Target Panic?
 

It seems this is a problem most archers face sometime or another in thier shooting career(pro or hunter). Well, I believe that I have a bad case of it. The way I found out is I went to a 3-D shoot this morning and was shooting worthless. Before we went out to shoot, I had my warm up time and was doing fine, so I thought. My score for the first 5 targets was 15(no, that is not a misprint). So I ask my buddy to help me out and tell me what I was doing wrong. The next 5 target were 8' s. Not the best score but all double lung hits in a hunting situation. Which is why I shoot 3-D. My score for 23 target was around 115. The worst I had ever shot. Around 20 I was so frustrated that I could have went home, hung the bow up and quit. But I shot 3 more targets and said I can' t do this and get worse. I was sportsman enough to walk the rest of the course and score his shots for him though.
Anyway, since then I have been reading different ways to cure target panic, or punching the trigger. I know blind bale shooting is one way, another is back tension, using a timer to make yourself wait on target before shooting(holding at full draw and holding your aim), or having a friend trigger your release. I don' t have the right area for blind baling, choice of back tension releases is making it hard to choose, a timer to me only delays the action of punching, and a friend isn' t always there.
So, what are some of the ways that you all have cured this? Any help would be greatly appreciated because my favorite past time is gone until I figure this out. Thanks. Chris

RE: Target Panic?
 

GKF makes a release aid called ANSWER. it will make punching the trigger change

RE: Target Panic?
 

You COULD spend more money and buy another doodad that might, or might not help fix your problem. The problem is not your release, though. It' s between your ears. Target panic is nothing more, and nothing less, than the fear of missing the target. It just affects different people in different ways.

With me, I was getting tensed up telling myself, by golly you' re gonna drill this next one, and then just blowing up. Every stinkin' target! When I quit TRYING so dang hard to hit the x-ring and just let myself execute the shot, I was shooting good again.

Establish a pre-shot routine and go through it step by step. I calm myself using breath control. After I take my stance I load the arrow and hook my fingers on the string (you' d hook your release). Take a good, slow, deep breath and exhale slowly. Taking about twice as long on the exhale as I did on the inhale. In through the nose and out through the mouth. As I draw, I begin taking another deep breath, finish it as I come on target and exhale slowly while aiming. The release will takes place as I begin the next breath and increase back tension.

Concentrate more on relaxing than on the release and just let it happen.

Any time it doesn' t feel right, let down!

That' s a great breathing exercise any time you' re feeling tense. Sit in a chair or lie down. Take slow, deep breaths, fully expanding your lungs and exhaling very slowly. Concentrate on feeling each muscle in your body relax as you exhale. Practice it at least twice a day for 5-10 minutes a whack.

RE: Target Panic?
 

I probably have the worst case you can imagine.....what I ended up having to do was go to a pure back tension release like the Tru-Ball tru tension...there' s no trigger so you CAN' T punch it.....I shoot this all summer, and will switch to my caliper for hunting in Sept. I shoot just enough to get dialed in and tuned with the caliper and then practice again with the Pure back tension release.....I' m usually good for about 25 shots with the caliper before I start mashing the trigger......If it' s got a trigger I' ll punch it....this is what has worked for me but I hope you don' t end up with it this bad.....take Arthur P' s advise and see where that takes you....Best of luck!!

RE: Target Panic?
 

Thanks for the ideas. I am going to try the breathing deal, but I was never good at concentrating on my breathing. Even shooting a rifle is hard for me to control my breathing. I did make me a bigger spot to start with and I WILL get back down to shooting 1" groups again. Thanks again. Chris

RE: Target Panic?
 

Again good luck and hopefully you found it soon enough that it won' t become an issue.......I don' t know if I' ll ever " fix" mine......
I hope the breathing trick works for you.....I shoot benchrest competitions and regularly shoot 1/4 MOA groups so the breathing thing isn' t an issue with me....Personally I think I' m psychotic :D ...... Or I' m gonna end up that way....

RE: Target Panic?
 

What works for me is keep anchor point until arrow hits the target. Kind of like a golf shot, stay down and through the shot.

RE: Target Panic?
 

UPDATE: after yesterdays 3-d shoot I was ready to quit but didn' t. Today after work I tried 2 different releases. 1 hand held and 1 wrist strap. I could shoot 1 but not the other and it was actually mentally fatigueing(sp). So, I broke down and bought a back tension release. I know they are hard to get use to but I am determined to beat this thing. So I bought TRU Ball' s Sweet Spot 4. At first I was leary about it, but after 25 shots or so I got comfortable with it. I know 10 yards is a short distance but someone with target panic it is a GREAT feeling to put 10 shots the size of a quarter together. I plan on shooting this distance for a while and then move it out farther as I get more use to the release and my target panic. Thanks for the info you all have given and support. Chris

GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. If you have it, try a back tension, it seems to be working for me.

