Fighting target panic and looking to try a back tension / stan type release

[Schleppy]

I like the look of the carter backstrap or the stan element. Anyone that has gone this route to help with TP please chime in. Anyone with a release for sale?

 

[ChadS]

I am 100% in this same boat. I have a world of problems that seemed to come out of nowhere. I have been browsing back tensions but have no idea what Im really looking at. Truball and Scott have always been super reliable for hunting releases for me so that's where I started....

 

[jmez]

The Element is a thumb release. Might be better off going with a hinge for working with target panic.

 

[BOW1144]

I struggled with target panic for a couple of years. This off season after doing some homework, I picked up a back tension. I went with the Scott Longhorn Hex, its more of a hybrd back tension that is designed for hunting. It is on a pivot that keeps it from going off accidentally while you draw your bow. It has been amazing the difference in my groups especially at longer distances. The release needs to be adjusted to make it more sensative when you get it out of the package.

 

[Neil B]

I bought a Carter Honey 2. The Honey 2 allows you to choose how the thumb peg works as a safety. You can depress it while drawing or letting down, then release pressure on it when ready to start your shot sequence. It disengages, and works like a regular hinge. Or you can reverse it where you push the peg in, hit your anchor, push it out, and start your shot sequence. Lets you draw or let down without having to stress over maintaining your release hand angle.
I'm a super newbie when it comes to hinges, but have gotten some solid advice from those who know much more. But i had to do something to break my bad habits, and form better ones. Might want to check out these TP/ back tension videos and seminars. I think they helped.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zfFeBLAPVa8RgbjdE1Hu30Aze6QVXkztJ6nI2UT51DE/mobilebasic?pli=1

Neil

 

[jmez]

Also a good idea, if possible to get a coach or a good shooter to help you learn how to shoot the new release. If you don't do it properly it can actually make your target panic worse. Thumb releases and hinges are hard to learn with no help. You can easily get frustrated and just put them away. When used and fired properly they really feel right!!

 

[Jake Leibke]

I've got a Carter Backstrap i'm looking to sell..... I bought new and used it for about 2 or 3 weeks. Thinking $135 for it. PM if your interested.

 

[mt100gr.]

I was very punchy on the trigger for awhile and worked really hard to correct it without switching releases. My most productive tactic was to come to full draw, really try to allow the pin to float on a target spot and then move to another spot on the target face, float the pin then move again. I would work through all the spots on my target without firing an arrow and then let down. I would go entire "practice" sessions without shooting an arrow. For me, just seeing the pin on target and knowing I wasn't going to shoot (so no shot anticipation) helped a ton.

When I did shoot, I would shoot blank bales at a few yards and focus hard on a clean release. If I got punchy, I'd quit for the day. I also developed a "cadence" to work with and even say out loud at times to help me relax and focus on each component of a clean shot. Also, focusing on pulling hard into the back wall while aiming seemed to help me.

 

[Curtis C]

^^^^^^^ Same as mt100gr. A few years ago I bought a DXT and my shooting really went to the crapper. I've never been a really, really good shot but I do OK. With this new bow it was clear something was wrong. I moved my target into the garage(about 5 yd distance) and started drawing with eyes closed, open and hold on target, let down. I would shoot the arrow at about the 10 cycle. Did this several times every day for about a week and then started adding a few 20yd, 30yd & 40yd shots outside each session. I worked my way through it and got back to my typical shooting consistency without changing gear.

 

[TJ]

When I went through the TP thing I ended up getting a Carter Squeeze me. I went through multiple releases, a couple different type of hinge releases etc.

The Squeeze me solved my problem. I still use it most of the time. For hunting I use a Carter RX-1 with a fairly hard trigger.

Good luck.

 

[camelcluch]

BT is an awesome way to help cure TP. I use a True Ball Sweet Spot 4 because of the safety. This allowed me to learn BT with my hunting bow not lower my weight. Learning to draw BT on a 70# bow can be a painful experience. Like I told ChadS (he is hard headed) you just have to commit to it and shoot it. I was told to give it an entire summer with out touching another release. BT has been the best tool/practice I have tried yet. Good luck.

 

[Coyote Commander]

Take your sight OFF.

Blind bag with a back tension release for a couple weeks.

