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Try this
OK guys. Maybe some of you already do this but if not try it.
Next time you are shooting your bow, focus your eye on the target and not the sight pin. We all know it is impossible to focus your eye on two things at once. I've always focused on the sight pin and had a somewhat blurry target picture. I read in an old magazine about this. It also works with a scoped rifle. For some reason, I shoot much tighter groups when focusing on the target and letting the sight pin be blurry. Don't know why it works but it does. Give it a try and post back and let us know if you noticed a difference. Maybe it will, maybe not. |
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Have done it both ways and am currently doing the pin thing. Any time you change the routine your brain doesn't know when to panic so shooting is better until...
I find focusing on the target, panicking:D |
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I will do you one better, try using a small circle instead of a pin. Different personalities shoot better with different styles.
Pretty much with everything you shoot you should focus on the target though. You look at the sights line them up, then focus on the target. I actually don't have any trouble seeing both pretty clear though. Paul |
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Windwalker, you just discovered the way you should shoot. Your suppose to concentrate on the target making the pin secondary and use back tension.
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Kind of tried that tonight Paul. Removed the site and just looked through the peep. Didn't try to compensate after seeing where the arrows went. Maintained form. The only good thing about it was they all went left of the target. I mean left of the whole thing. Some high some low. Good thing I was shooting down from the stand. Didn't loose any.If I do loose my site I know where the arrows will go.:DNeed to figure out why they did.
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The Field& Stream Bowhunting handbook claims that focussing on the pin will lead to better accuracy. Personally, I think it's just a personal preference thing.
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the field and stream handbook is extremely mistaken. the spot your aiming at is where your conscious should be.
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As someone who shoots peep sights on rifles and iron sights on rifle and pistol as well as shooting a bow I have to say that is pretty standard for aiming technique. It was the way I was taught by my father (a Mil team shooter and instructor) to shoot target rifle. It works. Find your pin and drift your focus onto the target. Tighter groups and better accuracy.
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I guess I have never used the pin...just doesn't make sense to me to concentrate on the pin instead of on what you are trying to hit? because if the deer is fuzzy, how do you know its the vitals you are aiming at when the whole deer is the same color? (bodywise)
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You still need a front sight nodog. But some target sights have a front apeture instead of a pin. It gives you a small hole to look thru. You center your target in the hole instead of placing the pin over it. For some people it is much easier to use, helps with target panic if you have trouble putting the pin on the target.
It works great for shooting spots, not so sure how well it would work for hunting though, but I'm sure it could be done. Paul |
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I'm going to give this a shot tonight. I've also heard of this before. Lately my target has been very fuzzy. I also get eye fatigue very quickly.
Tom |
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I have got into this habit form shooting the traditional bow. Once I switched back to the compound and pins I found my groups much better and also my confidence in the field
Tim |
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I just went through this in my head......and I do what you're talking about.
I honestly don't ever remember focusing on a pin. Jeff |
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Focusing mentally first, and visually second on the spot you want to hit isthe appropriate way to be aiming according to everything I have ever been taught. Just an analagy.............
If you drive down the road trying to stay in the middle by looking at the yellow line in reference to your fender........you will dart all over trying to make micro adjustments to keep you straight. Now focus on the road 100-200 yards in front of you and allow yourself to subconsiously bring you to that point. It works much better and will allow you to maintain a MUCH straighter line. Thisis why I am in the process of trying to develop very lightly tinted scope dots that allow you to stare through the dot at the X for target bow setups. I have a few already made but am trying to perfect the adhesive so it won't come off if you get outside in the rain. It is amazing how often you can hit the X on a vegas target when the dot/pin isn't even close to it when the bow goes off if you focus consciously on the X. It just finds it's way there anyhow when you do this right. As said by Mike Cooper.......... The eye follows the mind, and the arm follows the eye. Focus with your mind and the arrow will follow. |
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And as many of us know through shooting the pin doesn't necessarily have to be on the mark to have the arrow hit it's mark...it's amazing when it happens but like the quote Rick James has above, your mind will make it so....
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Good thread.
