Struggling with holding low
01-05-2009, 07:03 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 217
Struggling with holding low
All - Well I have been somewhat dorminant for the past several months mainly because I was taking archery a little too seriously and I think I was doing more harm than good. Anyways I am still having some issues with holding low on spot targets and it feels like I just can't get the bow up and the sight pin to float on the the spot it is always about 2-3" inches low. I was fighting Target Panic for a while and now I do not punch my trigger as much but I still can't raise my bow past a certain point when looking at a spot target. Typically when I am shooting a vitals target I am a little better. Any ideas? Just so you know I am shooting a 70-80lbs Hoyt vulcan (all the way backed out to 69lbs right now). I think I know the answer to this but would dropping to 60-70lbs limbs help me with my problem? I was planning on purchasing some lighter limbs but due to an unforseen loss of income I am tapped out right now. Any ideas would be great.
01-05-2009, 07:54 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Middletown PA United States
Posts: 3,625
RE: Struggling with holding low
I have very little doubt that lighter draw weight would help some, but it's not the complete answer. Lighter weight would allow you to use a back tension release which might be the answer to your problem.
Face it. You still have target panic. Freezing below the target is a sign of target panic (I freeze left). Blind bale shooting or so many other home school rememdies for battling target panic can help, too. Do a search on "target panic" and see what you find.
How are you addressing the target? Are you coming from the bottom up? If so you might try coming from the top down and try stopping just above the spot and letting the pin drift down on the spot. Whatever you do the answer is not going to be easy, but being able to aim is going to be very tough with a 70# draw weight. This is why most good target shooters are in the 50# range with lower letoff cams.
Face it. You still have target panic. Freezing below the target is a sign of target panic (I freeze left). Blind bale shooting or so many other home school rememdies for battling target panic can help, too. Do a search on "target panic" and see what you find.
How are you addressing the target? Are you coming from the bottom up? If so you might try coming from the top down and try stopping just above the spot and letting the pin drift down on the spot. Whatever you do the answer is not going to be easy, but being able to aim is going to be very tough with a 70# draw weight. This is why most good target shooters are in the 50# range with lower letoff cams.
01-05-2009, 09:56 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Henderson, KY
Posts: 1,760
RE: Struggling with holding low
practice aiming at the spot, and DONT shoot and let down. Do this over and over and practice it consistantly and it will go away. That is what helps me the most.
Derek
Derek
01-05-2009, 09:59 AM
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: coshocton, Ohio
Posts: 279
RE: Struggling with holding low
I had/have the same problem. It was horrible. I found Myself constantly trying to pull the bow up that 2-3 inches. As soon as I did I would try to release which wasn't helping any. Finally I had to get up close to the target, and close My eyes. Draw back and blindly aim at the target, and shoot over and over again. After that for awhile, I would go back to 20,30, and 40 yards and shoot again. If I would settle a couple inches low like I had been doing I would let the bow down. Don't force a shot it doesn't help any at all. Once You figure out that Your in control of when the bow goes off, and where You can aim it gets better, but it takes awhile to get over it. I really don't think it ever goes away, because Mine comes back every now and then. It sucks! Sometimes best thing is just to draw back try to aim at the bullseye, and if You can't keep letting the bow down, and draw again. I'll do that for a long time if I can't stay on the bullseye.
01-05-2009, 10:20 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Brampton Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,038
RE: Struggling with holding low
Back off the draw weight 'a whole lot'. You should not be fighting the bow. Get 'comfortable' with your form....consistent form. Shoot and then shoot and then shoot some more. At least a few days at 'minimum DW'.
Slowly increase your DW as your comfort level improves.
RELAX, and follow thru on your shots...Rome wasn't built in a day. TIME is of the essence.
Slowly increase your DW as your comfort level improves.
RELAX, and follow thru on your shots...Rome wasn't built in a day. TIME is of the essence.