Once youve learned what REAL back tension shooting feels like, and its ingrained in your muscle, put the sight back on.

 

[tipsntails7]

Whenever I take time off shooting, or get a new bow, or new strings, or if I feel I start to get antsy with the trigger I do what coyote said, except I do it at 10 yards with bareshafts. It also gives me something else to think about ie hand position. Then firing the shot becomes second nature.

 

[Schleppy]

Thanks for the advice guys. I had a little coaching when I was shooting the new bowtechs because the salesman said there was no way I was feeling the difference in the bows when I was punching the trigger so bad. He talked me through a couple of shots and I've been doing a better job of focusing on the back muscles and "doing it right" each shot. I also tried a tru-fire thumb release at the archery shop that I think I might buy, the only thing I didnt like was trying to keep my thumb away from that big ass trigger on the draw. I still might try a hinge or tension release too. the shops around here just dont carry them and it sucks to have to buy before you try.

 

[charvey9]

I was fighting this also, but was reluctant to switch releases. I poked around for some info and ran across AJ the TP guru.

http://www.ultimatearcherysolution.com/

I was skeptical for sure, but read lots of good things on archerytalk about the messages and results some other shooters experienced. When you think about it, TP is 100% mental so whatever it takes to recondition your mind will get results. I'm not sure if subliminal messaging actually works, it might be a complete placebo effect, but I did see improvement after the first time I listened to he messages. I can't go as far as to say I'm 100% cured yet, but I have not been able to shoot much over the last month since things have been so hectic at work. It might be worth looking at.

 

[jmez]

I know a lot of guys like the safety on some of the models but here is what was recommended to me. Have a friend that is a very competitive 3-D shooter, he recommended staying away from the safety models. You don't ever learn how to draw the bow, come to anchor and use them properly with a safety. He also recommended turning the bow down to 60#'s to learn with back tension.

I got a Scott Jet Black Hinge with a clicker. This release has a pin that goes through the head of the hinge that does not allow it to fire. With the pin in place there are two clicks, on when the sear is about to go off and the second is when the release would have fired. You can practice without shooting the bow and without fear of missing a target when blind baling, without doing any kind of amiming at all and without hitting yourself in the mouth or getting an errant release. Simply let down after the second click and start again. The pin also makes it very easy to set up the release with the amount of tension you want to make it fire. You never have to worry about it going off and sending an arrow somewhere.

You learn to draw, come to anchor and get set to shoot properly with the hinge. The clicks are very audible. If at any point you hear a second click you would have just fired an arrow. If you hear one click while drawing or settling in you can then try to let down without triggering the release. Again no worries. I used the release with pin in place for over a month before I even fired an arrow. When I unpinned it I was confident in the release in every way.

Some don't like clickers and if that bothers you then it is probably a deal breaker. You have to use the click correctly. Draw the bow find your anchor and then pull the release into the first click. Then, you begin aiming and settling your pin on the target. I don't even look through my peep until I hear the click , then start aiming and pulling through. If you try to aim right off the bat you will become punchy when hearing the click. All the click should tell you is to start your shot process.

This worked very well for me and am comfortable shooting the hinge with both 60# and 70#. It isn't a big deal turning your bow weight down, you will need to change several things anyway. You don't want your sights to work or be on, your anchor is going to change so you are going to have to move your peep site. Hard to jump back and forth on the same bow so best to get the hinge and commit to it for a few months and then either move to a thumb or back to an index finger release. If going to a thumb things shouldn't change.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

I cant shoot hinge style releases, but definitely take a look at the Carter Squeeze Me release.
I have shot that a few times, really helped with getting back tension down

 

[c5mrr270]

The Element is a thumb release. Might be better off going with a hinge for working with target panic.

The element is not a thumb release. The thumb peg is the safety, you hold it down while drawing then release it at anchor and pull through the shot. The increase in tension is what fires the release.

 

[jmez]

Thanks for the correction. I thought it was a thumb release.

 

[Jtelarkin08]

Close your eyes, see the shot happen and get rid of target panic.. Step up to a bale at 5 yards and close your eyes.. dont open your eyes until you can shoot 20-30 shots without dumping/punching your shot.. Do that for a week or two and you will be good to go..