View Full Version : BADDDDD Target Panic! help!
Ive just got back into trad archery after a break and my target panic has come back to get me big time, i got to the point yesterday while shooting i could only draw the string about 3 inches then i had to release which is the most annoying thing every!
I had TP with the compound firstly while finger shooting barebow, then i got a new bow with all the bells and whistles and i got it so bad i couldnt shoot past 2 meters but i over come it with some help and alot of blank bale shooting. But the thing what Pi$$es me of with the curve i cant even draw it back, Im not overbowed i have shot this poundage and higer for years and had no problams. I have tried the draw and dont release method but i cant even draw it and when i do get to my anchor the arrow is gone, even thoe i tell my self to hold anchor and let down. I can draw my bow back and hold an anchor with out an arrow but as soon as an arrow is on my rest my brains goes into stupid mode, but this wasnt the case yesterday i nearly dry fired the bow so i packed up and went home. I even got it while i was drawing this little red bow in the archer store to get my draw lenght i didnt freeze but i was fighting it not to look like a nob.
Im thinking of maybe buying a 15 - 20 pound bow and start fresh like i first did 13 years ago and hopefully i start to enjoy shooting again and regain good form. But what im worried about with buying a new bow is that i might not achieve anything as i have in the past only been able to draw a 15 pound bow 5 inches, Last year infact. Thats when i had a break and thought it might go away.
I probaly sound a bit nego and down on my self but every time i go to shoot my bow i talk to my self encourage myself and tell my self if i do a bad shot not to worry etc. again its not working lol.
I running out of idears and i realy need to talk to someone who has had it this bad!
But please anyone help me i love archery to much to give it away!
Mullac I have had TP for 20 years, at stationary targets it really gets to me but at moving targets no worries at all. If game stands still to be shot I really struggle but if they move or even better if they run when I am within bow range I will normally get them or miss them all together.One of the best things I have ever done for myself I went to a professional archery coach and that has done me more good than anything and I have been using aa light weight bow for the lessons which I hire for the lessons. The lessons have been very cheap even with the hire gear.
The cure for each person can be different, I once asked a very well known field shooter to help me with it but he just said TP I would rather have Aids, at least there is a treatment for it.
Don't despair some of the best archers in the world have had TP at some time...Glenn...
Mick Smith
08-07-07, 09:44 PM
Mullac
If you close your eyes when coming back to full draw, you won't have any problems with a premature release. Actually you can use this to your advantage by repeatedly drawing and shooting and very close range with your eyes closed. I know it sounds bad, but it will definitley help you with your target panic. You need to 're-wire' your brain, so that you can come to full draw before you shoot and shooting even with your eyes closed will help in the regard.
I find it also helps not to actually focus on your target when coming to full draw. You can look in the general direction, but once you focus on it, target panic can set in.
When you're getting ready to shoot, don't think about the target, or the shot, just think about one thing and one thing only and that's reaching your anchor point. Push your finger hard into your mouth before you shoot. Remember how that finger stuck in the corner of your mouth feels and get used to it. Tell yourself that you must feel that anchor before you even think about shooting. Spread those back muscles. Learn to like the feel of really working your back. If you're using your back muscles, you're usually coming to a full full draw. Keep you drawing arm up nice and high, the elbow needs to be higher than your shoulder. Once you're at full draw, then concentrate on the target and the shot.
If you find yourself going back to snap shooting or target panic while you're practicing, force yourself to observe correct form, but if you can't, pack up for the day. You don't want to reinforce snap shooting as a part of your technique. It only takes a few partially drawn releases to waste many many hours of good work and practice.
I don't think you can every really 'get over' target panic, but it can be controlled most times. It's always waiting to re-emerge, usually at the worst possible time.
A lighter draw weight bow can definitely help, in fact I reckon heavy bows are a major contributing factors in the development of target panic. If you go through your form building techniques, like drawing without releasing and shooting with your eyes closed, with a heavier bow, then actually shooting correctly with a lighter bow will seem that much easier.
