Time on the line

[Orinoco]

Hello

I was helping out at the Norfolk Fita Star over the bank holiday. When you are really sitting watching it is interesting to see the range of time management techniques used on the line. Some people seem to be sitting down whilst others are still gearing up to shoot their first arrow.

I guess there are obviously differences between the longbows, recurves and compounds due to the nature of the shot. But does anyone actively think about their use of time.

For sake of argument let's say how would you manage your time shooting six arrows outdoors under FITA regs?

Sorry if this has been attempted elsewhere, I did a search

[Orinoco]

The reason I ask is that some people seem to use their time quite tactically.

Others seem to repeatedly draw and let down before shooting?

[PaulT]

I have voted for the second option here as it is the way I usually operate, but not always. It can depend upon a number of factors, how well I am shooting, weather etc. For example today i came close to being timed out a couple of times today at Meriden due to coming down on a few shots because of the wind.

[PorlyP]

Well, today, I just go at my own pace, which is pretty quick really. I'll probably slow down in time, but it really doesn't take long for me, I'd say about 45 seconds for 3 arrows, max. I only hold for 5 seconds max, as I check my form at full draw, ensure I get my 3 contact points to ensure the same draw length, line up the string picture, so about 2 seconds is aiming on it's own.

Then I go and sit down and think about what I did each time, and re-run each shot in my head to remember what went wrong, or right, depending on the outcome. Focus on applying the good stuff again, and binning what didn't.

[GreenSteve]

i`d say i shoot at my own pace i don`t rush but i do seem to shoot a lot quicker than some others on the line
1 recurver i`ll shoot 6 to his 3 another compounder i`ll shoot 6 to his 2

[Kae]

I chose the third option. Not because I activley try to wait any length of time, but at the beginning of each end I try to "compose" myself before I shoot.

(PS Beginning of each end?? souds rather theological doesn't it, lol)

[Kellog]

I compose/prepare myself before I start and normally have my last of 6 arrows hit just before the amber light comes on.

If we're talking about the 3 arrow stuff its slightly different, in that I normally start my third arrow as the amber light comes on. (still have time to let down once if its wrong tho)

[avalon]

I usually find that if I start as soon as the whistle has gone, I have to come down, so I now spend a few seconds preparing that first shot.
I tend to shoot my final arrow as the amber light comes on.... I don't use a stop watch so if I think I'm coming close to the light changing to amber, I like to wait until I've seen it change, then at least if I come down I know how long I've got.
At Bronte fita, I became a bit of an 'amber-gambler' but that wasn't the plan, just I was so knackered by the end of it, I was struggling with my clicker
After 3 years away from tournaments, I found it difficult not to panic on the amber light... but a few ends in, and I was ok

[Rik]

There isn't an option for
'start shooting when I'm ready, and use the time I need...'

[NoAngel]

Originally Posted by Rik

There isn't an option for
'start shooting when I'm ready, and use the time I need...'

I agree, I don't even think about the time I am on the shooting line, I shoot when I am ready to start shooting, and I finish when all my arrows are shot. In competition I think I average about 3 1/2 minutes to shoot 6 arrows, sometimes longer, sometimes less. At our own club I am nearly always the last person on the line, but when I go to outside shoots, this is very rarely the case.