Getting those points

[tel]

Originally Posted by Barry C

A combination of very very hard practice, good equipment, and most important the mental attitude so you dont choke when things are going well. Choking is very common. So I would say for me belief is most important.

Would you say 'choking' is brought about by over-confidence then, Barry?

[Marcus26]

Choking is bought on by different factors including
Time travelling
Fear of failure
Loss of concentration
Anxiety over outcome
Fear of success
Fatigue

[Tarkwin]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

Time travelling

Hmm...Time travel...hadn't factored that in

Comparing current score to PB (can go either way......at this point I was x points further on...or....I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it...damn!)...concentrate on the round you are shooting

T.

[tel]

I try not to do a running total for that reason, but you'd have to be pretty dull not to know how well (comparitively) you are doing.

[Little Miss Purple]

would someone like to tell me what choking is - I have a vision of struggling for breath!!

[Barebow]

The "see it and shoot" method I have found works well for me, if I hold it to long the "feeling" and confidence passess.

Work on the old saying " failure to practise is practising to fail".
I have not shot much in 2005 and it tells.
After our last club night with lots of input form different people, I have made a list of thing I need to correct. I don't inttend to deal with these all at the same time but one at a time, untill I'm happy.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Little Miss Purple

would someone like to tell me what choking is - I have a vision of struggling for breath!!

It's another way of saying "spannering it".
Picture droppping from a 115 dozen average over the first 3.5 doz of a Portsmouth round to a 103 average for the last 1.5 dozen...
You tighten up, groups open up, panic sets in... vicious downward spiral ensues.

The struggling for breath bit could be real too. Panic attacks can have that effect. While I'd *like* to think most of us don't take our shooting seriously enough to trigger one of those....

tel: after a certain point, it's impossible to not be aware of exactly what your score is... If you're standing there putting in consistent 29/30 ends you can't help it - it's too easy to add up without even meaning to. At that point you need to have had some practice at dealing with the knowledge of how well you're shooting. I could argue that it's better to learn how to deal with it as you go along.

Back on topic:
My biggest jumps in scores have been when I've stopped b*******g around and practiced consistent form for a few months or more, on a regular basis.
We tried explaining to a guy at the club one time that in order to improve, he had to stop trying to fiddle his form into some sort of ideal shape, and practice *one form* for several months. He didn't want to listen. Generally people don't want to hear that the antidote to their problems is hard work...

[Little Miss Purple]

tel: after a certain point, it's impossible to not be aware of exactly what your score is... If you're standing there putting in consistent 29/30 ends you can't help it - it's too easy to add up without even meaning to. At that point you need to have had some practice at dealing with the knowledge of how well you're shooting. I could argue that it's better to learn how to deal with it as you go along.

I agree Rik, my name appeared on the leader board at my 2nd competition - I was so shocked and amazed I completely lost all concentration. I realise that it is often the case that there are not so many female archers competing but better to learn how to deal with these nerves now as I am learning to shoot.

My theory is by the time you are putting in good scores - you have learnt how to deal with many eventualities that occur at competitions.

[tel]

...If you're standing there putting in consistent 29/30 ends....

[Rik]

Originally Posted by tel

I didn't say that I was doing it... (well not often enough, anyway...)