Problems with drawing bow

[geoffretired]

Fascinating response/method, Sheiladrums. Sent you a PM about it.

[King Custard]

Originally Posted by sheiladrums

Forgot to say, I think "panic" is a good description - it felt like stage fright. although I'd struggled with a too-quick release for quite a while anyway, I then had a string break on me (my own stupid fault, I loosed without an arrow on the string, how dumb is that?) and I got scared that the string would break if I held it too long at full draw. I had a lot of "tension" in my life at the time too - I think the advice about working out what's going on in your head is very important.

There's your problem..
What can you do to give yourself Positive reinforcement that This string is 'GOOD' ???
or even, what could you have someone else do???


Would you feel safer making your own strings - getting a higher strand string- towing a small car with this string- having someone else shoot it at a longer drawlength, on a higher poundage bow - could you wear safety goggles for a while, can you shoot a low poundage bow for a while...have a pro- shop re-serve and check a couple of strings in front of you while you watch????

dozens of things you could do - to reinforce your safety concious subconcious.

[sheiladrums]

Thanks King Custard and Yorker for your tips!
I do make my own strings anyway, but did actually got one of our coaches - someone I trust very much - to make a new string, even tho I didn't really need one. He also checked over my bow, saying it was in good condition - he commented that it drew sweetly, which I also found encouraging. I got him and another very trusted, experienced archer to look straight at me and say my bow is safe. I also use the sound of the arrow as it slides past the arrow rest: it says "ssssssafe" !! Used that one this morning... Then once I'm at full draw, I'm using the words "Wait" and "hold" - but this bit is a work in progress atm!! It's funny, the head knows something, but the body sometimes has other ideas...
and thanks Geoff for the PM, will reply when I've beaten my daughter at Scrabble... (she's got the Q...)