Home › Forums › Campfire Forum › What happened? Slump!
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Wow! I’ve been shooting great the last few weeks then WHAM, now my shots are very erratic. Anyone have any sure fire ways to back off & get back in the groove? It seems the more I shoot the worse I get- that’s been the case these last 3 days. Help!
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Have no idea what happened there friend. I ran into the same thing a couple weeks ago…but I had put a new string on my bow and had to break that in, reset brace height etc. (I’m just getting back into archery after several years away) You didn’t change anything on your bow did you? Maybe just some more perseverance is what’s needed. Let us know how it goes.
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I did throw 3 arrows, alike but different than what I’d been shooting all year, into the mix. Maybe that threw me off? I shoot instinctive- Maybe it is like pitching baseballs all season & putting a few softballs in the bag? Anyway, I’ve ordered a dozen new arrows, I’m going to watch my G Fred A video, & lay off for a week.
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NavySkyPilot wrote: I did throw 3 arrows, alike but different than what I’d been shooting all year, into the mix. Maybe that threw me off? I shoot instinctive- Maybe it is like pitching baseballs all season & putting a few softballs in the bag? Anyway, I’ve ordered a dozen new arrows, I’m going to watch my G Fred A video, & lay off for a week.
I did the same thing – stuck a few mismatched woodies into the quiver and expected all to be well…bad idea. I got so frustrated thinking it was me I quit for a couple days. Went back to a few matched aluminums and the groups came back right away. I’m going to pay much more attention to matching up the wood shafts from here on. (My matched ones have been dedicated to broadhead duty and as such I’ve just been picking up the odds and ends with field points to practice with).
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To combat this I switch to just 3 or 4 arrows and limit my shooting time. I think it comes from too much intense shooting at once. The logic is that your first shot in the woods must count so I take a few shots with 2 arrows in the morning before work and again when I get home. I make my practice a little heavier on the weekend but I’m giving myself a rest during the week but without going completely cold. This may not be a good strategy for a competitive shooter but I think it will help a hunter to control those fliers.
Also watch for changes in your form in regard to your bow arm. Dropping or moving the bow arm at the release can change Point of Impact. I know for me intense shooting sessions can make me develop bad habits like that because my muscles are getting fatigued from the repetition. In shorter sessions I can concentrate better on my form. -
Duncan,
I agree. My friend who started me trad bow hunting last summer says, “shoot 3 arrows & quit.” Also, I hope to get out to Holly Shelter or the Croatan this season.
Take care,
Dave -
Duncan nailed it. Its hard to stay mentally sharp if you start shooting alot. Maybe try a blind bale for a few shots. Definitely take the mismatched arrows out of your quiver. Shoot whatever you are going to hunt with. When your minds eye gets used to a certain arrow trajectory and you go and throw a curveball in there, it can get a little confused. Good luck!
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Gents,
Thanks for the guidance- I’ve culled my quiver & I’m shooting less. I hope to be out on the 11th hunting whitetail.
Thanks to all, I get invaluable information and inspiration from these forums.
Dave -
Just came back in the house after a frustrating practice session, thought I’d ask other shooters if they ever have a slump, and — found this thread already started. It’s a relief to know that I’m not the only one. I was hooking my lower lip on the string as it moved forward from release — what on earth could cause that? Unconscious change in anchor or release?
I have collected several good old bows in the last two years, and I want to shoot them all. I habitually take a dozen arrows out and test them on several bows — not a good idea just before hunting season. The advice given here sounds good and makes a lot of sense. From here on, I’ll take my #1 hunting bow and three arrows, and shoot them a few times only. Thanks to all who read my (little tiny) mind and answered questions in advance! -
The FORCE is with us!
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With me,if I start to become too comfortable with my shooting,it’s like I’m no longer putting in as much effort as I should,,,I’ve become lazy.
This always shows it’s self in my not extending fully throughout the shot,,which leads to a lack of full back tension,a slight collapse at full draw,,,,,,,a lack of total focus on my target.
When I focus on my target,I’m not trying to hit it,I’m trying to drive my arrow right through it,and I feel the desire to do that sets everything else in motion.
The form is already there,,,the mind set is what alters,and that in turn effects the form.
Trying to hit the target is not good enough,,you must drive your arrow clean through the target.
Hoping to hit the target is not good enough,you must know you can hit the target and you must hit it as hard as you can.
Form is the physical 10%,,,attitude is the mental 90%.
Once you have your form,,,it’s not going anywhere,heck it’s only 10% anyway.
The attitude needs on going work,it’s 90% of the shot and it’s constantly changing.Keep in mind I’m talking about myself here:wink:
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[quote=John Carter]
When I focus on my target, I’m not trying to hit it, I’m trying to drive my arrow right through it, and I feel the desire to do that sets everything else in motion…Form is the physical 10%, attitude is the mental 90%.John Carter has expressed the essence of it. Shooting a bow well with no sight calls for a certain mental state. Form is nothing more than a foundation, and it can be upset if the mind is distracted from the necessary state.
This thread has pointed me in the right direction. Over this long weekend, I scouted my hunting area, giving me a mental direction to take. Each time I practiced, I took one bow and three arrows to the shooting lane. My best shots were usually the first three. As soon as I began to feel fatigue, I stopped. -
Again, THANKS to EVERYONE for your replies. I laid off a few days & went to shooting 3-6 arrows each evening. I’m set and confident for Saturday morning’s opening of NC bow season.
Happy Hunting! >>>>——— -
I’m not too sure about the “too much intense shooting at once” theory. True.. one thing that we do badly in human nature is perfect repetition – it is difficult at best. But, what is “too much”? 30 arrows? 60 arrows? 100 arrows? An NFAA 300 round is 60 arrows.
An archer is only as good as their practice. However, to say I shot 12 good arrows and walk away “delighted” with myself, would be a false impression.
There are two parts to practice – firstly form, yes up front close bale work. Concentration on the components of form only. Part Two is accuracy. Form must be there first, then the bridge to short and longer range accuracy.
My personal thought has always been, if the form is there the bow will take care of the rest.
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