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Target Panic and Traditional Archery

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YamahaYG68

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am enjoying my return to shooting recurves, even though I am dealing with target panic.

I have difficulty coming to full draw when shooting at a target, even with a 25# Yamaha YB66. I can bring my 41# Martin Hunter and my 35# Yamaha YG68 to full draw, perfectly, IF I am drawing the bow but not intending to shoot, as in the video "S3 Archery - Target Panic And How To Beat It"; I can't post the link because I don't have 20 posts, yet.



So, I think this is a mental, rather than a physical problem.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to take a look at them.

History;

1970's and 80's, I had no issues, draw was consistent and quite good, as I recall.

Took a break, back into it with compounds in the early 1990's, tried to get very proficient at 3D in a short time period, experienced my first target panic.

Took another break, late 1990's, back at 3D with compounds, did OK for a while, then TP started, again.

Year 2000, wanted to continue to shoot 3D, bough a crossbow and shot in the crossbow catagory, no target panic with that.

3D activity folded in 2004, sold the crossbows.

2018, got back to my recurve roots as a retirement hobby, need to exorcise the TP, don't expect to be a tournament winner, but would like to get back to full draw, at least.

I do know this will be a journey, rather than a "quick cure".

Other, I have shoot clay targets (trapshooting) since 1970, some of it in high pressure competition, never had flinching (shotgunner version of TP)
 
#5 ·
A quick fix is a clicker. They really do work, keeps your concious mind focusing on the shot. Also a crazy idea that also helps is to use a kids bow or very light bow and come to full draw with your arrow in your house. Point at things you would never shoot at, piano,kitchen, etc. It trains your mind that you are in control and decide when to release the arrow.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
BowFlight said:
Also a crazy idea that also helps is to use a kids bow or very light bow and come to full draw with your arrow in your house. Point at things you would never shoot at, piano,kitchen, etc. It trains your mind that you are in control and decide when to release the arrow.
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is what the video (that I can't post the link for) basically shows.

They use their regular bow, though.

I have made this a daily routine, aiming at Yellow Jacket target butt, it is working, slowly, it is something one has to stay with and cannot expect instant results. I am seeing gradual improvement, just have to keep at it.
 
#7 ·
Limbwalker has a great thread on target panic in the FITA forum.

http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4900601

I'm so bad right now I have to look away (like 70*-90* right) from the target until I reach full alignment. Only then can I anchor aim and shoot. I know this is inefficient and bad form, but when I look in the area of the target as I'm drawing not so good things happen.
 
#8 ·
BowFlight said:
A quick fix is a clicker. They really do work, keeps your concious mind focusing on the shot. Also a crazy idea that also helps is to use a kids bow or very light bow and come to full draw with your arrow in your house. Point at things you would never shoot at, piano,kitchen, etc. It trains your mind that you are in control and decide when to release the arrow.
Click to expand...
I recall hearing a story once about a gentleman who was so frustrated with his TP that he decided to pick up his bow and draw while facing a large picture window in his living room. He said he'd either beat the TP or be paying for a new window.

He ended up needing to get the window repaired. I don't recall whether he continued to shoot or gave up after that.

FWIW, I struggled with the same type of TP (not coming to full draw) before I left the sport for a few years. I'm back shooting now, and I've managed to keep the TP at bay for now but I'm trying to be vigilant in not letting any sort of short drawing or snap shooting work its way into my shot sequence.

I've always shot instinctively, but have recently decided to commit to learn how to gap shoot. I've heard that typically using an aiming device (like the tip of an arrow) can make TP worse, but I've found the focus on my arrow has largely made it easier to hold at full draw while I look down the 'barrel' so-to-speak.

One thing that I personally really would like to experiment with, is going out for a typical practice session of a 100 or 120 arrows, yet never firing a shot. Work on drawing at different distances, sticking with my shot sequence, and then letting down. Even though I haven't had TP issues 'yet', I can still feel that creepy-crawly feeling under my skin that is the nearly overwhelming urge to fire an arrow as soon as I hit anchor. I would like to lose that association that my brain has.
 
#9 ·
I dealt with it by ignoring scores, ranking or where my arrow hit. I judged my shot purely on my ability to follow my shot sequence/execution.

I carried an arrow counter and would click for every well executed shot even if it missed and ignored those poorly executed shots even if it hit the mark. If you can shoot blank bale ok, then this is a good mental approach.

It helped me focus on what's important and removed a heap of pressure in tourneys.
 
#10 ·
Y -

So you can fully draw your heavier bows with no problem, but can't draw your 25#?

Anyway, if you can't work with a coach who can talk/walk you threw the shot, repeatedly,, the only real solution is a clicker.

Viper1 out.
 
