Target panic and releases?

Joined
Jul 21, 2013
Messages
79
Location
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
I've started to get target panic this year and it really sucks. I'm planning on buying a new release to help me try and get over it, and want to know what release has helped other people get over their target panic? I don't have a place were i can go to test a lot of releases to decide which one is better butThe main releases I'm looking at are the Scott longhorn or the backspin for a hinged style, and the exxus, exxus core?
 
I spent the last year getting over a horrible bout of target panic. What worked for me was a Carter Too Simple thumb release shot with back tension. It took several agonizing months to get the hang of back tension and I still have a long way to go, but this season I was able to smoke a raghorn elk at 43 yards when in the past I would not have been able to get a pin on him before I jerked the trigger. Take a serious look at Carter releases, they are top quality construction with a clean, crisp, adjustable trigger, and have great customer service. And the best bit of advice I can give is take the steps to cure the problem NOW!!! Waiting will only make target panic worse (I spent 10 years fighting it). Once you commit to shooting with back tension and a surprise shot target panic will disappear, but you have to commit to learning it. I am definitely not an expert but let me know if you have any questions about my battles and the steps I took.
 
Check out the thread below about target panic. I was given some great advice there. I bought a Carter squeeze me release and have been working on learning using a back tension release. So far I have just been blind bailing to get the hang of it. I also bought the book idiot proof archery and it had a lot of great information.
 
Thanks gumbo for the information! Right now I shoot a spot Hogg wise guy and love it but I freeze up on the target just below where I need to aim. My groups are still really tight just low. But I don't have the problem when I draw back on a animal? And. GA Hunter I don't see the thread below? Maybe because I'm on my phone now?
 
Dont waste your money on a new release. Target panic is something you will NEVER cure, but it can be controlled. Before you start throwing money at the problem I would highly suggest blind bailing. Stand 5ft from your target, draw and settle your bow, then close your eyes and focus on a smooth clean release. Dont open your eyes until the arrow hits the target. This is a pure muscle memory excersise and will help with TP immensely.
 
The release may help you with the concepts you are trying to instill, but Backcountry is right. At the end of the day you have to learn to mentally control your shot, not the other way around.

It's no different than thinking a lighter rifle trigger will help you cure a flinch. It will likely just mask the problem. If you can't hold the pin on target now, what makes you think you can with a different release?

Good luck.
 
Thanks gumbo for the information! Right now I shoot a spot Hogg wise guy and love it but I freeze up on the target just below where I need to aim. My groups are still really tight just low. But I don't have the problem when I draw back on a animal? And. GA Hunter I don't see the thread below? Maybe because I'm on my phone now?

That is exactly like what I was doing, freezing below the target. Believe me, start with the back tension thing now. My anxiety then took the panic to a whole new level, not buck fever mind you, but trying to time the shot time and time again led to premature releasing at animals, which is a totally unethical situation.

Much of what has been said is true...it takes a lot of time and repetition to get over it. The surprise release produced by backtension was critical for me, it freed me up to just aim, which is now no sweat. My pin floats, but I don't worry about it, I just focus on the spot and let the bow go off on its own.

As for never being cured, well maybe. I couldn't go back to a wrist release but I sure can hold the pin where I want it without any trouble.
 
I much appreciate all the help gumbo, Jason Snyder, and backcountryMT. I think I'll buy a hinged as I have wanted to for a while anyway but would still prefer to use a either a caliper or a thumb for hunting! I plan on setting a bunch of targets up in the garage to do blind bale shots throughout the winter without shooting regularly to focus just on the release and executing a perfect shot!
 
a hinge wont cure target panic. You can still "punch" a hinge release. You just need to retrain your brain to know that it is ok to hold the pin in the middle and let it move while you execute. However, If you are going to buy a release that you cannot punch id recommend a true pull tension release or a hydrolic release. Stan Element, Carter Evolution, OR a Scat release.
 
This is just me thinking, but if your pin is freezing below the target......don't allow your pin to go below the target. Draw with your pin above the bullseye and settle on it coming down. If you drop below, let down and start over.

