Target panic and releases?

[BackcountryMT]

Blank bale shooting is great if all you shoot is a blank bale. If you have an aiming problem, closing your eyes and shooting isn't going to teach you to aim and shoot without the anxiety that comes from pin movement.

No, but it will train your muscles to shoot when you want them to shoot and give the shooter more control over the shot.

 

[wapitibob]

Executing the release isnt generally the problem, which is why guys with the panic can close their eyes and execute the release all day long. The anxiety (panic) comes from the aiming side. If you need to learn how to execute the release, then yes blind bale is fine. That then brings up the release side of the equation and how do you best make the release go off. Depending on your brain, there may be a multitude of ways.

 

[Hillbilly]

Executing the release isnt generally the problem, which is why guys with the panic can close their eyes and execute the release all day long. The anxiety (panic) comes from the aiming side. If you need to learn how to execute the release, then yes blind bale is fine. That then brings up the release side of the equation and how do you best make the release go off. Depending on your brain, there may be a multitude of ways.

This is exactly why you perform blind bale training. There is no dot to worry about , and no aiming process. If you want to add to this when you progress past blind bale put a dot on the back stop and execute the shot routine without letting an arrow go. Hold on the dot for 5 sec and let drown. 10 sec and let down, etc. complete 30 shot sequences and don't release a single arrow. the whole point is to tell your brain it's ok for your pin to rest on your aim point without the overwhelming need to release the arrow.

 

[Steeliedrew]

I picked up a Carter Evolution and so far really like it. It's not a hinge. It's a true back tension activated release. I too have the problem of holding low. I have to tell my brain that it is ok for my pin to be covering the spot. I've read that it is your subconscious mind that knows that you are trying to put an arrow in the spot but it has a hard time seeing how that's going to happen when you can't fully see the dot since your pin is covering it...hence holding low so the entire spot is in view. You have to hold your pin on the spot. Be ok with it hovering and trust that pin will get it done. John Dudley has written some great articles on it.

 

[wapitibob]

This is exactly why you perform blind bale training. There is no dot to worry about , and no aiming process. If you want to add to this when you progress past blind bale put a dot on the back stop and execute the shot routine without letting an arrow go. Hold on the dot for 5 sec and let drown. 10 sec and let down, etc. complete 30 shot sequences and don't release a single arrow. the whole point is to tell your brain it's ok for your pin to rest on your aim point without the overwhelming need to release the arrow.

I would agree your routine will work up to the point of actually shooting. Once there, the student needs to learn to aim and release with pin movement. To learn that, the best exercise is to get close and shoot at a dot he/she can hold within. Spend weeks gradually working back in distance. The worst thing a new archer can do is stick a sight on their bow and start shooting a little dot at 20 yards.

 

[Hillbilly]

I would agree your routine will work up to the point of actually shooting. Once there, the student needs to learn to aim and release with pin movement. To learn that, the best exercise is to get close and shoot at a dot he/she can hold within. Spend weeks gradually working back in distance. The worst thing a new archer can do is stick a sight on their bow and start shooting a little dot at 20 yards.

Yes the process I outlined previously is working towards moving back to your normal practice routine. What you mention above is yet another step in the process. A pie plate at 20 yds is a good starting point progressing back to normal. Once again just allowing your subconscious to "see" a pin floating on an aiming point. It's funny what your mind can do. I tried this years ago when having issues freezing low. Increasing the aiming point just told your brain to hold that much lower, lol, very frustrating.

 

[5MilesBack]

the whole point is to tell your brain it's ok for your pin to rest on your aim point without the overwhelming need to release the arrow.

If your pin is resting on your aim point, why wouldn't you release the arrow?

I've always said, "If anything is going to give me TP, it would be constantly shooting at a dime sized spot at 20 yards". Perhaps that's why I start at 40 and move back from there when I shoot. Then if I do shoot at 20, I'm shooting at a 3" bullseye, not a dime sized dot. Maybe that's also why my longer range groups are many times smaller than my 20 yard groups.

My advice.......stop shooting the short ranges. That 60+ yard shooting is so much more relaxing.

 

[Elkfever]

Check out the Scott Longhorn Hex release. I was desperate to tame my case of target panic and came across reviews about this release. It has saved my season as I was about to put down my bow down for the season when I changed up from a standard trigger release to the hex. Amazing results. There are a lot of things you can read about and I tried several but the hex release was worth every penny. You might also listen to the Sharpsticks podcast with joel turner- it's an interesting listen about shot sequence and target panic. Good luck to you.

 

[AlexGraham]

I appreciate all the help from you guys! hopefully I can get this squared away by next hunting season, and be back to shooting the way I used too!

 

[Hillbilly]

Best of luck brother, many ways to skin a cat. Discipline will win out. Good info here, also check out Bernie pellerite's idiot proof archery. I sat in on a couple of his seminars offered at a few national IBO shoots, very good info and heavy on dealing with TP along with proper form