What is target panic?

[geoffretired]

Is it the same as " gold shyness?
A friend of mine thinks he has it( Where have I heard that before?)
If he has, what are the symptoms? Are there any cures- other than taking up tropical fish?
Geoff

[greydog]

Hi Geoff, since you've given this one a thread of it's own I'll paste in rgsphoto's description as he covers it pretty well

OK Geoff, I will have a go at answering your question. I am very qualified to answer this one as I have it. It's a mental problem, yes that me, mental. It manifests it's self in various ways, but basically it prevents the archer aiming. In my case as soon as the sight lands on the gold I have to let go of the string, with compound I punch the trigger before the shot is set up properly. In the USA they tend to call it Buck fever or being target shy. Some people find they can't get the sight on the gold at all, and some find they freeze and can't let go. There is lots of theory as to how to deal with it, mental and physical. in my case I use a clicker with a recurve, and use a BT release as it does not have a trigger to punch, not a complete solution, but a big help.

I seem to be an axception to the rule as I had it the moment I picked up a bow, but most archers develop it over time, it becomes a conditioned response from years of shooting. Often it is said that target panic is enduced by the fear of missing.

It is a lot more common than people realize and can afflict archers in very subtle ways. Flinching the odd shot, putting arrows round the gold but not in the middle or in a group outside the gold etc can be all tell tail signs of TP.

Strangly enough I don't have this problem when aiming a gun.

I consider it a curse, as does every one else I have chatted to who has it. But have learned to deal with it and control it quite well now.

There is a lot more to this but I hope this answers your question. __________________
A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

[geoffretired]

Thanks for the help on this.
I have it too.
I have started rehab.
The problem is; I don't know what to do when I get to the clinic/rehab centre/my garage
All the best
Geoff

[TJ Mason]

Target panic is indeed what is also known as "gold shyness". I actually prefer Richard Carella's term "aiming-reflex condition" -- more descriptive, less emotionally loaded.

I had a really bad case of TP that manifested itself as flinching. I got through it by shooting compound with a dodgy thumb release that didn't always go off! Kind of similar to the way pistol coaches will hand a learner an unloaded pistol and then watch them flinch when they pull the trigger. Eventually I learned what back tension was, learned how to hold steady with the back muscles, and was able to transfer this learning to the recurve.

[geoffretired]

Thanks TJ
Mine started with the compound. I had 9 years trouble free with recurve.
It is very much like the flinch of the learner with an empty gun.
I made a vacuum operated release which activated as a surprise! Enough to bring the heart into the mouth. It took a few minutes before I could calm down enough for the second shot. I decided I'd never shoot six arrows in ten minutes so gave up on it. Perhaps I should have persevered.
Geoff

Originally Posted by geoffretired

Thanks TJ
Mine started with the compound. I had 9 years trouble free with recurve.
It is very much like the flinch of the learner with an empty gun.
I made a vacuum operated release which activated as a surprise! Enough to bring the heart into the mouth. It took a few minutes before I could calm down enough for the second shot. I decided I'd never shoot six arrows in ten minutes so gave up on it. Perhaps I should have persevered.
Geoff

Hi Geoff,

I use a back tension release aid, it has no button to punch. I am also experimenting with a new release aid called a 'little pull' by HHA. it operates on just pulling some more when at full draw. Fantastic bit of kit. Available from Lancaster archery in the States or maybe fom Aardvarc's archery very soon, if Les gets some in. There are a few other devices that are available too. Some work some don't. Let me know if you need any more info on available release aids to help TP.

I find this subject very interesting, I have read many books, theories and ideas about TP. It's very challenging in a love hate sort of way. Learn to accept it as part of archery, no one is imune, anyone can get it. Don't let them kid you otherwise. A lot of people say shoot blank boss for the rest of your life, OK it works a bit, but life is too short. I prefer to seek the technological route and buy my way into a solution.

The only way I could shoot a recurve was to use a clicker, but I did tend to freeze on that after a while. In this case I suspect blank boss shooting will help a lot, dead tediouse though.

Cheers
Rich

[greydog]

Blank bailing has often been put forward as a cure for target panic, and as a technique for developing the feel of the shot it works well, but to my mind it will never be an effective cure for target panic, shot anticipation, the screaming willies or whatever you want to call it
As the problem lies with you thinking about things other than the 'X' while aiming, that's the bit you need to focus on, most people can shoot with very good technique for hours at a blank boss, then fall apart when a target is put in front of them.
One way I found (as I couldn't afford a back tension release) was to set the travel on my trigger release to it's maximum, so it didn't go off when you subconciously expected it to, this worked a bit like a back tension in that you had to focus very hard on keeping the dot floating in the gold. It got easier with practice The other way if you have a Carter release with the different spring options is to put the stiffest springs in so you need more pressure to activate the trigger, with the same results as above.
Ideally get a back tension release, then practise with a target at close range, 5 - 10 yards, as you get more confident letting the shot happen, move back.............you'll be back at 18M before you know it

Hi Greydog,

No matter what tension/travel I put on a release aid, I will end up punching it, I have tried everything with trigger releases with no long term joy. The BT is the only way for me, but we are all different.

[greydog]

That's a fair point rgsphoto.....after all, if we were all the same, we'd all be shooting the same release aid I force myself to execute a clean shot with a trigger, I just prefer to have the control. I do have a backtension on order though to try out as a training aid.......I'll have to try not to punch myself in the gob too often with it

Originally Posted by greydog

That's a fair point rgsphoto.....after all, if we were all the same, we'd all be shooting the same release aid I force myself to execute a clean shot with a trigger, I just prefer to have the control. I do have a backtension on order though to try out as a training aid.......I'll have to try not to punch myself in the gob too often with it

Good luck with it. Which one have you on order? The only time I actually punched my self in the gob was when I used a trigger release, I knocked the trigger when nearly at full draw and "whack" now that hurt! I have yet to premo' release by Chappy boss BT ultra.

You mention control...As I understand it all releases are supposed to be a suprise! I can get as much control with a BT release as I can with a trigger. If a trigger is punched knowingly then the shot is done wrong. Every single book I have read advocates back tension to complete the shot. With or without a trigger. In my case the whole release is the trigger. With the HHA little pull the trigger is inside the release and is set off by simply pulling more at full draw. It's the best way to promote the use of back tension I have yet tried. Great to use the push/pull method of shooting and will be great in the wind. I will post my progress with this device.