RE: Target Panic?
 

Check out the article in Bowhunting America where you shoot a caliper release with your back and elbow. You do not squeeze the trigger.

RE: Target Panic?
 

trying a different kind of release worked for me, i went from a fourth finger rope release to a caliper.

RE: Target Panic?
 

Blind bailing has really help me alot. I do it before every practice session. I stand about 10 feet from the target, close my eyes after I get all lined up and " FEEL" the shot. It is amazing how much you can feel with you eyes closed.

ONce I start shooting at further distances, I concentrated on that relaxed feel on every shot. I take my time and try to execute every shot with the same feel as the blind bailing. If I notice myself tensing up and punching the trigger.....I just go back a blind bail a couple of shots.

Don' t worry so much about hitting a spot. just shoot for the middle of the taget for a while. Relax and let the pin settle where ever it wants. Concentrate on the release.

Worked for me. Hope you figure it out. One of the hardest things I ever did in archery was to break the target panic habits.

RE: Target Panic?
 

That has to be the lazy way of avoiding work. There is no quick fix or sure fix for the problem, but your statement about not having the right area is wrong. It can and probably should be done in the garage or basement. You only stand 8 or 10 feet from the target and do it for weeks before going to a target. It works. Been there/done that for a couple months.

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RE: Target Panic?
 

One thing I' ll mention that I' ve never heard about before is eye dominance. Take it from MY personal experience that using the non-dominant eye will definitely affect your mental state which subsequently can affect your shot (ie. target panic).

Because of this, in my shop we now make it a point to check eye dominance as much as possible. It' s amazing as to how many people are shooting with the wrong eye.

When I go back to shooting right-handed, the target panic pops up quite often.:(

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RE: Target Panic?
 

Jim:

That may be true for your friend and a lot of people who switch. My switch was done because I really couldn' t see the pins or target very well with my bad right eye. I switched and have not had anything I could remotely call target panic since the switch. I used to get it all the time shooting right-handed; and, when I go back to shooting right-handed occasionally, I get it again.

I only mentioned it because I know it is possible for eye dominance to have a very negative affect on you ' mental' attitude.

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RE: Target Panic?
 

Davidmil, where I live is not the right place for blind baling. I have a garage but unlike most it was not built completely out of brick and the soft sheets of wood just don' t like to stop an arrow and I don' t like to replace vinyl siding if I can keep from it. As far as avoiding work, I have NEVER started to avoid any work. So, before you start saying things you have no idea about, think twice. Chris

RE: Target Panic?
 

RidgeRunr, all of these guys got good ideas and proven remedies. But thing that was touched on but not covered in depth, talking your way through the shot. That is to say that when you go to draw, you must talk your self through every single step involved. From the time you start to draw, till the time the arrow is going through the target. I like the breathing Arthur P mentioned. And what JDoyle said about letting down. All, all very good advice and very true advice! But just talk your self through, " smooth steady draw, elbow slightly bent, relaxed grip, calm down, back tension(if used), breath control, clear point, blury target, relax, smoooth steaaady squeeze, sights, follow through," Get the picture? Practice slow and before you know, along with what else has been said, you' ll be in the bull! Good Luck![8D]

RE: Target Panic?
 

To all that have helped: I have started the controlled breathing, talking my way through the shot, and shooting at a blank target. Not blind baling because I am afraid of putting another arrow through my garage. the last one just missed my truck. Today I moved outside for the first time in 2 weeks and it seemed pretty natural following the steps I have made for myself. Deep breath(to calm a little), nock an arrow, check peep for right rotation, grip, draw with slight bend and squared shoulders, anchor, sight, HOLD IT, squeeze shoulder, and release. I know it seems long but it really only takes about 30 to 45 seconds. this is working for me right now and I hope it keeps up. Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement to get back on track. Chris

RE: Target Panic?
 

What exactely is a back release?

RE: Target Panic?
 

I had the same problem BIG TIME!

My dealer had me try the aiming principle and back tension releases but none worked,
until a guy in the club had me try the ANSWER RELEASE by Golden Key.
This WORKS,it will lock up if you punch and will only fire when you squeeze slow.
Lets you concentrate on the sqeeze.

I now switch back and forth from my Scott when I start punching again.

RE: Target Panic?
 

Try this. hold the pin on the target, exhale, touch the trigger and inhale deeply at the same time. When you inhale your shoulder moves back triggering the release. Practice this without your bow. Hold your left arm straight out and put your right hand at your anchor point . Take a deep breath and watch your right hand pull back slightly. Concentrate on keeping your back muscles tight at the same time. This method alleviated my target panic problems and made my shooting much better.

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