Dare I say it: “Target Panic” Oh my now the cat is out of the bag! what is it and how can I get rid of it.

Target panic has been described as many different things. The most common is not being able to get your aiming point on target or releasing the arrow in a panic as you jerk the bow and or the release. The second situation is usually caused by the first.
I’m amazed at how many people recommend stop practicing. I refuse to believe this is a good solution. I think it best that you begin to understand the root cause and deal with it. I’m not sure where I read this but it is the best advice and description I have ever seen on the root cause of target panic. The archer has a “fear of missing”. OK OK before you start puffing out your chest and saying things like “I’m not afraid of anything”, hear me out. This is a subconscious thing, your mind is messing with you. It is a safety mechanism your brain uses to keep you from failing. Your brain prevents you from getting on target so you can’t shoot. If you can’t shoot you cant fail/miss. It’s sort of a built in excuse. It is caused by your deep desire to hit the target and your fear that you may not.
Ok here is a simple test to illustrate the theory. Draw your bow without an arrow on it. Can you place your aiming point on the target? I have never met anyone who says without the arrow they still have problems holding on target. So if you are one of the many what does this prove? It proves the problem is psychological not physical. Your body is capable of holding the bow on target and since there is no possible way you can miss, well your brain is capable too.
I could show you some other examples but I think you would be much more interested in making it go away. If you want it to go away the first thing you need to do is admit that you have a fear of missing. Then and only then can you address the problem. Heck if you don’t care if you hit the bull or not what is the sense of competing. Put in those terms everyone who competes must have some fear right? Most of the time our fear drives us to improve. It’s part of the human experience. Over the next couple of paragraphs I’ll give you some suggestions of how some people have found ways to overcome the problem. All of them are ways of manipulating the brain into working properly.
Giving up: It has been said by many that just putting the bow down and not shooting it for a period of time resolves their problem. I like shooting to much to make this a viable option. What this does is gives you a chance to relax and often the next time you pick up the bow you are not in a pressure situation where you expect to perform. “Hey I haven’t shot in two months I’m not supposed to be dead aim today” You have created a self imposed excuse so your brain doesn’t have to. The temporary elimination of the panic has allowed you to shoot better which intern gives you renewed self confidence so for some people it does help. Unfortunately when you put your self back into the pressure cooker, it returns. As you’ll see as we move forward here self confidence in your shooting ability and understanding your limitations is the key.
Self confidence and limitations, let me explain what I mean by these. Today’s limit maybe different then tomorrows limit. You need to understand emotionally as well as intellectually that it’s ok to miss as long as you are trying your best. Meet each shot not as a requirement too hit the center but as a challenge to hit the center. You need to want to hit the bull with all your heart but understand that if you don’t, you most probably will the next time. This is a fine line but understand it’s the fear of missing causing the problem. Concentrate on patting your self on the back for the good shots, “boy that one felt good”. This helps you to concentrate on the fact that you are capable of hitting the bull. This is where the confidence comes in. If you truly believe you are capable of hitting the center spot on anyone shot. Then you will have no fear. I know easier said then done.
Tricking the trickster, how to build your conscious and subconscious confidence. Repeatedly drawing the bow without an arrow and holding it on target helps you to develop a good sight picture and trains your sub conscious brain that you can do it. Without an arrow knocked I think you will find this task to be easy. It also helps you develop the conscious confidence that you can do it. After you get comfortable with that try shooting at real close range. Pick the distance that your 20 yard pin is right on. Usually some where between 11 and 20 feet, yes I meant feet! I have found it dam near impossible to miss the spot if you are standing that close. This also reinforces the idea that you can hit the target. Doesn’t hurt to repeat to your self “I know I can hit what ever I want”. What ever it takes to become self confident in your ability will improve your situation.
Slapping the release is a symptom of the problem but it may also need some additional mind training. Blind shooting which is closing your eyes can help you train your body to recognize the correct way to pull the trigger. Practice a smooth release by squeezing the trigger with good back tension and do it repeatedly more then you think you need is a good idea. This will help to redevelop that muscle memory. Just make sure you remove the target we wouldn’t want your brain to get the idea you were missing. Remember you need to train your brain. I’m a finger shooter and this helps me to also concentrate on a good release which is the Achilles heel of all finger shooters.
I’ll leave you with a short story that to date has left me target panic free for the last 20 years. I was one of the two best shooters in my club. Normally the best shooter in the club (Steve) beat me by several points each week. (Usually because I would collapsed on the last flight) One night I didn’t collapse, I shot great all the way through (some sort of accident). Steve needed four perfect arrows to beet me. His first two hit the mark and on the second shot the stick on arrow rest he was using flew off and landed in the dirt. I was certain victory would be mine. Steve picked up the arrow rest flicked off the sawdust and stuck it back on the bow. After eyeing it a couple of times in several directions he shrugged his shoulders and drilled the next two arrows right in the bulls-eye. The arrows were so tight that they were touching each other. I was flabbergasted! I asked him how he was able to do it. I explained I would have fallen apart for sure. He said he never even considered failing he believed he could do it and was excited he had the chance. He said heck that’s why I shoot so I can have the chance to prove to myself I can do it. It was an epiphany for me. It changed my whole outlook. From then on we competed on even ground and I won almost as often as I lost but I was never afraid of missing. I knew I had the power to become a good shot I just lacked the confidence.
Good luck I hope this helps you shoot better and develop a healthy thought process in your approach to every shot. Fear the fear!