of it yesterday!!! We were stump shooting earlier before the 3D tourney and I was unbeatable. But when the tourney started and there was scoring involved, man, I could not get to full draw on a bet. Discouraging but I ain’t quitting. I just gotta quit worrying about doing correctly what I already know how to do methinks. Maybe pay my fees and not even get a score card next time and see what happens.

[Troy Warner]

#35115

R2 wrote: Guys, I really had a case of it yesterday!!! We were stump shooting earlier before the 3D tourney and I was unbeatable. But when the tourney started and there was scoring involved, man, I could not get to full draw on a bet. Discouraging but I ain’t quitting. I just gotta quit worrying about doing correctly what I already know how to do methinks. Maybe pay my fees and not even get a score card next time and see what happens.

R2,

you may think about trying what I did listed above. I can’t remember where i got it from but I do know I read it some where. it really helped me to change my muscle memory and form for shooting. if you try it and you still have the target panic go back to it until your system is automaticly puasing for a count of 1 or 2 before release. i have also read that some folks change from right hand to left hand shooting to remedy, or left to right.

good luck

Troy

[Etter1]

#35142

I did really well shooting last night. Pulled the bag target into my garage and stood back at seven yards. I was forcing myself to get drawn and then hold for up to five seconds. Sometimes I wouldn’t even shoot.

[Ralph]

#35651

Thx for ideas fellas. I be working on it too. That’s what we do best methinks is to help each other out. I got over a batting slump in Pony League baseball by quitting trying so dang hard to be perfect. Here too, just gotta let it flow. Thx again.

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