Clicker Problem

[hooktonboy]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

Hooktonboy, if you think you are still drawing when you're not, join the gang! I have to ask, why do you think that applies to so many people? What is it that confuses them? For some, I think it is the way they believe they are supposed to shoot, and it's a difficult habit to break. For others, could it be that they are being confused because they take their mind of the job in hand. Like Murray says, they focus on the clicker instead of the shot sequence. Does any of that fit what you believe?

Yes I think there's a degree of both those points are relevant. Firstly I think that many beginners (with what they perceive as a lot to learn) focus on the "anchor" as a static reference point in the early days (even if its not what they were taught to think). If you shoot like that for a good while it is a hard habit to break. Of course the clicker is probably the thing you've changed in your style - natural to focus on that as the thing you think you're "learning" instead of learning to maintain sequence and style "in spite" of the clicker.

In the absence of much coaching around where I am, the next steps tend to be self taught and the chances of getting it wrong are quite high. What you observe in others styles isn't necessarily what's going on in the head!

For example I shoot with some pretty decent archers and they all seem to use the clicker differently. (e.g pull through clicker hold for 2 then release, or aim pull through clicker, release instantly.) They both think they're "doing it right" and both had the same county coach.Hmmmm?

Conclusion - its in the head! Not even sure if that lot makes sense. happy to try to clarify

[Wrexham Exile]

i sometimes get this hooktonboy/steve,

and like you said i find focusing on the elbow anythign etc really helps. i was shooting other week and having this issue then kinda just forgot it and came through clicker easy as.
how and why this happens i dont know but i do think clicker control is probably my biggest downfall.

interesting thread.

[Wrexham Exile]

and yes i think it is deffinatly in the head. if your havign a good day the clicker could be set anyway where and it wouldnt seem to matter, start having a bad day and it starts getting to you, pyschological pressure builds and before you know it the clickers being moved all over the shop. been there many a time, and like i said would love to overcome all this soon.

[hooktonboy]

Originally Posted by DMU_AC

and yes i think it is deffinatly in the head. if your havign a good day the clicker could be set anyway where and it wouldnt seem to matter, start having a bad day and it starts getting to you, pyschological pressure builds and before you know it the clickers being moved all over the shop. been there many a time, and like i said would love to overcome all this soon.

Hi Al,To be honest for most of us there must be another factor - the amount of practice we (don't) get. Much of this must be to do with confidence/awareness of where the arrow tip is (which comes from being really confident / consistent in the body form/shape). The awareness surely will have to be subconscious for it to work properly - I guess that's what you mean when you said you "forgot" about it. That learned "form" probably doesn't really perfect itself with once a week shooting?

BTW wasn't picking on you about the clicker technique - we know T does it differently, perhaps not the way conventional wisdom would recommend.

It seems to work.. In some ways T's maintained her form / style and not changed it to suit the clicker (I bet she could shoot the same scores with or without it) which is maybe the right thing to have done? I think the clicker "rules" lots of us, but maybe not T??

On the other hand - maybe a plateau has been reached?

Confusing this!

[mattfink]

There more people say "it's all in the head" the more they start accepting that and not knowing how to rectify it. It is my opinion that it is not in the head, but even if you believe it is, try a drill/routine (as the one I posted earlier) and see where you get. You cannot control what happens down at the target, so don't think down there. Split your shot up in to stages and make the "come through clicker" or "shot execution" just another stage, with no more or less importance than any other stage (which I believe to be true). The drill should help you work out how to do this and give you a consisent draw.

It does work, my coach got me to do it and it worked wonders.

[Little Miss Purple]

I never move my clicker...from the day it was set up!! If I'm struggling to get through it, it means that I've changed something about my technique - my arrows haven't suddenly changed length

[hooktonboy]

Originally Posted by mattfink

There more people say "it's all in the head" the more they start accepting that and not knowing how to rectify it. It is my opinion that it is not in the head, but even if you believe it is, try a drill/routine (as the one I posted earlier) and see where you get. You cannot control what happens down at the target, so don't think down there. Split your shot up in to stages and make the "come through clicker" or "shot execution" just another stage, with no more or less importance than any other stage (which I believe to be true). The drill should help you work out how to do this and give you a consisent draw.

It does work, my coach got me to do it and it worked wonders.

Hi Matt - I think you have a point. I think it is in the head, but only when you don't have a solution.
What your coach offered you sounds absolutely right - it's what I was getting at re the clicker. If you introduce it yourself you tend to focus on the "new bit". If a coach helps you to introduce it they(should) provide you with a learning strategy that helps you to understand the relative importance of that component of routine compared to the others - and how it integrates with what you can already do.

I'll certainly work with your advice - I also think it reinforces the need for good coaching. I wonder if all those " hesitant" archers Geoff refers to have tried to teach themselves??

Thanks Matt.

[Little Miss Purple]

Originally Posted by hooktonboy

I'll certainly work with your advice - I also think it reinforces the need for good coaching. I wonder if all those " hesitant" archers Geoff refers to have tried to teach themselves??

Thanks Matt.

This certainly is a very good point - the seed of doubt was never given to me in the 1st place and it wasn't expected that I was going to struggle with it!

[Wrexham Exile]

Originally Posted by hooktonboy

Hi Al,To be honest for most of us there must be another factor - the amount of practice we (don't) get. Much of this must be to do with confidence/awareness of where the arrow tip is (which comes from being really confident / consistent in the body form/shape). The awareness surely will have to be subconscious for it to work properly - I guess that's what you mean when you said you "forgot" about it. That learned "form" probably doesn't really perfect itself with once a week shooting?

BTW wasn't picking on you about the clicker technique - we know T does it differently, perhaps not the way conventional wisdom would recommend.

It seems to work.. In some ways T's maintained her form / style and not changed it to suit the clicker (I bet she could shoot the same scores with or without it) which is maybe the right thing to have done? I think the clicker "rules" lots of us, but maybe not T??

On the other hand - maybe a plateau has been reached?

Confusing this!

hey steve

practice is indeed an issue too. aint been shooting as much recently and well its shown.
the more i can get to work on it the more i can get towards forgetting it (if you get what i mean).

didnt mind your example, but i do agree T is slightly different. like with many things there is no right way to do it for eveyone and i think T shoots very well using the style she does.
as for plateau? maybe. it could be one of those patches people go through but if im being honest i think the desire has gone abit. its always easier to shoot when your head+heart are in it. hope im wrong though as i would like to see her shooting progress further - she more than capable of it.

[FlightyRachel]

The only trouble with the "all in head" stuff is that it brings back NCT child birth training to me! LOL Sometimes the problem isn't in the head, it's somewhere else entirely

Clickers feel a bit weird at first! They just do! I expect they feel less weird the more you use them, and so that's what I'm going to do. But at the moment I am still thinking about and listening for the click too much.. at the hesitant stage I guess. But working on it!