I'm no authority--not by a long shot. I get lucky here and there at tournaments, but mainly I know some of the best shots alive and a lot of well above average shooter. I usually go to a lot of tournaments (3-D) in several different states, and I like to talk and ask questions. I watch other shooters, and try to figure out what they are doing right (or wrong). The most accurate are very controlled, deliberate,and obviously use some sort of aiming system--concious or not.

I know there are exceptions to pretty much every rule, but I've been in and around the sport long enough to see and experience what works for the majority.

I don't think I've met Rod Parsons, although the name is familiar, so it's nothing personal. I'd like to shoot with him sometime though, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Chad

I am just took a renewed interest in traditional archery and had not shot barebow for maybe 15 years or so. I bought an inexpensive recurve and am relearning how to shoot one. The article is good for me as are the comments from all you shooters.

I think everyone has to try different methods and find out what works for him or her. Some have their style ingrained in stone while others experiment and experiment trying to come up with a winning combination or perfect what they are doing. So I wouldn't be too hard on someone if their style doesn't fit yours.

My shooting was just so so in the few weeks I have been practicing with the recurve. I almost wanted to go back to the compound. Then I read a post on shooting what he called "Indian style" with three fingers under the arrow. I had never tried it before. I am right eye dominant and shoot lefty. I close my right eye and sight down the arrow shaft. It made a world of difference. That works for me. I would have never thought to try it had it not been someone else's style that would not work for everyone. Just my 0.02.

I noticed several words are spelled English style so the author might be from UK.

McPhee

It was a interesting artical worth the read but I am one that will practice at marked distiances 10-15-20 but it is only a half doz or less at each one then I just walk around(within 30 yrds) and take shots.I find this to be very helpfull to me,I am lucky enough to have a small hill on my property so I can shoot down and up(it rises 14ft in 40 ft)just a nice angle to challange a guy a little....

if you want to prove "instinctive" go out on a pitch black night and shoot at a lit candle at 25 yards

that will tell you right there if you're shooting pure instinctive or if you use a sighting method

funny you mention this. I shoot in evenings alot on the weekends. And I try to squeeze all the daylight I can out of my shooting. At the edge of dark, where I cannot see where I am hitting, I all the sudden start grouping great, but alway high. So actually, mental gap shooting is probably messing me up. Its hard not to notice the fuzzy vision gap.

Shooting a group means you are doing the same thing every time--consistency. That is important, but not the same thing as accuracy.

Don't set the candle up at 25 yds. Have someone set it out for you at an unknown distance, or use the small glow stick stuck into a target (where all you see is a glowing dot).

McPhee, I agree that some things work better than others, depending on the person. However, there are some basic fundamentals that, if properly applied, will make anyone a better shooter--consistency, back tension, follow though, etc.

Again, the main thing that got me in the article was the phrase "real instinctive shooter", as if that is some holy grail to reach for. Accuracy is (or should be) the goal, not some label.

Chad

Well, I don't shoot groups, let me put this this way. I rove all around my yard at various distances. And I kept hittin the exact same spot. My poor 3d deer's spine was all beat up.

You got me--I misunderstood that you were shooting for groups.

Hitting high is where the gap would come in--it shouldn't affect left and right. I'm sure someone smarter than me could figure out what's going on, but I couldn't say. I know I shoot better when I can see the target, and where I'm hitting.

Back later--going to take advantage of these last few days of deer season!

Chad

[quote]ORIGINAL: McPhee

I think everyone has to try different methods and find out what works for him or her. Some have their style ingrained in stone while others experiment and experiment trying to come up with a winning combination or perfect what they are doing. So I wouldn't be too hard on someone if their style doesn't fit yours.


i couldn't agree more. In my mind, "judging distance" is the same thing as instinctive shooting. The only difference is how fast you do it and how precise the shot will be. obviously the greatest shooters aren't secretly pulling out a rangefinder. it's all about practice and "getting a feel" for how to aim for a particular target. it's all calculations that your actually doing in your head without realising it. you get used to your bow's speed and from there you can shoot moving targets. you get used to how flat of trajectory your arrows have and then you judge/"get used to" different distances
~just something to think about