I used to have a heck of a time shooting my arrows in tight groups during practice. I guess having a mind that likes to wander doesn’t help. Focusing on my shooting was a real challenge until my friend, Neil Jacobson, made the suggestion that getting your mind to focus is an exercise that can be done anywhere.
When you are walking around at work going through the grocery store, quietly relaxing, or almost anywhere except driving, pick a spot on an object that isn’t moving and focus intently on that spot. Hold that concentration as long as you can. If you are moving, focus and concentrate on that spot until you pass it. The smaller the spot that you focus on while doing other things, the easier it will become to focus on a specific spot on the target, or on an animal. Now, if I can stay focused, the groups tighten right up and my shooting accuracy improves.
Editor’s Note: Tim may need to work on his focus while shooting, but his attention to detail on his work is second to none. Check out his unique and beautiful jewelry products at his Facebook page, Absorkee Designs.
What a super idea! Sometimes it’s the simplest things we fail to think of. There is nothing simple, of course, about learning to discipline oneself to pick a spot or even a single hair on an animal, but this is such a simple and easy-to-practice conditioning routine. I left the office for coffee and walked down the street focusing on periods, commas, the dot on an i, and all sorts of other tiny spots on street signs and advertisements around me, and I know if I keep it up my shooting focus will improve. Maintaining the focus while walking toward an object seems especially helpful in training me to pick my spot early and stay locked on it through the animal’s approach and other movements. There were even a few times when my walking path put a tree limb or other obstacle between me and the point of focus, and those presented an opportunity to practice reacquiring the spot, as would be necessary if the animal walked behind some brush. I haven’t had a chance yet to see how my shooting improves, but I am certain it will improve if I keep up with the practice. Thanks, Tim!
As a good trick also : at night, to blow a candell with an arrow is not as hard as it appears.
Try it with bowhunters fellows.
I promise you a lot of fun !
My best.
Paul.
I always sharpened this skill by stump shooting butterflies in the fields, it helps you focus on a single spot as well as help with distance.
Tim – Thanks for the great tip. I need to do this more often!