Blind shooting;what do they get out of it?

[geoffretired]

Have you ever tried blind shooting?(Close range, indoors, can't damage anything)
Was it your idea to give it a try or was it recommended by a friend/coach?
Did you gain from the experience, and if so, what?

[Flying Whale]

I have tried it a couple of times recently at the suggestion of my coach.

It certainly does seem to allow you to feel the shot much, much more.

[geoffretired]

Thanks for your replies.
Can I quiz a little further, please?
Do you feel the shots more because the aiming was distracting from the feelings, or some other reason?

[Wrexham Exile]

aiming can distract yes - but beware!!

i have found too much blind shooting can lead to target panic when you then shoot normally.

is a good tool but be careful when using it

[geoffretired]

Thanks DMU AC
A useful tool but potentially dangerous? Would you say,"use with caution/care" rather than just do some blind shooting without a specific aim in mind?
Oops! Objective in mind.

[Wrexham Exile]

use it but i wouldnt soley depend on it. i thinks its best used in a mix of other stuff.

all well and good doing it with your eyes shut but if you cant hit owt properly afterwards not much point to it.

just my 2p and i think my recent run of target panic was partly because of some blind shooting i was doing

[Desert Archer]

I use blank bale shooting to perfect (OK work on) individual aspects of the shot sequence. For example, I found myself letting my bow hand drop a bit at the shot (re-occurance of an old bad habit). Shooting a blank bale at 5 yards on my patio allowed me to really concentrate on the bow hand and its reaction at release. Same with drawing hand follow through. It allows me to focus on one aspect of the shot without thinking about something else.

I also use blank bale as a warm up before putting up the target face. Gets me used to the shot sequence under more relaxed circumstances (not trying to hit anything).

As always, YMMV!
Dave

[Deemon]

I have used it in the past as a method to get used to a clicker - as suggested by a coach. It was useful for this and seemed much easier to pull through that last stubborn cm of the clicker when shooting at a blank boss.

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

Thanks for your replies.
Can I quiz a little further, please?
Do you feel the shots more because the aiming was distracting from the feelings, or some other reason?

I think it is more than just aiming being a distraction. I think when you completely remove one of the sense from the equation it means the brain has much more capacity to work with the others. Thus I think you can much more quickly assimilate aspects that otherwise might take much longer, or get swamped....


...That having been said, you can perhaps see why when you start shooting with your eyes open again, the sudden extra stimulus could assume a MUCH greater importance, and possibly tip someone over into TP if they are susceptible. This is not based on any personal experience, it just seems to make some sense to me at least.

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by Deemon

I have used it in the past as a method to get used to a clicker - as suggested by a coach. It was useful for this and seemed much easier to pull through that last stubborn cm of the clicker when shooting at a blank boss.

From all I have been taught recently, it would seem having to come through 1cm of clicker is too far. I think the best archers can set up the shot with just a few mm left.

I still think blank-bale could be useful in getting to this. I know that for me I seem to set up better blind, than with eyes open. I think the extra distractions, and "wanting to get it right" make me more tentative, whereas with eyes shut you have to commit to the set up phase.