Committing to the shot / finishing the shot

[Murray]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty sure it's not particularly a form flaw - it may be, but the basis is in psychology. Having done some video work, it appears to a be siezing up *very* close to the clicker drop point. I generally appear to set up with 1-2mm left of the point under the clicker and then stopping dead (yes, I do set up on the point)

Blank boss isn't a problem... I can ALWAYS finish the shot when I'm not particularly aiming, but I don't aim hard... I did use a pin indoors this year for the first time in a long time. During 90m this Saturday I pulled it out to see what would happen - it did seem to help a *little*

It's almost as if some of my muscles are counteracting the expansion and thus make it difficult to finish the shot, after the comfort zone is over.

There's *physically* enough room to expand a LOT more... sometimes when I can't get through the clicker, I deliberately yank it past the clicker - observers usually say something along the lines of *wow* you got another inch of draw there! - of course, that inch is way beyond my controllable zone, i.e. I'd be way over extended if I went there, but it dos indicate I'm not over-drawn already.

I have done a lot of clicker drills in the past, which means and on blank bale, my clicker control is 98% good - but of course there's no outcome expectations there!

So it would appear that as long as the shot goes in the first couple of seconds, the subconcious is still in control... beyond that the concious takes over and causes some kind of locking up.

I'll be working on various things in the coming weeks, so keep the ideas coming!

[Bald Eagle]

You are all mental!!!!! you are thinking too much about the clicker and forgetting the importance of your bow arm. Pulling alone wont get you through the clicker, you need to push as well. 50% on each scapula. When I coach clicker,I get the student to forget they have one on the bow as they think it's going to go off too soon. I ask them to come up to full reference, settle on the gold, back tension, push, click, release, all within 4 seconds of reference and all in a fluid movement. If the clicker goes off too soon, move it in increments until the pile tip is just showing before the shot sequence. Comfort zones dont come into clicker shooting, you have to work work work all the time to get the desired results! Some compounders who shoot back tension go through the same agony as clicker shooters. Halfway through a comp the release won't go off, why? 'cos they have forgotten all about using their front arm and are trying to pull the guts out of the bow instesd of working the shot by push pull release, just like using a clicker!!! I rest my case!

[Murray]

BE - I'm actually slightly more push than pull on the good shots, but there is a balance there as evidenced by my follow through. I do find that if there's not enough at the front end, the groups open up significantly.

[pHz]

BE

(slightly OT but not much i hope)

when you say push do you mean an active push outwards or is it another way of saying maintain pressure on the bow arm

or are you just saying 'expand equally in both directions' in another way ?

slainte : rob

[moo-mop]

Originally Posted by grimsby archer

since the technique hasnt changed, just the mental focus.

Originally Posted by Murray

Blank boss isn't a problem... I can ALWAYS finish the shot when I'm not particularly aiming,

Mental or technique: are you now allowing yourself to physically drift around when you wouldn't in front of a target and hence the whole technique is more fluid but less controlled?

In reality mental issues and form are linked, you can't really separate the two issues. For me I do know if I try to put the focus back on the form stuff rather than the doubts or outcomes then I generally do better in the long run (not using a target as an exercise can be useful for this as you just focus try and do the form right but eventually you need the feedback so you can see if you are being successful).

Murray, you really should go back to your form and stop believing it's a mental issue, if that makes sense. Then both will get better.

I pull but that's another debate...

[Bald Eagle]

Rob, it's an expansion

[pHz]

thanks BE - just wanted to be sure i understood what you were saying

slainte rob

[ASW1973]

well i was right in what i said to you murray
having said that as an aproach moo-mop's last post is the only one that guarantees sanity

[Stretch]

Hi Murray, only just noticed this thread. Without seeing you shoot it really is a bit like waving a pool cue around the Usher hall - eventually somebody might hit something...

For problems like you are discussing I think that blank boss is not a solution. Inevitably you're going to be a bit tense about what you're doing, when you shoot BB that tension goes away. When you tense everything shortens - so chances are that when you struggle it is because you tense, you tense because you're thinking about struggling oh oh

All clicker users can/should be able to execute their shot with good back tension in a range of clicker positions - first port of call I would suggest is trying to find the "shortest" draw length that you can achieve this. Now it can be frustrating because you draw the bow wrong and the clicker drops - but hey, it just needs a bit of discipline This just ensures that when you get a little tense you still have the range of movement to hit your clicker. And longer term the discipline is beneficial. Being maxed out at the clicker drop make stable aiming easier but it is not going to help overall shot execution.

There is also the solution of changing your focus so that you aren't thinking about it. Remembering to keep the string light on the end of my nose was always a good one for me - but you may need to try a range of things. One of the Dutch National team used to put elastoplast across his elbow so that he could feel it tightening as he extended.

I shot most of my best scores 1240 - 1250 with holding back tension but not executing the shot with BT. I shot those scores with arrows in the 32 - 32.5" region. Now the Helix does pinch a pit off your draw, but I'm now shooting with pretty good back tension and my arrows are more like 31.25" - and no - I'm not shrinking yet

If you get really hacked off PM me and I'll pop out for a gander, we go for walks at Beecraigs pretty often anyway

Good luck

Stretch