I have the worst case of target panic I have ever seen. I let the string down before I touch the @#$* trigger on the frickin' release!
I never have TP with fingers so I'm way to tempted to switch back. My shots are flying yards away. HELP!!

Matt #---------->
God Bless America

Since I had been struggling since the summer with new case of target panic, I'll offer you the trick that's helped me. I took an old bow string I had and tied it to the ends of the bowlimbs, adding around 8-10" of length to it with the string I was using to tie it with. After coming to "full-draw" a few times, you can adjust the length as needed so it approximates your normal draw. When you get this correct, you can practice even from inside your house holding the bow in the full draw position while you aim and mentally count to 5, 10 or whatever number you want . . . and then "release" the string. Since it's just a tied on string and the bow is not under any tension, the string will simply fall down while you strive to keep the pin on the target. Try doing this for a while and then go outside to practice. Start close and do exactly what you did inside and then do the same thing for real. I saw immediate results and have killed 2 deer in the week that followed!

Hope this helps.

Today's small bucks are tomorrow's trophies.

A couple years ago I developed a super bad rotten dangest case of target panic you can imagine. Target panic can take a couple forms... but they're all about the same. I ask for help and got a method of "CURE" that worked for me from a Pro Shooter. It takes a lot of time and disciple and you have to follow the rules. Fortunately for me I developed it after the season and had all late winter and spring to work on it. Some basics are:

Draw length must be right. To many people have their draw length to LONG. Get it checked and set right. Short is better than too long. The second basic... get the tip of the finger OFF the release. You finger should wrap over the release at the first joint. You now can't punch the trigger. If your poundage is set higher than you can handle you're dead. Turn it down.

You have to go back to basics and get the feel of a good shot. The only way to do that is "BLIND BAIL" shooting. You set up a target at about 10 feet(I did it in my garage right outside the den door) You draw, anchor, point at the target, take up the slack on the release(again your first joint is on the trigger), close your eyes and pull with your back muscles. Some will want to call it back tension releasing and all that.... but it was simplest for me to anchor, take up the tension, close my eyes and imagine a spot about 4 inches behind my elbow and try and touch it with my elbow. Your finger does not pull the release. Remember you already took up the tension or slack and it shouldn't take much to set it off. YOU should not have your release set on "HAIR TRIGGER"(UNLESS you didn't get that draw length right..again..that's critical to good form) You must maintain a solid repeatable anchor.

OK, now the shot... you draw, anchor, aquire the blind bale(no aiming point...just a big piece of solid white), close your eyes, take up the slack and apply the tension. IF THE SHOT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHIN 8 SECONDS..... LET DOWN and start over.

Repeat....repeat... repeat ....

Don't shoot a lot of shots... just good ones. The bow should go off and surprise you. If it doesn't.. you're using your finger. Your arms should be relaxed.... your shoulders level... your release elbow not to high or to low. You pull through the shot and it should happen by itself. I used to slip out during commercials, during breaks whatever and shoot 5 or 6 arrows. I might do that 10 or 15 times a day. I did it for 2 months. In the garage, blind bale, no aiming point, sights only to point at the big white target before closing my eyes. NO CHEATING>>> NO CHEATING>>>> NO CHEATING.

In a short time you'll know what it's suppose to feel like. Then after a few weeks it'll happen almost everytime. You'll stop having to let down. You'll know you're making a great shot everytime and you haven't hit anything. I felt I was there earlier... but my coach said... you can never get too much. "What else do you have to do? You could hurry up the recovery and cheat and develope bad habits again or do it some more". I just did it some more for 2 months. I didn't want to go through this again if I didn't have to.

When you think you're ready... shoot 10 or 20 blind shots... make sure they're good and not forced. Go outside, set up a target at 10 yards with a paper plate on it. The bigger the better. NOW, see if you can do it with your eyes open. Draw, anchor, see the big plate, back tension... I hope it went off on it's own. If you feel yourself cheat the shot.... go shoot 10 blind bales. If the shot doesn't happen in 8 seconds... LET DOWN. Start again. Do that a couple days. Then try 20 and work your way out. You'll be amazed at how tight your groups are. You just found out you're a better shot that you ever were.

It never hurts to start and finish a practice session with blind bale shots. 10-20 is good. If your form seems off one day... just shoot some blind bails at 10 feet. It'll come right back.

GOOD LUCK: AGAIN....the starting point.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Draw length must be right. To many people have their draw length to LONG. Get it checked and set right. Short is better than too long. The second basic... get the tip of the finger OFF the release. You finger should wrap over the release at the first joint. You now can't punch the trigger. If your poundage is set higher than you can handle you're dead. Turn it down. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>



Edited by - davidmil on 10/27/2002 20:16:31