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#11 ·
This is only a suggestion that worked for me for awhile.It would be nice to draw on target wait for a clicker and release but you like me short draw if we are on target before anchor.
There are two things you might try but they are only bandaids to our problem.
1-Anchor first-don't even think about aiming until you have locked into your proper form then start to aim.Try to be above your target but only as much as you can.You never see an Olympic archer drawing slowly sighting down there arrow,they anchor, settle in, aim and release.

2-This may work also.Try holding your bow arm pointed at target and come to a very quick anchor then aim.

HOPE this helps TP sucks.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
mamba/ny said:
This is only a suggestion that worked for me for awhile.It would be nice to draw on target wait for a clicker and release but you like me short draw if we are on target before anchor.
There are two things you might try but they are only bandaids to our problem.
1-Anchor first-don't even think about aiming until you have locked into your proper form then start to aim.Try to be above your target but only as much as you can.You never see an Olympic archer drawing slowly sighting down there arrow,they anchor, settle in, aim and release.

2-This may work also.Try holding your bow arm pointed at target and come to a very quick anchor then aim.

HOPE this helps TP sucks.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
#13 ·
If big foot was as common as target panic we'd have a season on them!!!

As Viper kind of stated let your coach tell you how to beat it!!! There is no one fix rule and I've have yet to see any cure that would fit in this little box. With the exception of a clicker and that's a band-aid that may or may not help if you take it off.

I've asked a lot of questions on TP in coaching classes and it seems that even coaches coaching coaches won't give a real detailed answer.

One of the real problems is you can't shoot your way out. Most get worse the more they shoot and the subconscious and especially the self-image are responsible for that. Once you have that damned self-image is saying 'yea, that's me, do it again'. And you can't get it out of your 'picture window'.

I think the cure lies in a conversation on the exact problem with a coach who knows something about it. Then a suggestion in the form of a change. Then removing aiming from the equation = BB. And then adding aiming small increments at a time.

There are other solutions, but they bring in other problems. We're looking for cures. In reality, it's just a bad habit, but a bad habit like alcoholism. Not easy to beat.

Bowmania
 
#14 ·
Todd -

In a sense, this is an example of where you might have to have to treat the symptom and not cure the disease.
That's why it's difficult to encapsulate a generic treatment protocol that will work for every case.
A GOOD coach should be able to ID the underlying cause and figure out a game plan accordingly.

We do this all the time. We don't (or at least I don't) teach back tension my turning the shooter into a student of anatomy, we teach a process that leads to the use of back tension, usually without mentioning the word.

Viper1 out.
 
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#16 ·
Viper, I just looked at your post count. Imrirggin'pressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In part, part I agree with you. Let's say you see a TPer swing drawing. I can tell him that that is what brought about his TP and how/why it happened. But a guy might have really good form and still have it. It's a mental thing. In his case, I think you tell him his pinky finger was straight or curled and it won't happen again if you curl it or straighten it. "THAT WAS YOUR LAST SHOT WITH TP". You straighten that finger as start shooting at the BB and TP is gone. The finger has nothing to do with it, but you're playing with the brain - selling the brain on the idea.

I hate to say it, but most peoples form is so bad that I can always find something different than the little finger. Just that will help them in the long run. How many on the LW know what back tension is?

Bowmania
 
#17 ·
I'm reading this with great interest. TP sounds like the opposite of what I have, LOL. I don't even look at the target until I get to full draw and anchor. Then it takes me a moment to settle before I send the arrow. Seems to take forever sometimes...and since I am doing what I think is called instinctive (bare bow, no sights, not really aiming with anything, even the point of the arrow), I don't always have a good "feeling" about the shot and I'll take a bit longer to compose myself...from the sounds of it, I'd rather have my issues than TP though!
 
#19 ·
I"m with Mark on this one. A few months ago, at a local shoot, I totally fell apart. Can't say exactly why (somewhere buried in the subconscious). I started a very dedicated shot sequence, taking time with each arrow, drawing a deep "yoga" breath. Strangely, I also watched a few good compound shooters (without any shooting myself), and their very stylized, steady shot sequence. Just watching them hold and focus really helped me. In just a coupe of weeks, I was back shooting my average, in command of the bow.
 
#20 ·
Mark -

Yes, but not always. I can honestly say none of my regular students have had TP. That's partly because of a shot sequence, and partly because I can see warning signs and have them start doing drills to prevent it from progressing. Correcting it after it's settled in is a bear. It might not even be possible, but it can be held at bay, which is pretty much what we do. I that regard, it's like an addiction.

With all that, it didn't stop me from getting it a number of years ago. I got sloppy, and it snow balled over a year or two.
Still, it was the best thing that could have happened to me as it made me rethink what I wanted out of archery, and I haven't looked back (much) since.

Viper1 out.
 
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