01-05-2009, 10:23 AM
#6
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 217
RE: Struggling with holding low
I am definetly agreeing with all of you I think I will try and sell whatever I can to get some 60lbs limbs for my Hoyt I think that will help a lot. PLease keep the suggestions coming I appreciate it all.
01-05-2009, 10:36 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Henderson, KY
Posts: 1,760
RE: Struggling with holding low
ORIGINAL: mondoman86
I had/have the same problem. It was horrible. I found Myself constantly trying to pull the bow up that 2-3 inches. As soon as I did I would try to release which wasn't helping any. Finally I had to get up close to the target, and close My eyes. Draw back and blindly aim at the target, and shoot over and over again. After that for awhile, I would go back to 20,30, and 40 yards and shoot again. If I would settle a couple inches low like I had been doing I would let the bow down. Don't force a shot it doesn't help any at all. Once You figure out that Your in control of when the bow goes off, and where You can aim it gets better, but it takes awhile to get over it. I really don't think it ever goes away, because Mine comes back every now and then. It sucks! Sometimes best thing is just to draw back try to aim at the bullseye, and if You can't keep letting the bow down, and draw again. I'll do that for a long time if I can't stay on the bullseye.
I had/have the same problem. It was horrible. I found Myself constantly trying to pull the bow up that 2-3 inches. As soon as I did I would try to release which wasn't helping any. Finally I had to get up close to the target, and close My eyes. Draw back and blindly aim at the target, and shoot over and over again. After that for awhile, I would go back to 20,30, and 40 yards and shoot again. If I would settle a couple inches low like I had been doing I would let the bow down. Don't force a shot it doesn't help any at all. Once You figure out that Your in control of when the bow goes off, and where You can aim it gets better, but it takes awhile to get over it. I really don't think it ever goes away, because Mine comes back every now and then. It sucks! Sometimes best thing is just to draw back try to aim at the bullseye, and if You can't keep letting the bow down, and draw again. I'll do that for a long time if I can't stay on the bullseye.
Just stick with it, and be persistant.
Derek
01-05-2009, 12:11 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kodiak, AK
Posts: 2,877
RE: Struggling with holding low
ORIGINAL: ampahunter
Shoot and then shoot and then shoot some more. At least a few days at 'minimum DW'.
Shoot and then shoot and then shoot some more. At least a few days at 'minimum DW'.
01-05-2009, 12:30 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Central PA
Posts: 2,299
RE: Struggling with holding low
All good advice. I had a very similar issue a while back but I was just the opposite. I was holding above and not able to bring it down.
The best thing I did was practive holding the pin on the target without shooting an arrow. Draw, hold for about 5-10 seconds, and then let down. Make sure you place your finger on the trigger as well, as if you have full intention on shooting the arrow. Do this for anywhere between 5-10 times and then shoot one arrow. Then do the whole thing over again.
It worked for me.
The best thing I did was practive holding the pin on the target without shooting an arrow. Draw, hold for about 5-10 seconds, and then let down. Make sure you place your finger on the trigger as well, as if you have full intention on shooting the arrow. Do this for anywhere between 5-10 times and then shoot one arrow. Then do the whole thing over again.
It worked for me.
01-08-2009, 11:55 AM
#10
Spike
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5
RE: Struggling with holding low
A little late on the response, but... When I was pretty serious about target shooting I developed a BAD case of target panic. It did not rear it's ugly head on game or 3D targets, only when I was shooting 5 or single spot targets. Same problem,I felt like I could not raise my sight to the center of the target no matter what. For myself, like some stated earlier, I did a lot of drawing and holding on a small dot and then letting off. The other excersize I did was to place a strip of black electrical tape about 10" long paralell to the ground at target height. That became my target. I did not focus attention left or right, only on the black strip. The other thing I did in the rehab time was STAY AWAY from target shooting. As one stated earlier "perfect practice makes perfect". What I tell my kids when I coach them is "practice makes permanent, so practice properly" Good luck.