How do you control the mental game?
03-08-2007, 10:27 PM
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location:
Posts: 101
RE: How do you control the mental game?
A few helpful things to think about -
*Practice
*visualize the shot and the deers position
*Practicemore
* Visualize your drawing sequence
* Practice more
*make absolutely sure your equipment is never faulty
*Practice from elevations that you plan on hunting from and do not vary much from that height if you can help it
*practice some more
*visualize where the arrow will hit and where it will exit
*Practice some more
*Shoot often with a few of your broadheads used just for this purpose
by doing these thingsit will instill confidence in your ability to make the shot even if youbecome "unglued" . Your built up confidence will keep the fever channeled positively intead of negatively.
*Practice
*visualize the shot and the deers position
*Practicemore
* Visualize your drawing sequence
* Practice more
*make absolutely sure your equipment is never faulty
*Practice from elevations that you plan on hunting from and do not vary much from that height if you can help it
*practice some more
*visualize where the arrow will hit and where it will exit
*Practice some more
*Shoot often with a few of your broadheads used just for this purpose
by doing these thingsit will instill confidence in your ability to make the shot even if youbecome "unglued" . Your built up confidence will keep the fever channeled positively intead of negatively.
03-08-2007, 11:31 PM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Idaho
Posts: 2,072
RE: How do you control the mental game?
Thats where blind bailing comes in. You should have yourself already programmed. The ONLY thing that you should be doing is aiming. Through the years I have put myself in high pressure situations by shooting in front of large crowds and shootoffs at tournaments. This has helped temper the nerves while shooting.... I don't get nervous anymore until after the arrows finds its mark....
If you are into the mental game, check out Lanny Bassram (spelling?) he has some really good tips..
If you are into the mental game, check out Lanny Bassram (spelling?) he has some really good tips..
03-08-2007, 11:49 PM
#13
Spike
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 51
RE: How do you control the mental game?
Focus on point of impact...make it small be it a piece of hair on an animal or arrow holes in the 12 ring of a 3-D target just don't take your eye off the spot until the arrow hits. Know your yardage! if you second geuss yourself you won't be confident and fail to execute the shot correctly.
Having confidence will let you focus and tune out the mental list because it will all be getting done as you are focusing on the spot!
Having confidence will let you focus and tune out the mental list because it will all be getting done as you are focusing on the spot!
03-09-2007, 12:22 AM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NW Montana / SW Alberta Rockies
Posts: 3,258
RE: How do you control the mental game?
ORIGINAL: pigiron
You don't and you can't. I do notice though, if a good shooter, slammer etc., pops up out of no-where, presents himself immediately within range, relatively quickly...I can pull off the shotreal smooth,without having to think about it too much. These are always my best shots
........On the other hand when a large buck gets within eyesight, slightly out of range, and makes you watch him for 15 min., it's enough to give a man a coronary. You know, the one that will stare in your direction, not allowing you even blink your eyes, then slowly walking within range (meanwhile your staring at a set of antlers that only have been seen in your dreams...until now). By the time he gets to you, your heart isbeating so hard that it'smoving simultaniously with your lighted pin![&o].[:'(]..........Ithink everyone has a little buck fever in them.
You don't and you can't. I do notice though, if a good shooter, slammer etc., pops up out of no-where, presents himself immediately within range, relatively quickly...I can pull off the shotreal smooth,without having to think about it too much. These are always my best shots
........On the other hand when a large buck gets within eyesight, slightly out of range, and makes you watch him for 15 min., it's enough to give a man a coronary. You know, the one that will stare in your direction, not allowing you even blink your eyes, then slowly walking within range (meanwhile your staring at a set of antlers that only have been seen in your dreams...until now). By the time he gets to you, your heart isbeating so hard that it'smoving simultaniously with your lighted pin![&o].[:'(]..........Ithink everyone has a little buck fever in them.
I have had some nice bucks come in on me fast, its like clock work, kinda automatic,but if a shooter works towardsme along with some other deer and you got to watch all of them at the same time over some time I get to the point of hyperventilateling as a trophy is comein in, and I swear they can hear my heart beat and breath, if not, maybe my knees knocking the tree rattling the tree limbs above me. This is true.Been there and done it and I hope it never stops.