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I really only use my pins for yardage adjustment. The pins are a "documented reference point" for me. I guesstimate the range, use my pins to "get close" then forget the pins and focus on the target and form then following through. When my mental game is on i can drive tacs. 4" groups at 55 yrds. I like to walk all over my range and play "horse" w/ my cousin when we shoot. This is a good challenge and forces you to start shooting instinctively. Last time we played we attempted a 68 yrd shot. (only knew that after the shot and we grabbed a range finder). My arrow hit dead center of the target.... I was happy.
For me its "all mental". I guess what helped me was starting w/ a long bow back at the ripe ol age of 8. No sites, just form and instinct. I still shoot a recurve frequently to keep my skills sharp. It also makes for a great way to shoot geese :) After shooting trap in a few amature leagues i found it to easy to kill geese. And your only allowed one a day so why not try it w/ a bow. (Unsuccessful to date 0 for 2) Next week is resident goose season, so i plan on trying it again. |
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ed, there is no such thing as follow thru.
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ORIGINAL: gibblet ed, there is no such thing as follow thru. DidLarry teach you to finish your shotswith your release hand? I don't believe in follow through as in the "don't drop your bow arm" philosophy, however I am a very strong believer in finishing the shot and pulling through with release hand to a touch point on the deltoid. This is how I have been coached and is something I have discussed in depth with a few of the pro staffers in my area that are some of the better indoor and fita shooters in the country. |
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When shooting bow, I would always consentrate on the pin.
I read a magazine article giving tips for better rifle, bow and shotgun shooting. This tip was one I never heard, believe it or not. It said when shooting a rifle offhand, to focus on the target and not the crosshairs. When you focus on the crosshairs, you mentally try to compensate for the movement of them as you try to aim. It said to just focus on the target and let the crosshairs get a little blurry. Anyway, I tried it shooting a rifle and it worked. It almost seemed like I couldn't miss. I use to do lots of shooting in my younger days and I was pretty good. I just shot alot and went through brick after brick of .22 shells to keep in tune. I just recently applied this to bowshooting and man, what a difference it made. I use to shoot bow all the time and went to all the local 3-D shoots at the area sportsmen's clubs. I always just consentrated on follow through but focused on my pin. Now with the followthrough and focusing on the target instead, I'm really doing much better. Just wish I'd done this years ago. |
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larry may do the touch pt, i didn't pay attention to that watching him shoot. we've got a fellow here with even better form than larry - of course they are buddies - and we talked this over the other day - andhis pt is also that you should have no idea what happens. the pt is that a conscious follow thru, or any action performed consciously after release creates something called 'framing the shot'. basically an archer should have no idea what the bow does, or their arm does, or their release hand does after the shot. if you don't know when the release will fire, how could you possibly prepare to do something when it does?its already finished - and it surprised you. if you execute properly, your release hand won't move enough to get to a touch pt.shooting bt, there should not be any more tension created on the string than there is when you acheive full draw position. pulling thru the shot is another method of shooting.
i don't think any of this is possible with a wrist strap that is holding some of the tension, and i also wonder if bt can be executed properly at 70# by me, or most others. i shoot my 2 finger very well with my 70# sb, but with the 60# consti i'm using true back tension. its a lot harder to cheat a 2 finger, but even so w/ the 70# bow i've got a little pulling thru going on also - which i consider cheating - and i'm not meaning to do it, i just do it i think because of the added wt. working on it though. with the 60# bow, i don't cheat at all and i have no idea what any of me does at the arrows release. but that's me and how i'm being taught. you're winning everything you enter, and i'd guess you could shoot me under the table - so what do i know? (you probably are more dedicated also). |
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Gib,
I agree w/ you, i guess what i consider my follow thru is just an unconcious motion. In otherwords, not trying to watch the arrow. Mostly its a feeling. I can tell whenthe shot is good. It suprises me and i stay focused on the the target the entire time. Its almost as if i "will" the arrow to go into the bullseye. My mind is focused on the targetat all times. |
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Gibblet you are exactly right and when shooting properly how can one control anything once the string is released. In that minute time frame the bow, the body simply does what it does however and he can correct me if I'm wrong, he continues the shot "Post arrow release" which in reality means nothing because the arrow is gone....it's more a mental practice put into muscle memory which has no bearing what so ever on the arrow because it's already in the target....remember, shooting a bow is 90% mental if not more...a shot is made or missed in the mind first, the body follows suite.
