The Zone

[SLOWHAND]

Have any of you experienced being ' in the Zone'. Two or three times in my shooting career I have experienced this usually for two or three dozen arrows,it's hard to describe but the bow seems to shoot itself and everything is so much easier. My first 24 arrows at Wakefield were all tens despite my mistakes (bad releases). Then for some reason it dissapears, the crowd noise is more noticeable and its harder to concentrate and for a time you actualy shoot worse than normal. I just wish I could get it to last the whole round not just half.

[Shirt]

That's awfully familiar... I know exactly what you mean, and I've been nowhere near it since November. Not really sure why, but damn do I miss being there.

Sadly I have not been in the Zone, that much, I shot a 836 long Western at the end of last summer. It felt like I simply could not miss at one point, it wore off after two or three ends. ( I will have to stop talking on the line first)

Considering you shot a 591 you only had 9 bad shots and those were 9's, how does this constitute shooting worse after 24 10's?. So to get the other 27 10's did you have to consentrate harder? what was the difference?

Well done on getting 591..very well done indeed.. Respect.

[Max]

I have often wondered if the 'Zone' is compatible with a social shoot that most of us experience. I have shot better at competitions where I was on my own and not chatting to friends and it did indeed feel different. I have seen people at shoots almost in a state of trance - not ignoring those who speak to them, but genuinely not hearing them. Can you natter and Zone at the same time?

[Thunk]

I have been interested in Bhuddism for many years, and have used meditation techniques quite extensively. From what I gather about 'the zone' it is very similar to the state of complete relaxation that one finds using meditation. I just have to find a way to put myself into that state at a shoot; it's difficult when you have not only to concentrate on your own performance but also be aware of what is going on around you as well (detail changes and the like). Also difficult to put oneself into it and then out repeatedly - I'm sure some more adept than I could do it.

[grantwomack]

I have known the zone only 3 times in my archery career. Once shooting indoors, I had two perfect 120's on a FITA 18m for my last two dozen. Just seemed like I couldn't miss the middle.
Once for 12 arrows at 90m last outdoor season - I think I shot a 109 dozen.
Once just yesterday in the first round of a double FITA 25m. For around 18 arrows, I shot 3 9's.
It's such a nice feeling. I think it has mostly to do with the mental state.

[Little Miss Purple]

Is it fair to say the quality of 'the zone' improves as you go along??? I can think of 2 or 3 occassions where I have felt really good about how I shot and scored a PB, then coasted along for a bit before seeming to raise the stakes again.

[Adam]

I'm not sure that describing it as a state of relaxation really hits the nail on the head. It's more a state when the subconscious mind is in control of one's actions and shooting the bow correctly happens without any conscious effort: once the conscious mind intrudes, you're finished. It feels like a relaxed state because no conscious thought is involved.

With practise and repetition it becomes possible for the sunconscious to execute the entire shot sequence, leaving you to concentrate on aiming and just let the shots happen. The trick is to be able to do it consistently, especially when under pressure when the conscious mind tries to manage the situation.

The closest I've ever come to this archery nirvarna was during a Fita 18 at Evesham a few months back. After two tens I shot my third arrow of the round on the wrong target face and scored a miss. My first dozen was only 107, but I followed it with 120, 116, 116, 120 to finish with a 59 arrow 579.

I think the miss actually helped. By removing the pressure to perform, it just left me to get on with shooting good shots with no expectation of a good score. I must say those 4 dozen felt great, better than any other prolonged run of sweet shots I've ever known.

Adam

[Radar_UK]

Originally Posted by Adam

With practise and repetition it becomes possible for the sunconscious to execute the entire shot sequence, leaving you to concentrate on aiming and just let the shots happen. The trick is to be able to do it consistently, especially when under pressure when the conscious mind tries to manage the situation.

This sounds familiar to me as I have had times where the whole process from nocking the arrow to release seems to be 'automated' and feels perfect and my scores reflect this - sadly this doesn't last long enough and seems to stop when I realise it's happening and try and analyse it !!

[Marcus26]

Being In the Zone is hitting your ideal performance state, which is something you can learn to manage and control with practise.
It's not easy, as it is influenced by competition, fatigue, weather conditions etc. however learning to identify what is required to put you at or near that place is the key to being great. (Well, I believe it is, not there yet)
This is my #1 focus right now in training. Learning to hit that zone and manage it.

Interesting that many here have found that shooting indoor, in competition I tend to get it outdoors mostly and usually at 90m.