How to break a bad habit?????
09-02-2007 | 09:28 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Host of Hosts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,780
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From: Erie, Pennsylvania
How to break a bad habit?????
Well I was out shooting a 3-D shoot this morning and didn't shoot all that great. I have a real problem with shooting too fast. Meaning not taking my time. I developed this habit through yearsofsmallbore rifle league shooting and I think its carried over to my 3-D shooting. It seems that when I start thinking about slowing down,taking better aim, squeezing the releaseI sometimes shoot worse. Maybe thinking too much?I'm not missing the targets or anything, but once in awhile I'm missing the vitals. I know it can happen from time to time, but it seems to me I need to break this habit. Has anyone gone through anything like this? And if so how did you get passed it? I have been shooting long enough that I feel I should be more consistently in the 11 ring and atleast the 10 rings MOST of the time.
Your advise would be appreciated.
Your advise would be appreciated.
09-02-2007 | 09:43 AM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,634
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From: HENDERSON KY USA
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
You have to develop a shot routine.The routine starts when you start looking at the target.Do the same thing EVERYTIME.If something distracts that routine,START OVER.
You must practice this way also.
This is like a free throw shooter that takes the exact same amount of bounces before he shoots.
A backtension release would also be a great practice aid for you.That will slow down the shot sequence and promote a great release.That will take extreme dedication on your part but if you do it,you will be better for it.
You must practice this way also.
This is like a free throw shooter that takes the exact same amount of bounces before he shoots.
A backtension release would also be a great practice aid for you.That will slow down the shot sequence and promote a great release.That will take extreme dedication on your part but if you do it,you will be better for it.
09-02-2007 | 09:48 AM
#4
Typical Buck
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
From: West Chicago,ILLinois
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
What I do at the range is wait for someone to knock an arrow, then I draw my bow. I try to hold on the target until I hear them release then I release. This helps me hold my draw for longer periods and it's not just alot of draw and fire practice and it helps me with patience some people take a long time!!
Maybe this would help with your problem.
Maybe this would help with your problem.
09-02-2007 | 09:57 AM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,673
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Tennessee
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
I had this problem with a wrist strap release and then I tried out a T-Handle thumb trigger. It solved my target panic and slowed me down alot. I hold on target ALOT better. I shoot the T-Handle as if it were a backtension, i.e relaxing your pointer finger and "pulling". I've been shooting so good with it, it's what I'll be hunting with this fall.
09-02-2007 | 10:17 AM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
Time to go back to the basics even though your a seasoned shooter.
Get up close to the target so you know you won't miss it with your eyes closed. It's time to work on precise drawing, anchoring and releasing fluently. Regardless of the release type, index finger, thumb, pinky whatever, when target shooting you should only be triggering the release using back tension. It's time to work on that with your eyes shut without concern of what mark your hitting. Once you have that fluent in muscle memory, you can move back and aim.
Now take everything you've learned with your eyes closed and set it in motion with your pin on a mark.
In Zen archery, archers learn to draw their bows for a year or more without being allowed to release an arrow.....once the drawing is mastered only then are they allowed to release an arrow and this is only in the complete darkness at a huge wall...that way they are not aiming the bow strictly working on release....only after they have mastered the drawing and releasing of the bow are they allowed to actually aim at anything.
I try to take that same practice (in a short version) whenever I develope any bad habits and it can happen to anyone. Go back to the basics and you'll break your bad habits.
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
Get up close to the target so you know you won't miss it with your eyes closed. It's time to work on precise drawing, anchoring and releasing fluently. Regardless of the release type, index finger, thumb, pinky whatever, when target shooting you should only be triggering the release using back tension. It's time to work on that with your eyes shut without concern of what mark your hitting. Once you have that fluent in muscle memory, you can move back and aim.
Now take everything you've learned with your eyes closed and set it in motion with your pin on a mark.
In Zen archery, archers learn to draw their bows for a year or more without being allowed to release an arrow.....once the drawing is mastered only then are they allowed to release an arrow and this is only in the complete darkness at a huge wall...that way they are not aiming the bow strictly working on release....only after they have mastered the drawing and releasing of the bow are they allowed to actually aim at anything.
I try to take that same practice (in a short version) whenever I develope any bad habits and it can happen to anyone. Go back to the basics and you'll break your bad habits.
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
09-02-2007 | 11:28 AM
#7
Fork Horn
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Williamsburg, VA
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
09-02-2007 | 12:02 PM
#8
Typical Buck
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
From: LI, New York
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
you should try writing down your shot sequence and memorize it. Like TFOX said start #1 with aproaching the target. Include each and every step involve in the shot all the way through the foolow through.
09-02-2007 | 01:17 PM
#9
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,673
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Tennessee
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
Time to go back to the basics even though your a seasoned shooter.
Get up close to the target so you know you won't miss it with your eyes closed. It's time to work on precise drawing, anchoring and releasing fluently. Regardless of the release type, index finger, thumb, pinky whatever, when target shooting you should only be triggering the release using back tension. It's time to work on that with your eyes shut without concern of what mark your hitting. Once you have that fluent in muscle memory, you can move back and aim.
Now take everything you've learned with your eyes closed and set it in motion with your pin on a mark.
In Zen archery, archers learn to draw their bows for a year or more without being allowed to release an arrow.....once the drawing is mastered only then are they allowed to release an arrow and this is only in the complete darkness at a huge wall...that way they are not aiming the bow strictly working on release....only after they have mastered the drawing and releasing of the bow are they allowed to actually aim at anything.
I try to take that same practice (in a short version) whenever I develope any bad habits and it can happen to anyone. Go back to the basics and you'll break your bad habits.
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
Time to go back to the basics even though your a seasoned shooter.
Get up close to the target so you know you won't miss it with your eyes closed. It's time to work on precise drawing, anchoring and releasing fluently. Regardless of the release type, index finger, thumb, pinky whatever, when target shooting you should only be triggering the release using back tension. It's time to work on that with your eyes shut without concern of what mark your hitting. Once you have that fluent in muscle memory, you can move back and aim.
Now take everything you've learned with your eyes closed and set it in motion with your pin on a mark.
In Zen archery, archers learn to draw their bows for a year or more without being allowed to release an arrow.....once the drawing is mastered only then are they allowed to release an arrow and this is only in the complete darkness at a huge wall...that way they are not aiming the bow strictly working on release....only after they have mastered the drawing and releasing of the bow are they allowed to actually aim at anything.
I try to take that same practice (in a short version) whenever I develope any bad habits and it can happen to anyone. Go back to the basics and you'll break your bad habits.
Just like a golfer takes a practice swing to develope muscle/mind rememberance, so should we as archers, the body knows what to do, the mind is what makes or breaks a archer, shooting a bow is 90% mental.
Good post Rob.
Not saying it can't be done, because it can, but it's MUCH more difficult to shoot backtension with a wrist strap.
09-02-2007 | 01:34 PM
#10
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Oct 1998
Posts: 18,322
Likes: 0
From: Hughesville, PA USA
RE: How to break a bad habit?????
ORIGINAL: Cougars09
Good post Rob.
Not saying it can't be done, because it can, but it's MUCH more difficult to shoot backtension with a wrist strap.
Good post Rob.
Not saying it can't be done, because it can, but it's MUCH more difficult to shoot backtension with a wrist strap.
And thank you.