Who has been saved by a clicker?

[Etter1]

#6691

Itll be another month to six weeks before I will be shooting again but Ive been trying to compensate for target panic for years and need to try something new. I know a lot of guys went to a clicker and feel like they were reborn. I need something like that badly.

Experiences?

[David Coulter]

#53898

Etter, scroll down a few and you’ll see another clicker thread worth reading. Good luck with your recovery! best,dwc

[Jason Wesbrock]

#54629

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that switching to a clicker in 2006 made the difference between continuing with traditional archery and hanging it up for good. I won’t belabor my back story; Robin posted a link to my TBM article on the subject on the other clicker thread. Suffice it to say my target panic had gotten so bad I couldn’t reliably hit the kill zone of a 3D deer target at 10 yards. Frustrating doesn’t begin to describe it.

The transformation wasn’t overnight. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, the biggest being learning to use a clicker on my hunting bow. I would have taken months off my learning curve by dropping at least 10 pounds of draw weight. It requires a lot more strength to expand properly through a clicker than it does to anchor, hold and release. At first, my goal was just to get ten good shots a day through the clicker. Sometimes those shots would take 20 or more seconds from anchor to conclusion. At first I could barely hit a bag target at 15 yards.

Long story short, I eventually got to the point where shooting with a clicker was second nature, and more importantly, made traditional archery fun again. I no longer worry about wounding animals afield, and my target archery has never been better. Late last year I started working my way off the clicker, which felt a bit like starting all over again. I’m still a work in progress in that regard, but then again, I’ll always look for ways to improve.

If you think a clicker is right for you, commit to it unapologetically and give it your all. It won’t change your shooting overnight, but eventually you should see solid improvement. For me, it was just the lifeline I needed.

[Yohon]

#58281

I’ll echo Jason thoughts on this, its not an overnight cure but it surely is why I’m still shooting stickbows and doing so with confidence.

[dlbarr]

#59869

Been awhile since I was here…..hate to ask, but what is a “clicker”?

[Stephen Graf]

#59917

It’s a device that makes a sound when you reach a specific draw length.

Some mount to a limb and are connected to the bowstring by a cord. When the bowstring is pulled, the cord tightens up and then activates the device.

Others mount to the riser near the arrow shelf. They are activated as the arrow is pulled to it’s full draw position.

[dlbarr]

#60194

Thanks Steve. A little unclear on “target panic” as well.

When firearm hunting, I have always called this “buck fever” but that really refers to an inability to hold steady aim. Not sure that applies to failing to reach full draw length however…

What is there about target panic that prevents reaching the proper draw?

[Stephen Graf]

#60249

The best answer I can give is that I hope you never figure it out.

The most realistic answer I can give is that you will just have to wait and see.

New shooters rarely ever suffer from target panic. As you build your experience and become more aware, both consciously and unconsciously, of what makes a good shot you start to get out of sink with yourself.

Shooting a bow is like dancing with a woman. It’s all about timing based on your intuition of what your partner wants. And just like dancing with a woman, if you do it right, you’ll be rewarded 8)

Problem is, once you’ve been rewarded a time or two, you start anticipating the reward before it’s due. And you know what happens to you if you go for the reward from your woman before you’ve earned it 😯

Then the trouble starts, target panic. If only I could get a clicker for my wife 😳

[Ralph]

#60409

Steve Graf wrote:

The most realistic answer I can give is that you will just have to wait and see.

New shooters rarely ever suffer from target panic. As you build your experience and become more aware, both consciously and unconsciously, of what makes a good shot you start to get out of sink with yourself.

Problem is, once you’ve been rewarded a time or two, you start anticipating the reward before it’s due.

Then the trouble starts, target panic.

Not trying to steal thread for being saved by a clicker, just discussing why one might be needed as was Steve.

I found this quote that I think says a lot about the beginning of and the developed stage of target panic, the loss of confidence:

“When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt”

>Honore de Ballac

[bruc]

#62326

Steve Graf, you have a way with words !!:):)

Pretty good analogy.

[Ptaylor]

#8032

R2 wrote:

“When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt”

>Honore de Ballad

That’s an excellent quote R2, I can think back on my life and apply that to many situations.

[Ralph]

#8039

Thanks.

I was thinking the other evening, not good sometimes but my thought:

When you abuse your power you give power to your downfall.

Just me thinking.

It’s also an obvious observation of history.

[Author]

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