Good luck with the target panic mate and if you find a cure, please let me know all about it.
Mick
If you close your eyes when coming back to full draw, you won't have any problems with a premature release. Actually you can use this to your advantage by repeatedly drawing and shooting and very close range with your eyes closed. I know it sounds bad, but it will definitley help you with your target panic. You need to 're-wire' your brain, so that you can come to full draw before you shoot and shooting even with your eyes closed will help in the regard.
This drawing with your eyes closed technique that Mick has suggested was exactly what I was going to suggest you try Mullac.
I have done the following, in a condensed version, to cure an early release at the very early stages of target panic. In your case, you could try an extended version and see if it works.
Try a regime of at least three weeks (or longer if you need to) of not shooting an arrow.
Start with drawing the bow with your eyes closed and an arrow nocked. Concentrate on reaching a consistant anchor every time and holding for a period of time, say 3 seconds before letting down. If it works and you can do it with out releasing the arrow then continue it for up to three weeks to re condition your brains response to drawing a bow. Do not draw your bow in any other way or fire an arrow during this time.
If you can't do it with your bow and an arrow nocked, try it without an arrow nocked and eyes closed first or a bow with a lighter poundage.
Once you have successfully completed up to 3 weeks or more of drawing with your eyes closed anchoring and letting down, move to the next stage.
The next stage is a repeat of the first stage but with your eyes open. With your eyes open nock an arrow (in front of a target butt) do not focus on a spot on the butt, instead concentrate on drawing and anchoring, once again holding the anchor for a count of three before letting down. If you can do this step then continue it for as long as you think necessary, in your case up to another 3 weeks.
The next step, if you get this far, is to stand close to a target butt knock an arrow and with your eyes closed draw, anchor, count to three and release. Repeate this procedure for as long as you think you need to. At each shooting session, run through the other steps first for a few minutes before you begin to release your arrows and at the end of the session as well.
The next step is to start releasing arrows with your eyes open. Stand close to a target butt, nock an arrow, draw, anchor, hold for 3 seconds and release. Don't worry about focussing on a spot but once again concentrate on your anchor.
Once again, at each shooting session, before you start to release your arrows, run through the first two or even three steps for a few minutes and at the end of the shooting session as well.
If during a shooting session you start to release your arrows early, then stop releasing your arrows and finish the session with step one and two.
It's a long proccess but hopefully it works for you. Just remember to go through the first 2 to 3 steps at every shooting session before you start releasing arrows with your eyes open and at the end of the session as well.
I still do steps 1 and 2 for a couple of minutes quite regularly before and after I shoot and I use step 3 to keep my form consistant.
Whatever you try I hope it works for you.
Cheers guys thanks for the replys, i will give those methods a good go and hopefuly over time i can control this target panic. I will look around to get a light draw weight bow to make sure my form is bang on aswell.
Ill keep you up to date on how im getting along.
Mullac
spiderbait24
09-07-07, 11:25 PM
hey fella's what is target panic ive never herd of it please explain???
cheers.
Evil Taco
10-07-07, 01:39 PM
lol over my time of archery i think ive had my share of target panic...BAD
target panic is pretty much when ur pulling back your bow to anchor point as soon as u spot the gold ur nerves take over your brain and u release... only problem is ur at half draw and u just screwed up ur shot....i know alot of people who quit archery because of this and its not a funny thing its just ur brain taking over control... hate to say it mate but when i had it (and i i had it real BAD) i tried everything coach, closing my eyes at 5m, i even at one stage got somebody to hit me over the head (gently) if i did it.... well after about 4 months of hell i was left with a sore head and getting real pissed at myself and even thought bout quitting all togethor... probally not the best thing u need to hear but my only way out for me was to buy a compound and shoot with release ( still trigger punch now, but mostly under control) i love compound now more then anything but thats just me,
mate good luck to ya, TP can be a very serious thing and i hope u beat it....i didnt, i took the easy way, but u want to stay trad then i have no idea what to do...
spiderbait24
10-07-07, 03:04 PM
oh i see so you have no control over it
i hope i dont get it evem though im compound shooter.
cheers for the info.
though I don't think I have ever had target panic, there is one thing that helped me get my aiming better and slower that I would suggest.
