Mental Strength..and how to aquire it!

[John (OSF)]

Anyone got any 'easy' ways to deal with 'mental' attacks (especially when pulling arrows or at the other end just before you shoot).

[Jerry Tee]

When you step on to the line take your bow and leave everthing else behind you. Distractions, comments, everything.

[bimble]

Part of your routine when you step onto the line should be to clear your mind and then shoot each arrow. It does take practice but it is possible to 'tune out' and not care about what's going on around.

As for at the other end, people who put in such attacks are people not worthy of listening to and therefore you should ignore them.

[Tony_zelah]

read With winning in mind by Lanny Basham, it's the best book I've read on the subject.

[Mufti]

Agreed, it's pointed me in a new direction and helped a lot.
Not just for "on the line" shooting, but for my whole attitude to archery.

[not dead yet]

as a lefty i normally chat to the archer i'm facing, while waiting for the 2nd whistle. then i go into me mode, and just shoot the arrows. nothing is happening around me, if it is i dont care. the only think that would put me off is a longrod up my btm or in my eye.

saying that was at full draw once on a portsmouth, winning i might add, the longbow archer next to me caught the horn of the bow in my right eye which luckily enough is always shut when shooting.....i did actually manage to come down. but my DAD the longbow archer did he get it on the line.

[ASW1973]

you can buy a self help book or ask others but the only way to develop an increase in mental toughness or deal with issues of panic is through understanding what the issues are through counselling and specific unique strategies. dont feel that you are "missing something" or inferior if anecdotal experiences and methods dont fit, if you have issues they can only be addressed with specific approaches driven by your experience

[Good Sir Pete]

i find archery to be rather like go (a chinese stategy game). whereas chess is considered to be a battle against another mind, go is considered to be a battle against your own, as you are said to only know how to play after having lost your first 50 games.

there isn't really a quick and easy way - it takes time and a lot of discipline.

[wysiwyg]

I think along these lines:

The only things that matter when you're on the line are you, your next arrow, your shot cycle and the centre of the target. Nothing else matters. Peronally I take a deep breath between each shot, focus on the gold, and let the training take over.

I've had someone shoot an arrow across mine during an indoor shoot, (deliberately) and I wasn't even aware they'd done it until I went to pull the arrows out of the target!

Just focus on YOU, and YOUR arrow/target - ignore everything else.

[its my party and]

There is not much of this malarky going on in archery I think you may have been unlucky. Now in other sports its very common place and almost fun to play.
If you have come across these practices then you've got to ask why?
There could be several reasons but one could be envy these comments are directed at you! Why? Are you sleeping with his wife. Or simply worrying him with your excellent shooting! It could simply be a nervous counter action a way of them coping and they don't realise what they are doing! Otherwise it could be a simply unpleasant person going about their normal business the only thing for it is to call their bluff. Ask them in front of everybody to repeat clearly what they just said. There is no point you pushing what may have been said over and over in your head and it maybe upsetting your routine. Or you can choose to ignore all comments and imagine said poor person in the nude! So disgusting you that you have to ignore them completely! Mind games are just that! You can play them, be drawn into them or ignore them completely. Its upto you.
I hope this helps you a bit.
As a note having done contact sports for two many years in the past. Intimidation between combatants whether it be silent or down right physical can make you want to win more or fill you with dread as to what may lie ahead. Frank Bruno and Tyson and on the other hand Tyson and Holyfield a simple smile upset Tyson. Because Holyfield didn't show fear as everyone else had. Its an interesting subject.