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Target panic! Long read

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onebuck

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About 2 weeks ago I experienced a complete meltdown while shooting my regular practice routine.

I'll usually shoot two quiver-fulls once a day (evening), or twice (evening and morning) depending on work. I shoot 3 shot groups at 20,25,30,35 and 40yds.

My accuracy has been really good so I mainly just shoot and concentrate on keeping my form and technique in good shape, so when the time comes, I'll be on automatic.

I don't know how it happened, but all of a sudden my shots started going all over the place! Where I normally shoot 1" groups with a lot touching - I couldn't hold a 4" group! Actually had a few fliers that were off 6"! Unacceptable!

I know that I was tired and didn't feel good when I went out(and maybe a little bored too) but something just wasn't right!

Then I started consciously "aiming" and things just got worse. Frustrated, hot and sweating, I just went in and hung it up.

The next day, I decided not to shoot but the boy came up with his new girlfriend and wanted to shoot, so we went at it. Things were still not good, expecially with all the girltalk going on in the background. My son shot good and that let me know that the problem wasn't the bow.

Well, I decided to just lay it down for awhile. As it turns out, it took almost a full week before I felt that "need" to shoot again. I decided to relax and slow down a little this time.

The first 3 shots were at 35yds. 1" group - two touching! I went through all the distances, moved up 2-3 yds and shot'em again. All in the ring! That excitement and confidence just flooded back in!

I've shot a couple of times since then and everything's back to normal. I think it's possible to shoot "too much", and that's what happened. That, and loading my mind up with crap from reading these bowhunting magazines! :crazy: It always amazes me how much of this thing is in the mind!

Now it's time to get bloody!!
 
I have experienced target panic and it usually starts when I shoot too much or force myself to take a shot . I cure my target panic by aiming and letting down and shooting at blank targets and close up with my eyes closed .
I shoot better when I don't shoot every day . It's better to shoot a dozen good shots every other day than to spray a few dozen all over the target every day when you are experiencing target panic or fatigue .
I like to end a practice session when I'm shooting good , not when I start to get tired and sloppy .
 
It happens to me,and possibly a lot more archers as well.
The first time it happened to me, I shot so badl, I was missing the block at 35 yds. I was freaked,and very discouraged.
Not a good feeling,and I know that feeling.
Once you confirmed the bow was OK, just relax and know this bad shooting spell will go away, just as it came.
 
It always amazes me how much of this thing is in the mind!


The mental aspect of archery is huge. Taking a break for a few days is a good idea. It gives the muscles and the mind time to heal. I personally do not shoot every day or sometimes not even every other day. Just when I feel like it and can enjoy it. I know it's hard to do sometimes but limiting your shooting time to only when you feel fresh will avoid mental and physical stress, which can lead to poor shooting.

Every archer in some point in time will experience some form of target panic to some degree. Your not alone.

Hope you continue to shoot well.
 
Target Panic...............oh what awful words. It is my personal belief is once you get it you never get rid of it. You can keep it under control but you can bet it will rear it's ugly head when you really don't need to experience any such thing. Aiming and shooting is really a subconscience act. The more you think about it the worse it becomes. I really hope you never experience this again but if it ever does, talk to me I can help.
 
Toxophilite Phil said:
Target Panic...............oh what awful words. It is my personal belief is once you get it you never get rid of it.
Click to expand...

I agree totally. I have had it off and on for the last 3 years. It can be really frustrating and make you want to throw your bow in the trash. I have learned over time how to control and manage it. I usually get it when I am trying something new or "overthinking" my shooting.
 
I figured out many years ago that shooting a bow is instinctive like shooting basketball. Some days you have the touch and some days you don't. Your site is just a device to get you close. You "feel" when the time is right when to release the arrow. Some days we are just off...
 
After I posted the above, I got to thinking. (very dangerous, I know) :D This thing happened to me once before. Not last year, but the year before. And it happened at the same time of the year - right before bow season started!