I've actually never read someone putting what you said down in typing and I hope more get the chance to read it and improve their shooting ability. Course, I don't read books either. ;) |
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If you are shooting a rifle with a scope and the cross hairs get blurry but the target doesn't you don't have the scope adjusted properly. With a scope the target and cross hairs are on the same plane, they should both be in focus at the same time. It's like looking at a picture of your target with cross hairs on it.
I don't think your reticle is adjusted properly. Or if you are using a scope with fixed parallax you may be using too much magnification for the distance you are shooting. Paul |
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I guess I mean to focus on details in the target and not focus my attention on where the crosshairs are in relation to the target.
I just sorta let the crosshairs become a blur. I've always found it hard to focus on target and crosshairs. Never been able to do that with dozens of rifle scope combinations over the years. |
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ORIGINAL: gibblet larry may do the touch pt, i didn't pay attention to that watching him shoot. we've got a fellow here with even better form than larry - of course they are buddies - and we talked this over the other day - andhis pt is also that you should have no idea what happens. the pt is that a conscious follow thru, or any action performed consciously after release creates something called 'framing the shot'. basically an archer should have no idea what the bow does, or their arm does, or their release hand does after the shot. if you don't know when the release will fire, how could you possibly prepare to do something when it does?its already finished - and it surprised you. if you execute properly, your release hand won't move enough to get to a touch pt.shooting bt, there should not be any more tension created on the string than there is when you acheive full draw position. pulling thru the shot is another method of shooting. i don't think any of this is possible with a wrist strap that is holding some of the tension, and i also wonder if bt can be executed properly at 70# by me, or most others. i shoot my 2 finger very well with my 70# sb, but with the 60# consti i'm using true back tension. its a lot harder to cheat a 2 finger, but even so w/ the 70# bow i've got a little pulling thru going on also - which i consider cheating - and i'm not meaning to do it, i just do it i think because of the added wt. working on it though. with the 60# bow, i don't cheat at all and i have no idea what any of me does at the arrows release. but that's me and how i'm being taught. you're winning everything you enter, and i'd guess you could shoot me under the table - so what do i know? (you probably are more dedicated also). |
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me too bro. tom is going to work with me indoors this winter. i love bt. its so jedi.
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As my eyes get older the pins become more blurred. The target and pin don't line up as they once did. Focusing on the pin the target is clear.A small black dot stays one shape, but looking at the black dot makes the pin double vision. Have toyed with the idea of a clarifier. Don't need to yet.
It's not an uncommon way to shoot. Have read of others who do it as well. Actually they explained it to me. |
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hey nodog, have the pins ever vanished on you?
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Not on purpose. I have lost myself in the target though. I saw the shot in slow motion before it happened and woke up after it had hit it's intended target. It was like I let another person inside me have control. That was over 35 years ago and my target was the back of another kids head. The bow was a toy of sorts, but not. Never forgot it or the feeling. Put a bump on his head, nothing more. Have shot that way since but it's not something that I practise doing. It's pure primal instinct.
Have been a freak ever since about pointing any weapon at a person because I know what can happen. The idea needs to be so repulsive that just the start of doing something like that causes a convulsion of sorts. Should never even be joked about. Someone would have had to shake me to get me to stop that shot. I would have never heard them if they just screamed. Why do you ask? Have been enjoying reading what you are learning.Good stuff!Mentioned earlier I shot without a front site at all. Does that count.:DNeeds work though. Lots of work!:D |
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I'm never going shooting with you Nodog!!;)
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:D
Great pic by the way. Yours? |
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Yep, she's my 3rd one, she's 2 now. The idea was to be holding her while she was sleeping, but she wouldn't cooperate!
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Beautiful!
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thank you sir!
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