Don't know........never had TP, so just throwing out suggestions to overcome what appears to be the problem.
 
Just calm the F down...targets don't charge you. If your target bites you...then panic. Zen out...archery is supposed to be relaxing. Adopt a stoic attitude, clear your brain and focus. It's not that hard.
 
i've struggled with holding low. biggest thing that helps me is drawing back and not taking the shot if i can't get the pin on the target. i got into a bad habit of just letting that one fly and going on to the next arrow. if you can't get the pin on the target the first time what makes you think you will next time. tell yourself that you don't HAVE to shoot. aim at random stuff around the yard and let down. also try shooting at short distances, like 10 yards, until you can hold on target. then work back.

another thing that helped me was realizing that i was probably too relaxed with my hold. instead of trying to raise the bow with your front hand think about that hand only holding the bow away from your body and pulling hard is what brings the pin up.
 
Just calm the F down...targets don't charge you. If your target bites you...then panic. Zen out...archery is supposed to be relaxing. Adopt a stoic attitude, clear your brain and focus. It's not that hard.

No offense Bruce but you've obviously never had target panic.
 
I've suffered through the holding low thing and punching the trigger. The only thing that helped me was reading the Idiot Proof Archery and using a Carter Squeeze Me. While you can cheat on a Squeeze Me you can't punch the trigger. I eventually transitioned to a Carter RX-1 for hunting. Most of the time while practicing I still use the Squeeze Me though.

I tried multiple hinge releases but but was never comfortable with one as I had to change the way I anchored.

It is all in your head but it takes a while to retrain your mind and shot sequence.
 
All the above is sound advice. My first bout with TP reared its ugly head a week before the '96 IBO worlds. It got so bad I could not make it to full draw without releasing. Through the last 19 yrs here is what Ive learned if any form of TP is present.

-Develop a pre-shot/shot/follow through routine. Write it down recite it in your head as you're doing it. This is your mental checklist for the following.
-Start every practice session blind bale. Regardless of the type of release
-If you can't execute a proper shot blind bale don't even attempt a normal shot. This may take weeks, be patient.
-Blind bale is not just shooting with your eyes closed at back stop. If you deviate from the checklist start over. Develop the mental image of the perfect sight picture while blind bale and concentrate on breaking the perfect shot.
-Don't rush anything. If it's not happening, walk away. If you only get 10 good shots off in a day, so be it. Better that they're the 10 best shots you've ever executed.
-When you feel your ready to head out to your tgt limit your session. 10, 20 30 arrows. Whatever doesn't cause the process to degenerate. If it does go back to blind.
-When you are in front of an actual tgt the mental checklist/shot routine cannot lapse.
-Don't even worry about your impacts ( that's what brought you to this point in the first place) you're focus is the shot execution and whether or not you let an arrow fly prematurely or off your aiming spot because your mind didn't allow your pin to get there.
-Don't allow yourself to accept a bad shot if it's starts happening walk away.
-If a shot cycle is not developing let down. Why let go off an arrow that wasn't going to be executed properly, it's counter productive to the process. (I can remember being on our range one day for an hr and releasing maybe 2-3 shots)
-Put yourself on a progression schedule of sorts. Week 1 10 good shots a day, week 2 20, etc.
end these sessions going back to the bale for 10 shots or so whether the practice session went well or not.

To echo some of the above you don't need to move to BT. But I would recommend it. You do however have to make some type of change. A simple increase in trigger tension is enough.
I am a big fan of BT. I've shot them in some form since I was 13. You name it I've tried it. Currently I have 3-4 zenith archery BT releases all with clickers. And all have different depths from a quick .003" to somewhere around .012-.015" they are all the same size and color. I put them in a belt pouch and blindly select a new one at every shot. This keeps me honest and there is no way to anticipate how quickly the shot will break.

This is just my experience and YMMV, but you have to be proactive, be honest with yourself, and have discipline. Best of luck to you, it's a hard row to hoe!
 
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.
 
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