Pressure

[spavo]

Originally Posted by Furface

I love the smell of my bow case in the morning!

[Mr Twinkle Bow]

The causes of stress are known, and top athletes feel pressure like everyone else but they have learnt to deal with it how, so If someone says that don't feel pressure then they are probably not aware off it but they do, pressure can be caused by getting a good end. (i.e. putting your first 5 arrows in the x ring at 90/70m and then looking down and then put that little bit more pressure on yourself)

I am more interested in what you do to combat pressure not the cause's or really attitude and I am assuming that preparation for tournaments etc is as good as it can be, (practice / checklist). does remind of a story I heard about an Airline losing Dave Cousins equipment and he still shot well, How did he do it what did he do to overcome the pressure.

[Marcus26]

Originally Posted by Mr Twinkle Bow

It's not about the winning for me it's about the goals I have set myself, which I consider very carefully at the start of the season, and sometimes when they are slipping away, or I am on top of them I can put added pressure and stress on myself.

Good article by Tim there, certainly worth reading, I know a number of shooters, both average and great, who have used this to success.

Personally I do not worry about goals in competition. What will be will be. Sometimes I am not prepared and score badly, or tired and stressed etc. If I am stressed then going to a shoot and getting more stressed won't help my life any. Going and just trying to shoot good shots and accepting the outcome will give me more relaxation.

At our National Field this year I scored lower than I felt I could have. But I was rapt coming off that course. I felt I shot very well, just was a little unlucky, and that's what counted. If I only looked at the score I would have been upset, but sometimes you shoot well and those suckers still don't drop in. It happens.

[Paul120]

I presume to control pressure you mean to stop the feeling that your heart beating out of you chest, your hands a sweaty and you have butterflies etc.
this makes you feel different to usual and is a negative sign to the outcome of what you are doing.

I believe that the physical effects are felt by everybody, accept them as they are natural and are felt by even those that say they dont get bothered by pressure. The difference is that they expect these symptoms and can actually enjoy it, rather than being negative about them and expecting a poor outcome. It was a revalation to me once I had come round to this way of thinking and don't fear anything H2H or being in the lead at comps. Even the first drive at golf comps are much more successful.

My advice is Be positive and not worry about the physical symptoms as on their own they are pretty harmless and shouldn't be negative on performance and the result will be as good as it was going to be anyway. It's what you read into them that does the damage.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by Furface

I love the smell of my bow case in the morning!

Well then, don't leave it out in the rain the night before!

[ArcheryRoxStar]

i recently did a H2H shoot at Rivernook. shot through the entire 3 70m rounds without any sort of pressure, as realisticly, i didnt really think id win it, i just wanted to get into the top 16.. qualified 13th =p and just concentrated for the eliminations.

I ended up in the end at 4th place for the shoot.

all i did was intensely concentrate on the target, concentrating on just aim, and pull.

the whole world outside of my shooting fell away, leaving just me and the target.

when it came down to the bronze shoot off, with all the archers watching, i actually forgot i was being watched =p i just had the concentration, and the mentality to "just shoot".

thats what i do anyhow.