Got target panic real bad!

[Marcus26]

Have you tried a clicker?

Originally Posted by namrehtaew

Hi all,

After two months of battling with with my target panic troubles and trying just about every suggestion others have made both on this forum and at club meets where I have had good coaching tips, all I have to show for it is target panic which is far worse now than when it started!
I am no longer enjoying my shooting because the frustration levels are simply too high and I feel I am on a downward spiral that I don't know how to escape from. I am not normally a quitter, but my head has bashed against this brick wall so many times now it is beginning to get very sore! Solution: stop bashing!

So I have some more to read around the subject and unless that throws up some new ideas to try, I will be quiting the sport very soon. Sad really because before the TP set in I was enjoying archery more than any other sport I've tried.

Thanks all for all the advice and support. ( The friendliness and helpfulness of fellow archers is a very good memory I will take away after I finish. )

[namrehtaew]

To perhaps clarify my condition more. The term 'Target panic' is, in my case, a misnomer. It is simply the act of aiming after reaching full draw or even the thought that proceeds the act is enough to set off the reflex. The type of target does not matter at all, or even no target just an imagined one, I come to full draw, hold... At this stage I am perfectly relaxed with everything rock steady. I can hold here for a long time if I want to before any hint of fatigue induced breakdown, then I switch my mind to aiming mode and 'bang !' the arrow is gone in an instant.

[chemistry]

But...as Marcus26 asked, have you tried a clicker yet?

[Murray]

... or perhaps a compound with back tension release?

As I alluded to earlier, I had a similar problem a few years ago. I would let go before I'd even got to full draw!! I put the bow down for a year and a bit then came back to archery, did a beginner's course again just to work myself into it and never looked back. Perhaps all you need is some time away. Give yourself 6 months and see what happens perhaps?

[niceguy]

Originally Posted by namrehtaew

To perhaps clarify my condition more. The term 'Target panic' is, in my case, a misnomer. It is simply the act of aiming after reaching full draw or even the thought that proceeds the act is enough to set off the reflex. The type of target does not matter at all, or even no target just an imagined one, I come to full draw, hold... At this stage I am perfectly relaxed with everything rock steady. I can hold here for a long time if I want to before any hint of fatigue induced breakdown, then I switch my mind to aiming mode and 'bang !' the arrow is gone in an instant.

Misnomer or not this is classic target panic or gold shyness. We have several beginners in our club at the moment with bad cases of this disease and one young lady in particular was close to tears last night because of it. The only way I know to fix this is with a clicker at a blank boss long enough to rewire your brain. We all know this a mental thing but you nead a practical solution not medical treatment. Try a clicker, you may strip some fletchings but if you persevere it should come good after a while. Good luck.

[not dead yet]

i had same problem when i was 13 in 1973. at that time there was no one to help to the degree i needed or the patience i had.

could hold my dads bow at full draw forever with no arrow in it, as soon as an arrow was in the bow icould only draw back half way then let go.

started shooting again at 31 using a clicker,sorted, but found that i still have minor issues with the compound although i am fighting it.

dont have any problems with the longbow though.

its definately a mental issue, and takes time to sort out (not cure)
starting point. short distance , blank boss, clicker. concentrate and persevere

all the best
pete

[namrehtaew]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

Have you tried a clicker?

No. I have never used a clicker. The reason being I am a beginner and the concensus of opinion in the club is that I should get the fundamentals of form and technique right first before cluttering the mind with something else to think about. I can see the reasoning for trying a clicker to get round the TP but I am wary of releasing before the 'click', stripping the fletches and breaking the clicker!

[niceguy]

Originally Posted by namrehtaew

No. I have never used a clicker. The reason being I am a beginner and the concensus of opinion in the club is that I should get the fundamentals of form and technique right first before cluttering the mind with something else to think about. I can see the reasoning for trying a clicker to get round the TP but I am wary of releasing before the 'click', stripping the fletches and breaking the clicker!

Time to make some decisions i think. Choose your LEAST WORSE option, clicker or carry on as you're going. Unless you can solve this in your head that's really your only choices. Where in the country are you if you're close enough to me I'll help you I have light weight equipment and a boss at home. Send me a pm if you wish.

Regards

[mk1]

Originally Posted by namrehtaew

No. I have never used a clicker. The reason being I am a beginner and the concensus of opinion in the club is that I should get the fundamentals of form and technique right first before cluttering the mind with something else to think about. I can see the reasoning for trying a clicker to get round the TP but I am wary of releasing before the 'click', stripping the fletches and breaking the clicker!

Lets be positive here - you won't. The necessity to pull through the clicker and then release will give your brain a new system to follow. The first few times you try it you may have the odd twitch but that'll soon go as the new technique is learned.

[niceguy]

Originally Posted by mk1

Lets be positive here - you won't. The necessity to pull through the clicker and then release will give your brain a new system to follow. The first few times you try it you may have the odd twitch but that'll soon go as the new technique is learned.

MK1 is right, the clicker will totally alter the way you shoot and after a few wonky ones it will quicly get better. One other point, there is no law that says you have to shoot a drawn arrow. Try taking a really deep grip on the string with no intention of letting go and see if you can hold on the target.