Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Guys

My friend used to be a pretty good shot. Now in the last couple of years he developed a bad habit he can't seem to shake. He really rushes his shot the momentthe target appears in his peep. And of course its had an effect on his accuracy.

I've tried to tell him to keep his finger behind the trigger of his release until he has the target in the peep and hold still. But as hard as he tries he still brings his finger to the trigger right away and rushes his shot.

He is getting very discouraged. He knows its not the equipment, its him. He said as he draws he keeps telling himself to keep his finger where its at. But, once at full draw, (everything falls apart) and he doesn't pause and hold on the target for any real length of time and he rushes the shot big time.

Nothing has changed in his equipment since this problem started. Like I said he used to be a pretty good shot with the same equimpment.

Any advice to help correct this problem would be great.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Tell your friend to do holding paractice. Have him keep his finger BEHIND the trigger with the intentions of never firing the shot. Have him hold on the target for as long as he can and then let down. This will hopefully program his mind to beleive that he is in control and can hold on the spot until he releases. After this phase, it would be good for him to blind bail, to feel the perfect shot without the added stress of aiming. I will not get into the accuracy triangle, but with these two methods, it is possible to train the mind to work differently for the proper technique.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

I don't know if this has anything to do with rushing. When I'm up and first light comes, I look around and pick spots that I will be shooting. Then when the target comes, I just stay cool until it hits the spot that I picked. Then I draw and release. When I draw and release, it is less than 30 seconds. This technic hasn't fail me yet.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

If you're close enough to go and personally help him out...you may try this. Have him shoot only on your command. He draws the bow with his finger behind the trigger and then you go through simple commands of repitition. Something like; 1) "find your target" 2) "move your finger to the front of the trigger 3) shoot
After each command, you wait a second or two..forcing him to hold position...before you give the next command.
I have seen this work before. Good luck.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

what your friend has is target panic, he is snap shooting. The best thing he could do is shoot at a blank bail from 5 ft. away with his eyes closed so he gets the feel for a proper release again. This will help him re-teach is subconcious that he can hold on target while aiming in stead of feeling that he has to release the second he is on target. Also just holding on target and letting down without releasing the arrow would be a great tool to use as well. Good luck.


Shane

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Read me suggestions in this topic. It helped me out big time. I used to have your buddies problem.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1968513&mpage=1&key=form%2cprobl em

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

sr77 that link to the other post hit home. My friend talked about freezing at times and not being able to move the peep to the target too.

Everyone thanks for the advice.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Thanks for saving me some typing Elk.


This is exactly what needs to be done.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

I agree with sr77 on one part but disagree on another. Yes get up close and personal with the target butt. BUt instead of no target , put a target up there. It is the spot that is bothering your friend so just blank baling isnt going to do away with his fear of the spot. He will be fine while blank baling but as soon as you put a spot up there he will be back to where he was. Put the target up there and shoot real close . Being close you can retrain your mind to know that you can lock onto the spot without the urge to jam the trigger and will in time be able to hold on the spot and not shoot at all if you choose. You need to confront what is causing the problem (the spot) and blank baling will not accomplish that.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Another link for you to look at.

Blind bail shooting

Paul

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

When he is blind bail shooting have someone other than him trigger the release while he is holding his form. After doing this he will know what a surprise release feels like. He can also do this with his eyes open and focusing on the target when someone else triggers his release. Once he has done this for awhile he can the use his finger and will not have that urge to "punch" the trigger.

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

that sounds like a good idea... i think that would acually work...

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

Interesting theory, and it may work somewhat. But thingsmay change when it gets back to him having complete control again. If holding practice and blind bailing after help him out, then switch to 2 releases set tototal opposites of the spectrum ( meaning one hot and one not) and switch them up between shots. This will keep things as a surprise. I train with 2 differently set releases and just grab one out of my pouch. I have no idea which one I have.

I had target panic so bad at one time, that when a pin would hit the target, no matter which one, the arrow was gone. At times I looked like I had epilepsy when I tried to hold on the target.

I wanted to get better and tried this and that along the way. That winter I spent every chance that I had doing holding practice. When the weather got too cold for the garage, I made a device out of a broom stick and elastic cord and mounted a sight on the broom stick. I would pull back and hold on an object and then let down. I was training my mind to hold on the target without shooting.

Then I went to blind bail to get the surprise release, blind bailing is great if done correctly. Just shooting close with your eyes closed does not mean that you are blind bailing. You must concentrate on the proper release. What you are doing is training your subconscience mind to do what it is supposed to without thinking. The conscience mind is then left free for nothing but aiming when it comes time to shoot.

Within a 2 year period, by using these methods, I went from the epileptic archer to taking a state championship and qualified for IBO worlds 4 times that year and the horn piles started stacking up. I ended up with a staff shooter position with a bow company and picked up 6 additional sponsors.A long way from where I couldn't control the shot enough to hita bowling ball at 20 yards if i tried.

If your freind can begin to overcome this dilema (which is curable) See if he will start shooting a back tension release. What this will do is enforce patience in waiting for the shot to go off. He can still shoot a trigger if he wants, but use the backtension to teach him the important factors of shooting.

Try these methods along with him, you might be surprised how much it helps your game also, good luck!!!!

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

I also had target panick,fairly bad and holding practice as Elk described is how I got over it.


Again,elk has saved me lots of typing because he is spot on.EVERY PART

RE: Rushing The Shot Problem
 

If an archer has aproblem getting into the target as adressed on some of the posts, and everything seems to click otherwise, the bows tiller may need to be adjusted in either direction to bring more pressure to the top or the bottom limb. This will make it easier to hold on the target without fighting it. It will be you however that makes the decision whether it is a mental or mechanical issue. Usually my tillers are set up exact, however I have had one or two, that shot better with the tiller a little bit out. Most likely it is a mental issue, but once in a while it can be within the bow.....