Concentration

[chemistry]

Although not shooting as often as I would like, I have been working on my form in recent weeks, both at home (4m range in the garage) and at the field.

I currently shoot to low first class standard, as a rule of thumb have aimed to get all arrows in the blue or better at 80 yards, that sort of thing.

However, I have become aware that if I REALLY concentrate, I can consistently get 75% or more in the red (or better) at 80 yards (12 arrow end). The thing is, in order to do so I find it extremely tiring - focussing on the gold, relaxing (if that's not an oxymoron) and getting the correct alignment (especailly my drawing shoulder) throughout.

It might sound silly, but I find it really hard to do, mentally, and find the level of concentration difficult to maintain. After a dozen arrows I'm stuffed, my mind wanders and the next dozen end up scattered in the blue (or worse) again!

Is this normal? Will it get easier as technique and skill improve, or is it a fact that shooting better demands a great deal of mental focus and it's going to be like this from here on in if I am going to continue to improve?

I'd be interested to hear how others have fared as they improved from first class and above, and how much metal effort is required to execute good shots in general (excluding tournament nerves, etc.)

chemistry

[FlourPower]

The first time I shot a 12 dozen round I was knackered. I could have pulled the bow back another gross times. However to get them to hit the target was impossible. I was so mentally tired from the time spent concentrating on every shot. Like strength it's just something you build up!

[LIzardEye]

In my experience it's completely normal. I think once your equipment is performing well and you've got a pretty consistent technique, the major factor in how you perform is what's happening between your ears. I can shoot two consecutive ends and score extremely well or extremely badly, the only difference being that I was concentrating for one and not for the other.

If you shoot each arrow and really, really want it to hit the gold, there's a fair to good (depending on your ability and distance) chance that it will. If you're not really bothered then there's a fair chance that it won't.

Which sounds simple, but I find maintaining that level of focus and concentration to be very difficult. I'm assuming that, like most things it will come with practice

[Hidden Hippo]

I've found this a lot with moving to compound. I was a high second class archer with a recurve (had the handicap of a first but couldn't shoot enough longer rounds to get the scores in) but when moving to compound and not having the same sort of weight on the arm etc. it is a lot easier to let your thoughts wonder. I find that if I really concentrate on the shot and on the aiming process then the release just comes naturally and the arrow usually finds the gold, but this does take a lot of concentration. I think its likely to be just a practice issue which you will eventually get used to.

[King Custard]

Constantly keeping focus over any length of time is hard, very very hard, almost impossible for the average human.

What i find most useful is to not try to keep a constant focus...wha..?

Who can concentrate for 2 or three hours with out a break eh? i know nobody!

A part of each shot is to relax muscles and mind and to breathe to energise the body.....and to RE-focus for the next shot.
Try allowing yourself a short period between {the previous arrow hitting the boss} ....and....{preparing the next}..where , within decency and sensibility you dont Have to be all up tight about keeping focus....Allow a moments wandering.....and jump back into focus almost on command.

If we can develop a 'focus ON' and a 'focus OFF' 'switch'...so that focus is ON between nocking an arrow and seeing it through the scope- albeit for a couple of seconds, we/you/I will be less 'focused out' by the end of the round.

This follows the theory that only preparation and execution needs Focus.....anything else is play time for the mind! . It works well for those that can develop the ability to 'switch on- switch off'...and works poorly for those that have not yet disciplined themselves to do so.

The alternative- as you're finding, is to stay switched on all the time- until brain says-' NOPE- not 'aving it -I wanna rest a bit!'....and hence a poop brain fart end!

[Mufti]

I completely agree with KC, you now have to learn when to 'turn on' and when you can 'turn off'.

You wonder why so many archers at a competition have a laugh and a giggle when not on the shooting line? They are deliberately turning off (and possibly over doing it).

With time you can reduce the 'turning on' part of the shot to a minimum.

[geoffretired]

To go up a level, you have to make a change.
You have gone up a level ,at times, by making a change to how much you concentrate.
I think, being able to concentrate will improve as you do more of it.
You will learn what to concentrate on and which bits you can allow to run on automatic. You will then find, the time you devote to concentrating can be more effectively used.As others have said, there will be times between when you can relax. I often practise for ten minutes then go away and come back to shooting. The aim is to get the concentration working from the first arrow shot. I may repeat that five or six times a day so I get more practice at learning how to "switch on". It also allows practice at "switching off".
It also shows up how well you remember what to concentrate on.It isn't much good concentrating on one thing for ten minutes then finding ,next time, you are focussed on something different.

[Tony_zelah]

A few years ago I was watching the junior national champs and I saw a great display of two girls using their on/off concentration switch. When they were behind the waiting line they were chatting away the way teenage girls do. But the second they picked their bows up the concentration switch was turned on

[Murray]

Some good advice here. Concentration and focus, like any skills, can be trained. But yes, they're essential skills for long term success. My switch on comes when the arrow is in the bow and I place my fingers on the string - it finishes when I'm aware of the arrow hitting the boss.

Between arrows, it's good to relax the mind and body. Look around. Listen to the wind. Reset yourself to your starting point. Put the arrow in the bow and then get back to business. Repeat

[chemistry]

Thanks all. Good advice.

Especially encouraging is the main message that "Yes, getting better does demand a high degree of concentration to shoot at that level", together with the notion of turning concentration on and off.

I'll keep working at it (although probably procrastinate first by buying a load of new kit, which is a lot easier than practising technique and concentration AND will give me something to blame....joke)! Onward and upward to Bowman then this season, concentrating (in short bursts) all the way...

Thanks again.

chemistry