I am just practicing my butt off.

However, I am questioning my routine. I am a fairly young (23), and have energy. It is not unocmmon for my target to see 100 arrows in a practice session at a rate of 3-4 times per week.

I question my groupings at the beginning, as I really only feel solid satisfaction on say the last half of the arrows (50-100).My initial problem is that out of say a three arrow round, I can perfectly group only two, with the third being somewhat off (read: 4-6 inches, usually left and sometime high). There is no discrepancy on which arrow it might be...1...2....or 3.

I do not take breaks in between rounds (3-5 arrows each round), with the exception of arrow retrieval.

I have been able to end with tight groupings that I feel sure enough to hunt with(fletchings touching each other up to 22yds).Keep in mind I change distance, and angles to the target often, so I know I am not just getting familiar with hitting the same shot over and over. I am just slow to really warm up. I cannot have this happen in the woods.

Therefore I am thinking of a routine change. It is still 16 days before opener, so I can change habits. But I have a feeling it is a form problem that I might be overlooking.

I would like to see what the general consensus is on routines, and how they affect form.

I shoot almost every night but only shoot 6 - 10 shots . 1 per target. I only get 1 shot on a deer ,if I hit where I was aiming I know I would have killed the deer. Dose the first arrow go where you want every time ? If so the is the flyer the first , 2 or 3 shot maybe a form break.

Sounds to me more like a concentration issue.

It can be random. Id say 80% of the time it is #2 or #3. On occassion it is the first shot.

Phade........Its great to practice, but your first shot of each practice session tells you how good you will shoot hunting.

Every fall I see guys show up to practice, their first couple round are at best, terrible. By the end I would say their shooting ok. They leave saying they about ready for season. I'll see them the next week for another practice session and they soot the same, bad at first. Then later in the season i hear about the misses.

The point is......Practice is good, but remember, Your first shot (at each yardage) tells you how you will shoot when hunting!

Phade, I shoot a ton of arrows just like you ... partially because I'm new, partialy because I love shooting.

Cloud 9 is right - it's the first arrow of the day that counts the most.

I was also having a grouping problem at first, and I finally realized that I was "ruching" somewhat, in that I didn't FULLY and COMPLETELY concentrate on each and every shot.

A buddy helped cure me of that by insisting that I only shoot one arrow at a time - instead of three per "round". I shoot at a paper target stuck to a carbon-stop bag and simply mark the first arrow's impact, then shoot another, mark it, etc.

You might want to try that - it might slow you down enough and force you to concentrate (if that's your problem).

I hope this helps.

Try shooting less - much less and go for QUALITY.

If you are shooting a stick bow, recurve than by all means shoot your heart out - but even then - if you cannot make the FIRST shot count - you need to look at your form, your concentration, and follow through to see whats wrong.... Instead of 100 arrows shoot 30, and do your best to make every one hit a 3" bulls eye at 30 yards..... If you miss a few times , stop shooting for 20 minutes, relax, then try ONE shot..... and make it count.....

Slowing down and shooting a few arrows will make you concentrate on quality instead of " Ill warm up soon and start hittin the mark"

When I draw my bow - I expect every shot to be a dead bullseye - period.

I hope I helped.... good luck !

I agree with Johnch, shoot less if you know you hit tight groups at the yards you shoot at then you know that your bow is sighted in. so If you have a crazy flier you know its you not the sights/bow. Usually after I sight in my sights and I can hit groups at any yards that I decide I will hunt at than the way I practice is put myself in a tree on on my knees just any position I might find myself in while hunting than I shoot only one arrow at my 3d target if I hit the kill zone great if I miss than I collect my arrow and keep practicing in that position until I can hit the kill zone in every position. makes sense because when hunting you are only going to get one shot at your animal so I like to know that my form is consitant in any position and on the first arrow that I shoot. Good luck, Also when I shoot a crap load of arrows I find that if I have some bad shots I end up consitrating on my form to hard and it just gets worse, so when you practice have fun and things always seem to go well for me, honestly the more I think about form the less consitant it gets. when I have fun out there it all seems to come into place.