I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Bsides not knowing the difference between click and clique, I have developed very bad target panic. I was wanting some opinions on how to get rid of it. It is to the point where it is such a problem I don't enjoy shooting. I find myself pulling the trigger once my pin is on my target, notice I didn't say bullseye. I have to keep myself from pulling the trigger when I get the sight ring lined up in my peep. I am aware I shouldn't "pull" the trigger, I know about back tension and "blind bale shooting". I have even put my finger behind the trigger so I couldn't pull it and when I get the pin on target my arm wants to jump, because I should have pulled the trigger.l Does any have this type problem or know how to help! Thanks Ash

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Maybe you should take a good long break from shooting for awhile. Ive never heard of someone being afraid of bow recoil!! LOL!!

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Its not really a recoil problem, the bowtech has no recoil. My body wants to pull the trigger but, like I said I put my finger behind the trigger so I can't. As a reaction for wanting to pull but not my release arm wants to flinch. Thanks for the help.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

You need to readjust you thought process when you shoot. The recoil thing was just a joke.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

I think the big problem here is shot anticipation. I used to get it to a very slight degree at times but haven't had any problems with it the past couple / few years.

You just need to keep reminding your self to be 100% relaxed and to not tense any other muscles not needed in your shot sequence.

Here is what you could try to help out....

Go for a practice session but don't shoot ANY arrows. Go through your pre shot routine draw your bow hit your anchors put the pin where you want and hold it there on target for 5-10 seconds and let down. Repeat 15-20 times per session. A few days of this may help you. It is what I did when I had the problem and it took care of it for me.

Good Luck

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

good idea!!

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Ash--forget about the 'targets' for now--and just shoot at hay bails or a the block without any paper targets.
You're concentrating too much and blowing the shot.

Just relax, stay calm and shot at a target that's about 24" X 24"--don't try to hit a spot--what you want to do is to get the hang of the release and getting that shot off.

Stay ancored until your arrow hits the target, hold your shooting form.
Hold your shoulders up and maintain a proper stance--feet about 12-16" apart and bow-shoulder 'facing the target'.
Don't move away from the bow when you release the arrow, this only inflates the problem.
Stay calm--don't try picking a spot just yet--just practice a smooth release and not tense yourself up--take a deep breath, exhale a little, relax, remember to keep your form, same ancoring point on the side of your face, and squeeze.
Do this until you're comfortable, until you're not jumping the shot--as long as you want--could be weeks----get the hang of your form, bow, release and comfort level---then try aiming at targets.
Everything takes time----only those exceptional one in a million shooters can 'robin' arrows within a week, for the rest of us it's all about--'practice--practice and practice'-- it will come!!!
The best of luck bud!!

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Thanks buckeye, I'll give that a try.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

I will give that a try also. I have shot for many years and this problem just started. kinda weird

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

That is weird, like a pitcher who can throw strikes anywhere in the zone he wants then all of a sudden hes plunking batters or throwing to the wall. (mark wholers, rick ankiel, john rocker, and steve avery)

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Exactly psycho.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Then do it:)

In all honesty you have to take your brain out of the shot IMHO the only way you can do that is blind bailing and using back tension, concentrate on getting the feel of the release going off and build that into muscle memory.

If you are using a wrist release then ditch it and get a good quality thumb release preferably one with no trigger travel so it will give you the surprise release.

I have switched over to the new Mag-Tek release and in all honesty you dont know when the magnet is going to break away and trigger the release.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Thanks Ausie, I think a back tension release will help out I was just looking for other options. Ausie do you hunt with back tension.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

ash.

I use a thumb trigger for everything I just activate it by using back tension.

When hunting I just clip the release onto the loop sit back and wait:D

Here is a pic of the release I am using except mine is the 4 finger version..



The good thing about this release is there is no springs and you can adjust the trigger pull from 3lb to 41/2lb to 6lb the added plus is it has zero trigger travel.

Here is a pic of the internals of the release.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Honestly, and no disrespect to you I don,t understand target panic at all. Buck fever yes but target panic. You must be anticipating the shot and flenching. Just hold your arms steady and squeez the release. Slowly raise up to your target and release on the bull.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

good points form everyone. I had the same problem one time (it was bad I was ready to trade the bow in for a smokepole) the first thing I did was take a break don't touch your bow don't think about it at all, for me it was about 3wks. Things improved alot just by taking that break, also drop your draw weight to its min until your cured. Then like others said don't shoot at a target just shoot at a bale or backstop and go through the steps of good shooting form grip, anchor, release and follow through after these steps become automatic and consitant. start picking spots to shoot at until you start hiting exactly where you aimed( don't worry about bullseye's yet) after you can hit the spots your picking consistantly put up a target and instead of thinking bullseye just pick a spot and shoot at it eventually the bullseye will be just another spot. Also the one thing I had to keep reminding myself is don't labour the pin which means do not try to hold the pin dead steady on the target because IMO its next to impossible to do. The longer and harder you try to hold that pin steady the worse your shot will be and you will most likely get TP all over again. So just draw your bow and either come down or up on the target and when your pin hits the spot you picked then release. Good luck

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

I disagree with the notion of using blank bailing to fix shot anticipation's form of target panic. It may work, it may not.

I know a lot of guys preach it, but..... for me it never really did anything. I at times get a case of target freeze. I get stuck just under what I want to hit. Michael Braden (a world class shooter and world champion) suggested I go back to the basics of AIMING my bow, not just firing it.

That is where my post from earlier comes into effect. I hope this all works out for you. It's a shame you can't enjoy your new bow to the fullest because of the TP.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Quite a few will probably disagree with me on this but I've seen this problem twice (<I know , not enough to make a concrete case) and both times the problem was fixed imediately. I dont know what your case is , but in the two problems I helped solve , both of them had new bows that were flinging arrows alot faster than their old setups. In both cases they were shooting light carbon arrows at high speeds , one was shooting upper 280's , the other was shooting 305 fps. Both cases were used to their old bow speeds of 230's - 250's. In both cases we backed the poundage down 5lbs and one tried an aluminum arrow , the other tried a much heavier carbon arrow (<Beman ICS 340). Both of them were back to shooting the way they were before their problem started by the 3rd shot.

Call it what you want , but todays bows store ALOT of energy and can be VERY intimidating , which can lead to the problem your describing.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Bowfanatic, I won't diagree but I didn't just switch from an old bow, the last few I have had have been, hoyt( vortec, cybertec, xtec) mathews(Lx, switchback). All are realatively fast. That is why I don't think that is the problem. It may be though. Motowmonkey, I wish it were that easy. I don't wish target panic on anyone but if you ever experience it you will know what I am talking about. I know what I am doing and shouldn't be doing but it is very hard to control.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

I saw something about target panic on TV just a few nights ago. I don't remember what the program was, but the guy said that it is usually due to too much practice, if you can practice too much.
His advice was to back off and only practice about 2 times a week until the target panic goes away. He basically said that it comes from practicing so much that you start trying not to miss instead of trying to hit the target, if that makes sense.
I think it came down to a concentration issue. Some have suggested concentrating more, but I got from the guy that too much concentration about not missing was the problem. I suppose like all things, it will vary from person to person.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

i had that happen. i just quit using a release. it was like i didn't want to waste time preparing for the shot i just wanted to shoot. i switched back to fingers and it went away. i think i'm going to try my new release in a week or two just to see if the prob is still there.

RE: I have a problem, need help!!!!!!
 

Try a new release. The win free flight. You hold the trigger on your draw and let go when you shoot the bow. It's kind of like shooting fingers. I love this release