how do you regain your confidence?

[clickerati]

I'm rebuilding it one day at a time with thanks to my fabulous support system and the kind posts here.

I've made some changes to my setup, which have proved to be beneficial. They've raised my sightmark so I no longer have to worry about making detrimental arrow contact. I'm also working on my anchor, release and follow through as they are the first things to go when I'm in a slump. It's still not flowing the way it should, but it's getting there.

One thing that has helped my confidence is taking the risk to make changes and experiment. I've always been afraid to mess with anything, but I did things that worked and didn't, but I was in control and actually understood why I was doing these things. One more step towards self-sufficient archery - hurrah!

I've also read up a bit about self-confidence, why some people lack it and how you can regain it. I don't want to get all psychological, but I've pinpointed things about how I think and my attitude, so hopefully I can start to change that. I will slip up now and then, but I will try not to beat myself up. The important thing is that I haven't given up.

Thanks for your advice and support. It really means a lot!!

[pHz]

Originally Posted by clickerati

One thing that has helped my confidence is taking the risk to make changes and experiment. I've always been afraid to mess with anything, but I did things that worked and didn't, but I was in control and actually understood why I was doing these things. One more step towards self-sufficient archery - hurrah!

i think that risk-taking attitude is the key leigh - one thing 'experimented' with at a time so you can backtrack easily but dont be afraid to try stuff out - as long as you understand WHY youre doing it

(case in point - up until maybe 9 months ago i did a lot of stuff for zoe - bow setup / maintainence / telling her to change something in her form / etc - and she was shooting 3rd class scores - recently shes taken more interest in the hows and whys of what she does and how her kit works and suddenly is shooting solid first class scores - part of this im sure is understanding what shes doing more than she used to)

glad to hear youre making progress

slainte rob

[inkystu]

Hi Click.

This may sound weird but have you got access to a large open unused field or somewhere to do clout?

I had 2 years of extreme target shyness ** years ago to such a degree at point blank I couldn't draw the bow. Then one day i stood in a field, pointed the bow in the air and shot. It felt great!!!

I know your slump is a more like a bump in the road but sometimes just letting the arrow go in the air, aiming at something but nothing, can really pull you round and clear your mind. It also gets you back to the best advice I ever heard. "Dont think. Shoot!" It's like driving a car. You do it automatically, with an awareness of your surroundings. (wind, rain and the like) Do what you enjoy doing, like fletching (I'll send you my arrows if you want) then the rest of your archery will feel more enjoyable. Have a beer on me and have a laugh!

[clickerati]

Do you mind if I call you Inky?

I can't do that at the club, however, we're doing a summer BBQ and mini clout in a few weeks time. We use jelly bows so unless you're lucky to get a decent one, it's a free-for-all and quite hilarious.

[johnboy]

Hi, I,m new to archery having just finished my beginners course, however being a professional squash player, in another life going back to basics, always helped me to regain my confidence. Having a good basic tecnique is a very good foundation to build upon, good luck and keep shooting, hope this was usefull.

[inkystu]

Originally Posted by clickerati

Do you mind if I call you Inky?

I can't do that at the club, however, we're doing a summer BBQ and mini clout in a few weeks time. We use jelly bows so unless you're lucky to get a decent one, it's a free-for-all and quite hilarious.

You can call me whatever you want. I answer to most things!!!

We used to do that after setting up an open shoot we used to hold at AWRE. We used fibreglass bows shooting 80 yards! Your right it is hilarious, sometimes that is what this sport is all about. One minute you are wearing a silly hat and using jelly bows, the next your wearing a GB top in another country wearing jelly legs!