The "Process" of Shooting

[SteveMcD]

#3824

Curious as to thought’s on G. Fred’s Article regarding “Right Brain – Left Brain”. As a psychology major in college, I understand the theory, but I thought Fred’s explanation was the best in layman’s terms I ever read. And certainly as it specifically applied to us Traditional Bowhunters.

I must confess… when it comes to 3D I have good days and days that are just embarrassing. However, I can go out 1 hour later to the target butt or stumping and be on every shot. I think there is (at least in my case) a lot to be said about getting hung up on the mechanics of the shot vs just making the shot.

[Patrick]

#24015

I think he’s right on. It really hits home with me because I tend to overthink EVERYTHING. I have a bad habit of constantly wanting to improve my shooting form, which is a bad thing. At some point, we should just accept the form we use, and just practice to improve upon that foundation. Always a work in progress.

[SteveMcD]

#24079

Patrick wrote: I think he’s right on. It really hits home with me because I tend to overthink EVERYTHING. I have a bad habit of constantly wanting to improve my shooting form, which is a bad thing. At some point, we should just accept the form we use, and just practice to improve upon that foundation. Always a work in progress.

Now that! Is the proverbial nail on the head! I am forever “tweaking” like an addiction. You are right Patrick…. no more tweaking!!!!!!!!! Tweaking means that no matter what “mantra” or routine we’ve recently adopted, every time you tweak, we change the whole game plan!

Tweakers Anomonus!!! I am sure we’re not alone!!!!:lol::roll::lol:

[Stephen Graf]

#24837

I agree with the too much tweaking problem.

But I tend to do what Patrick says and just not worry about my form. I just shoot! This works good for long periods of time, but then it comes back to bite me.

When I don’t give my form much thought, I slip into bad habits that are hard to break. And since I haven’t been paying attention to what I do, I don’t know what to fix.

So here is my middle of the road solution… Every once in a while I go out and shoot at the targets and concentrate on my form. Just to see where I am. Of course my shooting goes bad while I am doing this. But it gives me a benchmark to come back to when things go south…

I have been shooting traditional for 4 years now(after 20 years of compounds). I find that my bad days are farther apart, and my good stretches are longer. But I still have bad days. I expect the best answer is just keep practicing. By the time I’m too old to shoot anymore, I’ll be really good!

[Jason Wesbrock]

#24978

I enjoyed reading the article, and think it goes to show that we are all individuals. What works for one person may work against another.

Being a baseball junkie myself, I especially liked his Willie Mays analogy. However, while athletes in general may perform at their best by going on autopilot, they didn’t get where they’re at, or maintain their abilities, by not constantly reinforcing the mechanics and fundamentals of their trade. Being able to mentally shut down and “just do it” at crunch time is the reward of hard, tedious, meticulous ongoing work. Major league pitchers who strike batters out with wicked 12-6 curveballs don’t get that way by learning it in high school and then not thinking about how to do it.

As this relates to archery and bowhunting, I spend a lot of practice time working on my shot routine and execution, step by step, piece by piece. By constantly pounding that repetition into my head on the practice range (or 3D range for that matter) I don’t have to think about it when I trade by field points for broadheads. Sure, I could still shoot on autopilot for bowhunting without all the constant “left brain” reinforcement, but the results wouldn’t be nearly as good.

[SteveMcD]

#25094

Jason.. I like the way you explained that. I agree. I do the blind bale work very often usually every other practice session about 10 feet from the bale, do nothing but practice form – over and over. I like to think – be mindful of the mechanics but focus on making the shot.

What’s is interesting… and I like Patrick to chime in, if possible. I find usually after “tweaking” and doing something different I find myself, tweaking my way back to where I started in the first place! :roll::lol:

[Patrick]

#25190

SteveMcD wrote: What’s is interesting… and I like Patrick to chime in, if possible. I find usually after “tweaking” and doing something different I find myself, tweaking my way back to where I started in the first place! :roll::lol:

:shock::lol:
Example: For 25+ years I anchored the same with my fingers: 3 under, and index finger in the corner of my mouth (but with a compound…”arrow launcher” 😉 ). Very comfortable, no reason to switch…until I switched to traditional. I tried that at first, changed 3 or 4 times. Different anchor points, split finger, etc. Now guess where I’m at….BINGO! Same place I have been all these years (well, excpet, I now put my middle finger in the corner of my mouth). I’m DONE changing (until the next time! j/k!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Author]

Posts