execution hesitation

[geoffretired]

Murray, that is all helpful stuff. I think we have talked this way before, perhaps for different reasons, but it reminds me all the same.

"Sorry I can't comment on compound, but I'm sure the symptoms are similar."
I can say from my experience with both that they are very similar, for me at least.
Drawing through the clicker; or just to it, is very much what I am doing. It's as if I am pulling so much and no more, like a clicker shooter pulls so far and no further. Unfortunately, I can't pull past and not shoot, unless I keep the safety on. If I did that, I could pull harder and not activate the release. ( just thought of that ,so it might be worth a try. What do you think?

[althearcher]

Geoff just a quick question. Are you still aiming during this part of the shot sequence or are you just trying to work on this execution hesitation?

Alan H

[geoffretired]

Hi Alan, a blast from the past!
Yes, I am still aiming. I reach my references and adjust the sight to the gold then pull against the Loesch while aiming the sight. I am trying to look at the gold all the time and see the sight as a blur.When things are going well(for me) the sight is almost invisible; it starts to get noticed if it moves out of the gold. It's a very simple ring and pin sight and no peep, very little to worry about, if you see what I mean.

[JohnK]

Geoff - A pleasure

Murrary - Some good points there, but your comments about blank boss simply do not hold true for me. The fact is that my ability to shoot at a target has been markedly improved by practicing on a blank boss (and/or with eyes closed). Perhaps it comes down to the individual’s psychology, but by working through the hesitation without the target face (and yes, it is still there, just easier to conquer) I learn how it feels to shoot properly and find it much easier to carry that over when I'm looking at a target.

Before I switched to barebow I was shooting several times a week at a blank target in my back garden and found it didn’t help at all. So yes, shooting too much blank boss does result in diminishing returns. However, as a coaching/training tool it definitely has its place (even if it seems to have gone out of fashion) and I trust that my coach has the experience necessary to help me apply it at the beginning of this training programme he has worked out for me.

As for strength, that’s a bit more tricky. Perhaps I phrased it poorly: it’s not as if I don’t have the strength to pull a 43lb bow; it’s that I don’t have the strength to pull it consistently over an entire shooting session. I know exactly where the weakness lies – in my bow shoulder. This means while I try to make sure I set up on the point in exactly the same way every time, when I’m starting to tire the bow shoulder shifts by a fractional amount, which means I pull harder to compensate... the net result of this is that I feel like I’m pulling through the clicker but the point remains absolutely still in relation to it. Ideally (and my coach has said this) I could do with a set of lighter limbs, say 4lbs lighter, to help me get over the habit of hesitation, but I don’t have the funds to buy them at the moment.

I cannot stress enough that I am seeing a definite improvement. As I get stronger by doing reversals I can rely more on my bow shoulder. As I become accustomed to shooting with good alignment and timing, it becomes easier and easier to replicate each time, regardless of whether there’s a target in front of me or not. Both strength training and blank boss shooting are helping me eliminate both causes of the hesitancy in my shot.

[FlourPower]

Geoff

Try shooting quickly. Literally arrow on, general direction and loose. No waiting, no rushing just a speedy up and loose. Hell maybe even don't bother with the clicker or use a different release aid. Just loose too fast to worry about your shot and see what you're body really feels about shooting and how much the jibber-jabber in your mind is affecting your shot.

Sometimes I start doing things I can't stop. So I loose a few arrows pretty sharpish just to shoot without thinking, without over analysing etc etc it works wonders for me.

[geoffretired]

Flourpower, I had to smile at your post. No disrespect to what you have said, far from it. Not so long ago, I could clear 6 arrows in 50 seconds without rushing; and that's with a compound and a release aid that was not too quick to load. I was always first to finish an end even when there were beginner recurves on the line!!
To get back to your post, I am going to give that idea a try, it makes good sense. Thanks.
JohnK, I think blank boss does have a place, too. I don't think it is a cure all either, but it can have its uses. I think, if there is a feeling that you want to sense for the first time, it can help. Take away the sight and the gold, and there is more chance to concentrate on picking up the feelings you are trying to capture. In a way, the gold and sight were getting in the way. Once the feelings have been experienced, they can be felt later with a sight and a gold.

[Robin the Hood]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

Not so long ago, I could clear 6 arrows in 50 seconds without rushing; and that's with a compound and a release aid that was not too quick to load. I was always first to finish an end even when there were beginner recurves on the line!!

To shoot that fast Geoff, are you really Human? I've never been able to shoot three quicker than about 2 mins. Many years ago at a Fita Star I needed a 5 with the last arrow of the day for my 1200. I got blown off the line and lost it. Funny thing was that I found out later that being the only archer remaining the Judge had blown me off the line at 2 mins. Too late then........But worse thing is that now the shooting times have gone to the 4 mins I'll never be able to get even my M.B. back..

Paul

[geoffretired]

Hi Paul, Yes I really could shoot that fast AND without rushing!! Ask any of the archers who saw me shoot. What I didn't say is; I had TP at that time and Aiming was not a time consuming feature; it was almost a minus quantity. If the contest was most golds in one minute, I could do very well.( gold as in, in the yellow--not tens)

[archer_thom]

Yeah, I had this CHRONICALLY for about 4 years - only when shooting at targets. Solved it by forcing myself to execute a perfect follow through on targets, as all non-target training had just made it worse. Furface is absolutely right, it's the introduction of a negative that is the problem. I focus on my final position against the neck and my hand just goes there.

[geoffretired]

Thanks for that Archer_thom, I see the sense in that advice.
I shot a round today as part of our club league; so I was shooting as at a competition, as opposed to learning something and trying to put it into my form/routine.
I have had a lot of good advice; it has been varied but not conflicting. I tried to make use of it all for each shot.
keep looking at the gold/white for Worcester
focus towards the follow through
take time and relax the draw at the end;not struggle
use both arms, not just draw with string hand
Some of these items seemed to work in harmony with others when I was feeling good. Some I managed more often than others, but that is to be expected I feel.
At the end, I was quite pleased by the score; more pleased by what I learnt.
It was interesting that all but one "struggled shots" landed in the white( though some were near line cutters.) Keeping eye contact with the centre kept the arrows nearer the centre and helped the follow through.
The more I relaxed the easier the draw seemed to be, and the better the overall shot sequence.
Again, thanks for all the help. I have something solid to work at now.