What is target panic?

[Marcus26]

I do not believe that blank boss shooting helps to train you to aim. It's only use is to teach you to use your release aid correctly.

TP is the result of poor release aid use. (also of poor clicker use) and is also assisted by poor aiming, often by bad technique.
It's a complex issue because it is essentially the inability to remain patient while squeezing the release.
This may be because
• The archer was never taught to in the first place
• The archer can not hold still
• The archer's release aid has too much travel.

I have heard of many people blank bailing for months and as soon as they return to normal shooting have the problem again.

So what is the solution?

1) Identify the cuse. Punching causes TP. Punching is the result of your brain finding an easier way out.
The brain works by trying to find the easiest way out. If your dot is bouncing around and you punch the trigger your brain automatically says "that's much easier than squeezing" and will be inclined to do so from then on". It take 100+ shots to make something habit, but only 1 shot to learn the easy way out.

2) Find ways to retrain your brain. Remove the scope and use a large open ring. The Beiter sight tunnel is good because you can use the ring with a level. Use a large one. Stare at the gold through the circle.
Try a back tension release. BT releases work by having no virtual trigger mechanism. If you find yourself punching the BT then try a True Back Tension release or hydrolic release.

3) Concentrate. TP is not a disease, it's a mental control issue. Realign your goals and set new ones around sqeezing and aiming. Say "I will squeeze while holding in the red" and once you can do that decrease the size of your expected aiming area.

4) Go to competitions and do this. Most people break down in a competition becaue they feel they must score well. Go to a comp and aim to suqeeze every shot perfectly. If you come last feel good about the fact that you shot correctly. You will quickly climb the ladder again. This has the added advantage in teaching you to not fear losing.

5) No quick fixes. Do not search for an instant fix. You have the rest of your life to get this right. If you expect to die in a year go spend time with your family. If you expect to live for 20-30 years then take your time. I know plenty of guys in their 60's who have shot 1360+. It's more important to get this right than to win and perform now.

Finally remember, it's not a disease, it's not a curse, it's not bad luck. It's your brain and your control. Overcome it, don't hide from it.

[greydog]

I hopefully have a Carter Atension spike on the way, but it's been nearly six weeks now

I've read alot about how the shot has to be a suprise, but I just can't buy into it. You can get very used to shooting a back tension to the point where it's not really a suprise release anymore, in the end it's always going to come down to mental focus, whichever release you use.
I've seen the HHA release you mention, I shot with a guy at our club open using one and it looked like a handy piece of kit. I don't think it would work for me though as I pull hard against the back wall, it'd probably go off when I pressed the button like a trigger release
I think the benefit of a back tension release isn't so much in the suprise of the shot, but in the way it makes you focus on the 'X' alot more, and takes away the trigger element from concious thought. I use back tension with my trigger release, but I prefer to have the concious control of a trigger, though to be honest, I'm not very aware of pulling the trigger............unless it's windy outdoors, then it gets punched a few times Interested to hear how you get on

Marcus, your wise words I have heard before. But they remain good advice. Thanks fo the input. I too agree blank boss is no use as an aid for TP. I end up shutting my eyes and feel like Stevie Wonder! Not a real life feeling. The TP just comes back within a week of shooting Blank boss.

Greydog, I have the HHA set to max tension and I can pull very hard on it before it goes off. Expect a progress report in the near future. Good luck and good shooting.

[Marcus26]

What is meant by suprize is that you don't know the moment of release. Even at the highest level and with people using the release for 20 years it's a suprize because they don't know exactly when it will fire. This is the key. You can certainly get into a rhythem where it fires at just about the same point everytime, but it should never be a case of "there is the 10, now!"
I have seen many BT shooters simply rip the release to make it fire at exactly the right time. The same as punching.

[geoffretired]

Hello again,
I have been reading with interest all your comments. Thanks to everyone for the input.
I have started the rehab. but blank boss seems to avoid the issue. I don't have a technique problem in that sense or am I wrong? I can put in shot after shot with no target to hit and feel great. I have a series of apertures to use as gentle aiming devices. I can settle and look through quite comfortably and release, so long as I don't try to hit something in particular.
I have experienced the surprise shot using a vacuum operated release of my own. I never knew when it was going to go off. I never knew when my pulse rate was going to drop below 130 either! Is that the feeling I am looking for? Do I carry on with that until that feeling becomes less of a novelty and less intrusive in the end?
Thanks again for the help so far
All the best
Geoff

[Marcus26]

Yes that is the feeling. However as you get use to it the shock wears off and you deal with it better. Eventually you will look like a normal person releasing again.
The key with automatic releases is to relax and not anticipate the timing of the shot.
Relax, lower your heart rate and let the shot happen.

[LineCutter]

Reading through this with interest I'm struck by the similarities to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting:

My name is LineCutter & it's been 2 weeks since my last flinch.









(& no I've never been to one as a participant )

[geoffretired]

Thanks again for all the help.
I like Marcus's comment that I should look like a normal archer again.
I didn't look normal when I shot my best so.................
Nice one!
Geoff

[LIzardEye]

I've suffered from a touch of this in the past and agree wholeheartedly with Marcus - it's not a disease, it's simply your brain not doing quite what you want it to.

What helped me was kind of blank boss shooting but with an aiming point on the boss. I stuck a target pin off centre and used that as a reference point to aim at. The sight was adjusted slightly so I wouldn't hit the pin. So when I was shooting I was aiming at something but not the 'dreaded gold'. And because there were no numbers, the only thing to score myself on was how well the arrows were grouped.

It worked quite well for me, although I do still have to keep on top of it.

[geoffretired]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.
I started the rehab this morning. Target pins at four yards and 22mm aperture.
I just put the sight round one pin and tried really hard to slowly inrease the pressure on the trigger. I was holding the sight quite steady, which was a surprise. The trigger went off as normal no surprise HA HA
Within a dozen or so shots I did manage starting to get the surprise I was told to look for. One in three became two out of three. After a few ends like that I decided to have a break so that I could repeat the "starting from cold bit" all over again to see if I could recreate the surprise. I feel confident that I am on the right road with this rehab-don't know how long the road will be yet!
All the best
Geoff