Needing a Pep Talk... :(

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Hi Guys

Im feeling a bit today about my archery performance last night . Im still on my beginners course, 4 lessons so far, but shot for the first time on my own last night using my own bow and arrows.

On the course we had been shooting 10 yards, then last lesson 15 yards. Last night I was shooting 20 yards so not that much of a difference really. On the course my groups were good and was consistantly hitting red or gold with only the odd blue . Last night however the arrows were all over the place, white, black and blue with the occasional red and I think only 1 gold . Not only that but they were all over the target too, ok, mainly on the same side but some far left, some middle, some top, some bottom etc. The groups were a distant memory.

I know using different arrows can make a difference to performance, but I would have thought at such a short distance it wouldnt have a noticable effect.

Also, my form was bad, really bad . I dont know why as on club nights I do fine. Last night though I could feel that I wasnt coming to full draw every shot but I couldnt figure out why. Then, as the night went on I realised I was starting the draw with the bow arm to the right slightly and drawing as if to go across the chest, then straightening the arm when I realised bow string wasnt touching my side in the same place as usual. I also totally forgot about string alignment. I seemed to have trouble holding the string at full draw for the time it took me to line up my sight (im slow ive got a wobbly bow arm!). I started tilting my head back again at full draw and I was also conscious that my body was twisted more towards the target rather than being parallel to the target.

The only thing I seemed to get right was high elbow on drawing and correct foot position. What is wrong with me? It was like I was shooting for the first time ever, rather than the first time on my own.

Hubby faired better once he got his sight positioned correctly and was hitting red and gold consistantly. I think maybe that got me down a bit too.

I know Im too hard on myself at times but after doing so well at 15 yards I am just so annoyed that everything went to pot at 20 yards.

Please, give me the pep talk about starting out, I desperately need it. Im hoping to shoot on Sunday and need to get my head straight.

Witchie Poo Cat

[geoffretired]

I think you are suffering from NHHPT.
It often happens to beginners when they first go out and shoot on their own. It strikes with greater violence when the beginner is using their own equipment for the first time.
The cause is simple. The newish archer has a good technique while being watched and while using familiar equipment. The technique however is quite delicate and a simple change of arrows can upset it. Changing bow and arrows at the same time can be sufficient novelty to bring the usually good form almost to its knees.More experienced archers get the same thing, but in a much milder form, when they change equipment. There is a similar disease that afflicts new drivers when they pass their test and drive alone for the first time. They get a worse bout of it if they are driving a different car on that occasion.
I hope that helps WPC. Don't be too hard on yourself.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

I think you are suffering from NHHPT.

Geoff - I give up, what does it stand for?

Sorry, Ive been a bit unclear in my post. I was shooting for the first time on my own, but I had used the bow before in my previous lesson so only the arrows were new to me. Even so, the bow has not been tuned anyway due to not having consistant form yet.

Alas I cannot blame my poor performance on my new equipment. I know the arrows are cheapies but even I cant blame it all on them.

[GreenSteve]

dont get to upset by how bad your performance was wpc, it`lll come and go until you gain consistence, for one thing you identified yourself a lot of what was wrong which means you will be able to work these kinks out, knowing for yourself whats wrong makes it a lot easier to correct rather than someone else telling you your doing this/that wrong and then trying to understand what they`re talking about and sort it out at the same time

[Dave]

Hi WPC,

Don't panic!

You're only 4 weeks in, you have a new bow, new arrows, form isn't consistent yet and you're shooting at a longer distance.

Stay calm, don't worry what anyone else is scoring and it'll all come together with time and practice (unless you're called Dave....)

[FlightyRachel]

Aw never mind Witchie Poo! We all suck sometimes!

Rachel

[Tarkwin]

Originally Posted by FlightyRachel

Aw never mind Witchie Poo! We all suck sometimes!

Rachel

really? can I give you my number?

T.

[FlightyRachel]

Allow me to clarify... we all have inconsistencies in our shooting...

Rachel

[Dave]

Originally Posted by tarkwin

really? can I give you my number?

T.

Tarkwin, I'm shocked

[geoffretired]

NHHPT = Never Having Had a Peptalk.
But since I wrote that you've had two, so you should be ok now.
After your last post, I think there may still be a little misunderstanding going on.
It's not just the equipment;it's the situation. It is very like the driver after the test. The situation is; you are responsible for your own shooting. If you miss, who do you ask?
Like the driver. The driver can't ask the instructor what to do if they run off the road or similar.
It is the "sole resposibility" issue coupled to using your own bow in that situation, that is novel.
Look at it from another point of view. Next time you shoot with your coach etc. he /she will see what is going wrong and put you back into your normal routine very quickly. You have had a problem and tried to act as the coach while still on the beginners course.
NYHPT can be even worse than NHHPT
All the best
Geoff