I am convinced that a great deal of the argument regarding "automatic" shots and "subconscious" shooting, has risen due to the popularity of the indoor game. Here you have a totally controlled environment, a standard distance, only 3 target options with 2 of those being identical with the exception of one scoring ring. Bottom line, perfect repetition is what scores perfectly at 20 yards indoors on whichever target you choose. Nothing changes, no variables. Now, throw in the fact that competitively, I don't know the numbers, but a
vast majority of archers (and even some coaches,) this is all they know, again,
competitively, because that's all they do other than maybe fling a few arrows in the back yard or basement at ten yards. Nothing wrong with that, indoor archery has brought a lot to the sport, Vegas is probably the largest archery event in the world. That's awesome.
Now, the value of the short game or 20 yards indoors to develop a shot, or "process" can't be disputed. However, there's a whole lot more to archery than the 20 yard game. If you want to talk about "automatic" or "subconcious" shots it should probably remain in theory. It may be a good theory. But when it comes to archery games other than "indoor" the value of an "automatic" shot diminishes a great deal. Why? Because of all the variables thrown in, the elements, different distances, different target sizes at those distances, lighting, footing, the list goes on.
I will just challenge anyone that thinks that you shoot your best by shooting "automatically" to step on an unfamiliar field course and see how that works out for you. It just, will, not, work. You try to take some text book "voodoo" approach of "automatic" shooting to the field (and even 3D) course you are going to experience an amazing failure rate. Why? Because you are being introduced to specific conditions constantly that you could not possibly have experienced enough times previously to make "automatic." You could not have experienced that precise footing, with that exact light, with that exact wind, target size and distance the thousands of times it takes to make it automatic, and do it sometimes from four different stakes on a target. Bottom line, you have to think.
Now, what I have just said in no way minimizes the voodoo approach to the short game or indoor archery. I am just pointing out that due to indoor archery's popularity some of these theories are becoming somewhat gospel. They are not gospel. Some of these theories work to a degree on a flat field @ 50m, some of them work in the Olympic venue as well I'm sure but have no experience with it. However, in the field and 3D world these theories value diminishes greatly. The theories can assist you in developing a shot, of course, but when uncontrolled variables are introduced you have to be able to think through the variables in order to translate that shot process into desired results. If you don't your "automatic" will cause you to miss a shot on the 35 fan of the field course.
My .02. Hope someone finds it to be a "contribution."