Beating Snap Shootin'

Arthur P · 05-06-2005, 09:24 AM

I've had a serious problem for several years now with snap shooting.... the bad kind where your fingers let go of the string before you're ready to release. Started doing something that's helping, immensely.

I'd started trying Asbell's method of aiming while drawing and that's what really screwed me up. Always before, when I was a pretty good shot, I'd picked my spot, drew the bow to anchor and then began aiming. I've tried and tried to get that back but the target panic had too strong a grip on me.

A couple weeks ago, I started picking my spot, drawing somewhat high of the aim point, anchoring, and then lowering the arrow to aim. NOT skydrawing, just drawing about a foot high. It's really working well for me. I know I can't release the arrow until I get it down, so that forces me to hold that string back. Then I get the arrow down and take a moment to get right before releasing. 1,000% better!

Before, I was flingin' and hoping and now I'm aiming again. My misses were high, low, left, right... Now I'm shooting down the middle again and any misses are just high or low. The lefts and rights are gone. Now a miss is because I misjudged my aim instead of not executing the shot correctly. At the range last night, I even 8-ringed that godforsaken gopher at 25 yards!

First time I've hit that %$&! this year!

Shooting got to be a chore because I KNEW I was going to screw up on every shot. Honestly, I'd have hung it up long ago if it hadn't been for just going to the range to hang out with my friends. Finally, things are going right and shooting is fun again!

BobCo19-65 · 05-06-2005, 10:40 AM

Sounds like you got the problem taken care of. Congrats!

Now if I can just get out of grouping left![:@]

LBR · 05-06-2005, 01:21 PM

Congrats Art, and thanks for sharing! I figure Asbell's method has worked for some, but I've heard about more problems developing than good form. Glad you found a solution!

Chad

Sir John Hawkwood · 05-06-2005, 03:15 PM

Arthur, the style you shoot with now sounds an awful lot like the style described to me by a Native American at a recent Lewis and Clark festival in South Dakota. He also reccomend drawing a little high releasing through anchor, as it mimicked the way a person might throw a baseball or football. I've been trying it lately, and I really like it. Albeit, I sort of catch a glance at the arrow as I bring it down, I make sure it's straight line from the back of the arrow to the target. It works for me. I've always found it difficult to shoot the way Abell does. He's surely a better shot than I am, but his method never helped me at all. I feel badly that I can't shoot in his style, as so many people seem to esteem it so greatly...

Arthur P · 05-06-2005, 05:10 PM

A lot of guys do hold his method in high esteem. On the other hand, you'll find there are just as many that, through bitter experience, have come to condemn it - as I do. Don't feel bad that his style doesn't work for you. It's just one method out of many, all of which are just as good, if not better, and are just as 'traditional.'

LBR · 05-06-2005, 09:33 PM

I wouldn't be a bit concerned if Mr. Asbell's style doesn't work for you. If you watch his video, you will see at least one or two things that you "can't" do and be an accurate shot that Ricky Welch does in his own video, and Ricky is a world class archer. What works for one may not work at all for another---use what works best for you.

Chad