Bobby
03-09-2007, 03:46 AM
#15
Site Buck Guru
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Racine, Wisconsin
Posts: 5,922
RE: How do you control the mental game?
ORIGINAL: mobowhuntr
Ok, when I shoot, my head is going in ....Oh, I don't know....15 different places at once. I set my stance, stare at the target, draw, anchor, then it all breaks loose. My brain tells me all kinds of things.......Don't forget to use your back, keep your arm straight, relax, relax, relax, oh yeah, don't forget to breath....Then I pretty much fall apart...
So my question for you is this. How do you control the mental aspect of your shooting?
Ok, when I shoot, my head is going in ....Oh, I don't know....15 different places at once. I set my stance, stare at the target, draw, anchor, then it all breaks loose. My brain tells me all kinds of things.......Don't forget to use your back, keep your arm straight, relax, relax, relax, oh yeah, don't forget to breath....Then I pretty much fall apart...
So my question for you is this. How do you control the mental aspect of your shooting?
03-09-2007, 03:55 AM
#16
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Treasure Lake DuBois,Pa.
Posts: 1,571
RE: How do you control the mental game?
Drugs and alcoholhelp!!!
I've never been able to control the excitement and the heart pounding.
I just tell myself i have to make the shot, take a few DEEP DEEP breaths, and then I seem to go into auto pilot.
I've never been able to control the excitement and the heart pounding.
I just tell myself i have to make the shot, take a few DEEP DEEP breaths, and then I seem to go into auto pilot.
03-09-2007, 04:50 AM
#17
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: How do you control the mental game?
I have a friend who played college basketball.....and at one time was a 1 or 2 hcp golfer. When his game went to hell.....he called me and we went to look at his swing. It's fine. I ask him what he's thinking about.....and he starts THE LIST. Whoaaa! I asked him what he thought of when soemone passed him the ball. He said NOTHING. He said he'd done his mental preparatory work before that happened (decided how far he was from the basket.....squared his body...or was in the act of doing so..). He said ALL he thought about.....was distance and then he let it go. He'd practiced jump shots enough. The act, itself, was automatic. I asked him why he didn't approach golf the same way. Heck...there's not even a defender in your face!
I shot 2 rounds at our indoor 3D range last night. For the way the course is set up....I thought I shot well (20 targets.....to 43 yds. Some have 12 rings....some don't). I shot 197 and 198....thinking about nothing but yardage.We shoot through pockets in limbs....quartering away animals.....SMALL animals at longer distances.
I think it was Tom Watson that said that ALL he could ask for is to be IN THE ARENA. The more times I put myself into situations.....the better I get at handling myself. I still get excited when I see a good deer......but it's different than the first time. It's different than the first time I shot 3D. I hope I'm getting better at all of this.
I shot 2 rounds at our indoor 3D range last night. For the way the course is set up....I thought I shot well (20 targets.....to 43 yds. Some have 12 rings....some don't). I shot 197 and 198....thinking about nothing but yardage.We shoot through pockets in limbs....quartering away animals.....SMALL animals at longer distances.
I think it was Tom Watson that said that ALL he could ask for is to be IN THE ARENA. The more times I put myself into situations.....the better I get at handling myself. I still get excited when I see a good deer......but it's different than the first time. It's different than the first time I shot 3D. I hope I'm getting better at all of this.
03-09-2007, 05:45 AM
#18
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 947
RE: How do you control the mental game?
I have the draw, anchor and pull through the shot down pat. It's the leg shaking that I can't control. My routine seems to work well, but the excitement is too much to totally control. I used to bowl in leagues and found out that when I was talking to someone about hunting or something unrelated to bowling I bowled really well, because I wasn't thinking about it,but when I sat down and disected what I was doing wrong it all went wrong. I may try the singing thing.
03-09-2007, 06:44 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,385
RE: How do you control the mental game?
Don't get me wrong KS, I live for the fever! If we all didn't get buck fever, there wouldn't be any one in the woods. 
..........By the way.......If I'd a seen that great mohogany you have in your avatar, under one of of my stands, they'd have to airlift me to Cooper Medical Center! 
..........By the way.......If I'd a seen that great mohogany you have in your avatar, under one of of my stands, they'd have to airlift me to Cooper Medical Center!