I think, being the perfectionist that I am, that I was driving myself to shoot perfectly, with no off shots period. Sometimes this is hard to do with the sore shoulders I've had recently from helping my F-I-L at his property.

Shot again today out in the cool air and had the best time I've had lately! Shot one quiver and came back in smiling to myself.

I'm ready! Nuff said! Thanks for the support, guys!
 
I get target panic more when I shoot groups at spots too often . I do better to mix up my practice with some 3-D targets or roving practice with judo points at stumps , dirt clods , tennis balls , etc. , just shooting one arrow and retrieving it after each shot .
Just put the fun back into archery ,and practice when you feel fresh and into it , not when you are tired and fatigued .
 
I think we expect to shoot better the more we pratice which is not the case.
IMO it's similar to golf.
A pro can win a tourney one week,and miss the cut the next.
Go figure.
 
I'm glad I'm not alone. I switched from fingers and no peep to a release/ peep this year and it's been absolute he$$. The more I try to concentrate, the worse I shoot.
I'm going to try relaxing more and make it more instinctive like I used to. Yesterday my groups at 20-30 were very good, then my son and I stared the one shot roving thing and I shot low on about 50% of my shots. Azumith was good, just went low by about 2 inches at all ranges. It's not the bow!
Appreciate the comments you all made.
 
CZ284 said:
I'm glad I'm not alone. I switched from fingers and no peep to a release/ peep this year and it's been absolute he$$. The more I try to concentrate, the worse I shoot.
I'm going to try relaxing more and make it more instinctive like I used to. Yesterday my groups at 20-30 were very good, then my son and I stared the one shot roving thing and I shot low on about 50% of my shots. Azumith was good, just went low by about 2 inches at all ranges. It's not the bow!
Appreciate the comments you all made.
Click to expand...

I have a tendency to lock in low on bullseye and a hard time raising my bow arm once I do . It's all mental . One thing that helped me was to bend at the torso to lower or elevate while aiming , then take a target with 5 spots and aim at each spot without releasing the arrow . Then once you can hold fairly steady on each dot , release the arrow randomly on one spot .
Another cure for target panic is shooting at a large blank target and picking a spot , and shooting at a large target at point blank range and closing your eyes to focus on form , not aiming .
 
Radar said:
I have a tendency to lock in low on bullseye and a hard time raising my bow arm once I do . It's all mental . One thing that helped me was to bend at the torso to lower or elevate while aiming , then take a target with 5 spots and aim at each spot without releasing the arrow . Then once you can hold fairly steady on each dot , release the arrow randomly on one spot .
Another cure for target panic is shooting at a large blank target and picking a spot , and shooting at a large target at point blank range and closing your eyes to focus on form , not aiming .
Click to expand...

Same here.

I suffered from extreme target panic about 4 years ago. It was the best thing that ever happened to me concerning archery. Although you couldnt have convinced me of that at the time.

It forced me to learn how to properly shoot. A back tension release was a big part of my saving grace.
 
Target panic isn't cured overnight , but can take a couple of weeks to months to work out .
It's best just to shoot when you are relaxed and not to overshoot and pressure yourself into shooting . Take your time , and it will work itself out of your system . It's a mental thing .
 
The first step in overcoming target panic is to admit you have it. Shooting a back tension release is a great way to overcome it. But learning to shoot one can be a nightmare. I started in January several years ago and it took me 3 months before I actually turned a shaft loose. Had a pro shooter tell me once that archery is 95 percent between the ears. I didn't understand at the time but have since come to truly appreciate the comment. Shooting has to be subconscious. If you let one errant thought into your mind you haven't shot that arrow the best you could. You need to rehearse your pre-shot routine and get it down to where you never have to think about it. Then once you draw your bow back, the only thing on your mind is finding the center of the center of that hair you are aiming at. your mind should never tell your hand to pull the trigger or let go of the string. It should just happen. The next thought you should have is what is that red spot behind that deer's front leg.
 

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