Yay! I sorted out my grouping...

[its my party and]

Having a think about this I don't know of anybody who attends our club on a regular basis who actually uses a clicker! Ive only just gone there and fitted one this last two weeks! I wonder why?

[geoffretired]

"I ususally (sic) smile politely and say nothing, as they are fairly adament (sic)they're right, but shooting as soon as the clicker goes is *not* being a clicker slave and neither is allowing it to be a conditioned reaction. IMO this is exactly what you want. BUT you don't want the clicker to be the only stimuli, having everything else right, and being committed making the shot should also be in place and *then* when it goes off the reaction is subconscious and conditioned."

If you're going to use one then this is the best way. BUT what happens if, at the point of the clicker 'going off' the wind gusts and the sight moves off gold, or a sudden squall of rain arrives. Where does the arrow end up? Can you come down after the click or are you condidtioned such that, all other things being set up right the click triggers the shot? What happens when you get tired?

BUT what happens if, at the point of the clicker 'going off' the wind gusts and the sight moves off ...........

This is something that is often mentioned when discussing clickers and how they should be used.
What happens to archers who don't use clickers, if at the point when the decision is made to release, the wind etc.....
What happens to archer who have clickers but pull through then hold? If the wind blows when they make their decision to release, what is the result?
All archers reach a stage in the shot from which there is no turning back. If the wind blows at that time.......... isn't it the same for all?

[Jumile]

Originally Posted by Random_guy

When they watch me shoot, with the almost instantanious release when the clicker goes off, sometimes they tell me that i'm 'a clicker slave' or similar.

I can't let that post go by without drawing reference to the brilliant Arrow V patio doors thread from January.

[TWIW]

Originally Posted by Jumile

I can't let that post go by without drawing reference to the brilliant Arrow V patio doors thread from January.

ooooooops!

C

[Random_guy]

That was going to be my response too Geoffretired! And if you 'get tired' i.e. you can't reach your normal drawlength after a long time shooting, then you're not strong enough to shoot your bow! (and i'm well aware that i'm not, but i'm working on it).

Apologies for the spelling mistakes, never was any good at it, fortunately its not important in my subject area!!

And agree completely with Shirt about the wild swinging of arms, altho i'm no where near as good as he is at it

Seriously though no one has put together a even vaguely convincing argument for not using a clicker. Even if the origin of them is not what they are used for now, what relevance does that have? No one can claim that archers would be better without clickers, as the best in the world use clickers, so the best you could argue is that they would be equally as good without the clickers. Does anyone claiming this honestly believe that no one at the very top would have thought about this and tried it? Or that there has never been anyone who has also believed that clickers aren't neccessary that has been dedicated enough to make it to the top?

Finally i'd ask if anyone claiming clickers aren't neccessary whether their views are simply because they never managed to shoot with one properly? If they tried one and it caused a dip in form (due to not being used properly) and so stopped? Maybe i'm being unfair, if so feel free to prove me wrong...

[geoffretired]

Random Guy, I just read your post in my e-mail notifications. I thought I was back in the "clicker no clicker" thread. Some one must have a reason for not using clickers, surely.

[matt]

Originally Posted by thewayitwas

If you can train your sub concious to feel this sensation every time just like you do with the rest of the shot then you will know whether you're at full draw and maintaining that draw length regardless of the distance you're shooting.

Problem is I don't really think the goal should be to maintain draw length. If you are using proper back tension then you draw length should naturally lengthen as you aim and execute the shot. Without a clicker the tendancy is for the opposite to happen, how many times have you seen people creep forward while aiming without a clicker?

Also, I'm of the same mind as Random Guy. The release should be a subconcious reaction to the clicker. If your not aiming at the middle then throwing your front arm works for me!

[Murray]

Reasons for NOT using a clicker:
1. Don't want to be competitive
2. Find the new shot process too difficult to master
3. Don't have a consistent enough draw length
4. Can't master use of back muscles and thus correctly use clicker
5. Have been talked out of it by someone who probably fits into categories 1/2/3/4

Clicker slaves are all around us. I once did a test at the club with a couple of "reasonable" club archers.... Told them to aim and pull the arrow through the clicker without letting go. The antics were painfully funny. It doesn't have to be that way, however.

IMO one of the primary reasons for poor clicker experience is poor coaching in its use.

I really really do think we need one HUGE clicker thread

[PorlyP]

I felt a twang much like when being insulted when I read the words "Clicker Slave", I'm sorry to say.

I use a clicker, and it's because I wanted to make sure I was keeping my draw length consistent, as I apparently used to suffer from creep after anchoring, which I had no idea I was doing. If I couldn't notice it, how could I possibly correct it? Was the creep consistent, or random?

Some might say that using a clicker is bad, or evil, or whatever. The fact is, the archer simply needs to make a choice, and take it, and stick with that choice.

I'm of the opinion that for all the advice I can get, only one person can take away from it all that they need: Me.

As recommended, I use slightly longer arrows than necessary, so I can move the clicker as my draw length improves through better form. I'm now seeing the fruits of that, being able to hit 80 yards with confidence, and grouping not badly first time round. Sure, the sight marks have moved, but hey, I'd rather make a new note on my phone every week than change arrows every week!

So, be your own archer, and decide for yourself what you're ready and willing to do to improve.

All the best

[matt]

Originally Posted by Murray

I really really do think we need one HUGE clicker thread

Or perhaps a dedicated forum!