Flinching Mystery....

[AdamK]

Guys,
I have a problem.

I've been shooting the same release now for 18 months (Jim Dandy something). I was shooting a Matthews Conquest 3 (at 60#) very accurately and consistently without as much as a hint of flinch. My groupings were consistently at 100mm at 40m, providing for reasonably confident shots on rabbits that far, and dead on shooting of everything under thirty meters.

In my wisdom I decided to replace the Mathews with a Bowtech Old Glory (at 70#) to pick up some extra speed. Here is where my problems have started....

After about 50 arrows through the new bow, it was sighted in. I then wanted to put as many arrows through as possible to get used to the draw etc etc. That's when it happended. The first flinch was that bad I scared myself. Ever since, I have been plagued with unexpected flinching even when I fully relax and concentrate on smoothness.

I backed the Okd Glory off to 60#, still flinched....

My release aid has some trigger creep inherent (it was always there). Do you think the replacement of the release to one that has a lighter crisper trigger release may help?

I think the Old Glory may be 1/2 inch too short in draw length for me too. Do you think this may play some part.

I know flinching is a mental thing (I've been shooting rifles for years), but I am looking for any set up issues that may help rid me of this problem.

For the record, since developing this flinch issue, I have not shot ferals at anything more than 20m. I have not lost an animal to date and have no intention of losing one due to a flinch.

Thanks for your help guys.

Adam

[Warlocke]

Has the trigger adjustment screw worked its way out on your release?

Try screwing it in one turn and seeing whether this makes any difference.

I had the grub screw work out on me about ayear ago with the same results.

[jason]

good old target panick...........I got it that bad i did not shoot for 4 months to rid myself of it, I then started as coach said with a blank bale.There is a lot of good articles about ridding yourself of it. It is a long hard road and you have to train your subconcious again. I started by talking myself through every shot but not aiming, hence the blank bale. Once yo have yourself back to drawing, anchoring etc in a set squence then start aiming. If it starts again go back to the beginning and start with the blank bale again. This worked for me , it may not for you and i am sure heaps of other guys have had to overcome target panick.

[AdamK]

You guys know your flinching.

Seems the trigger adjustment screw had wound out significantly, increasing the release weight of the trigger. I have just backed it right off to minimum weight and can feel a huge reduction in tendency to flinch.

That idea of using a blank target butt is golden. I will test myself later today to see if it target panic causing the flinch....

Can a reduced draw length (too short a draw length) contribute to flinch problems?

Adam

[interceptor]

Adam,

Can you make up for the shorter draw by adjusting your release aid (My copperhead release aid has an adjustable length).

Cheers Noel

[Sparra]

If your shooting straight off the string try using a loop...It will give you a little extra length....

[AdamK]

Thanks guys, I am most grateful for your feed back.

After acting on your suggestions I am cured.

I re-adjusted my release aid and added a D loop, and incredibly have not flinched at all in close to 75 shots. Accuracy and consistency have returned.

I am very very happy as the flinching issue was really starting to piss me off.

One thing has surprised me, in adding the D loop my point of impact has moved 350mm higher and 100mm to the right of where it was perfect this morning. Would you guys have expected that???

Thanks again,

Adam

[Kimall]

Yep I agree with coach on it takes very little to affect arrow flight and impact point.I had a bow that would string my arrows across the target as the bow quiver was emptied one by one.
Glad you have worked it out its very frustrating to be shooting great in the morning and then terrible in the afternoon for no good reason.
Cheers KIM