I repeated the "burn a hole" thing for a long time, until I attended Rod Jenkins' clinic. He gives some really good info on why you really can't do that, at least for an extended period. You flat burn yourself out--we (humans) don't have the capacity for intense focus for any amount of time.

Form/consistency is the key. Aiming is a tiny portion of the shot. "Instinctive" just confuses most folks. Doesn't matter what you call it, the goal is to hit the target. Rod is a "gapper", but I've watched him knock down aerial targets one after the other (gappers aren't supposed to be able to do that).

His words were, "Get your form down, aiming will take care of itself".

Yeah, that's basically what I was getting at.

But I was also trying to say that "good form" could be subjective as well. If a guy can come to full draw and hit his target consistently, does it matter how he got there? Or how the arrow got there?

Telling someone to go through a series of rigid "steps" to final release and follow through of the shot is counter intuitive to "instinctive" shooting.

I say, look at what other people are doing for reference, make sure you're being safe in all of your actions and hit the intended target. I don't care if you release on reaching anchor, hold it there for 10 seconds, or if you anchor with your fingers touching your eyebrow and your tongue on the string.

I think everyone needs to look at the proper form and have it for reference, but if it means the difference between hitting the X or not, then do what works to get the arrow there, as long as you do so safely and consistently, you'd be a good shot in my book.

If it works, it works. I've seen some pretty unorthodox "form" work, but rarely is it consistent.

The difference is taking the long, bumpy, off the beaten path, takes forever and a day scenic route........or driving straight there on a smooth, even highway. What coaches like Rod work to give us is the quickest route to the destination. Not to say you can't get there by other methods, but it may take 5 times as long.

IMO "instinctive" is way overrated, and way too often used as an excuse for lousy shooting. Even if you can be relatively accurate and not shoot the same shot twice, it's lousy for hunting. If you aren't shooting the same shot twice, then there's no way you can get good arrow flight every time. Good flight is essential to good penetration.

I'm much more impressed watching someone aim and hit the target consistently than I am with someone who says "I SHOOT INSTINCTIVE!" but sprays their shots all over.