Try to find your "point on" distance. i.e. try to find the distance where if you put the point of the arrow on the bull at full draw and then release, that you hit the bull. It helps working out all the inconsistancies of release aswell.
If you think you are at your point on distance and:
1. you shoot consistantly high - your too close :)
2. consistantly low - too far duh!
3. shoot left - your arrows are to stiff
4. shoot right - arrows too soft
5. shoot all over the damn target - then you are not aiming and your release sucks. Concentrate on your form, draw back, put your arrow on the target and concentrate on a smooth release.
you can do it at any distance really if you work out your gap - but if you do it at point on and you rush a shot then you will miss the target altogether and spend hours looking for or building new arrows. Sooner or later you will become a type A personality about arrow preservation and a type B about your aiming :)
though I don't think I have ever had target panic, there is one thing that helped me get my aiming better and slower that I would suggest.
Try to find your "point on" distance. i.e. try to find the distance where if you put the point of the arrow on the bull at full draw and then release, that you hit the bull. It helps working out all the inconsistancies of release aswell.
If you think you are at your point on distance and:
1. you shoot consistantly high - your too close :)
2. consistantly low - too far duh!
3. shoot left - your arrows are to stiff
4. shoot right - arrows too soft
5. shoot all over the damn target - then you are not aiming and your release sucks. Concentrate on your form, draw back, put your arrow on the target and concentrate on a smooth release.
you can do it at any distance really if you work out your gap - but if you do it at point on and you rush a shot then you will miss the target altogether and spend hours looking for or building new arrows. Sooner or later you will become a type A personality about arrow preservation and a type B about your aiming :)
I think thats how Howard Hill shot, he would pick a spot either above or below the target where the arrow point will be aimed at knowing the arrow will fly for the intended target. It was in the book " hunting the hard way " if i can remeber rightly...
Everything the other fella's have said is very sound advice , follow it and you will end up a good archer , but the one thing that I found helps me with target panic is recognising when it strikes you and the thoughts you have in your mind at the time .
For me its strikes when I get anxious about how I am shooting , is someone ahead of me in the comp , what if I stuff up my release on this shot , **** that pig has huge tusks hope I dont shoot him in the backside , Target Panic is a result of negative thought process based on performance anxiety -[ perhaps this advice may help with the other sort of performance anxiety .
What helps me is not being concerned with my score be it competition or Douglas points , work on the percentage of good shots . At first it might only be 5 % of you arrows FEEL LIKE GOOD SHOTS but dont actually hit the mark , then next training session maybe back to 2 % but the next will be 10% and so on . I a short time you will notice you have more shoots that nail the spot you where looking at. Keep a track of the good shots , set a goal of say 50 % to be reached in a year . If you don't meet it perhaps you aimed to high revise your goal .
Remember have sessions where form is number one , this is where the closed eyes bit close to a butt is invaluable , practice with mates loser buys the beer put pressure on yourself but never lose sight that its the percentage of good shots thats important not your score , that will follow , good luck . Regards Perry .
Ok this may have been said in another post and I missed it but as I suffer from TP also I have been working a lot on the blank bale and it is deff the answer but as I moved back it felt differant as the sight picture was differant, and I read in a book that shooting down will affect your draw length.So I reorganised my target butt so I can shoot it horizontal even at a few metres and after about 60 arrows today I got to tell you it is HEAPS better and easier to hold the correct form as you move back from the butt.I am feeling better about my draw and release than I ever have and the draw weight feels right now instead of to heavy.
Cheers KIM
Hey guys
I tried shooting with my eyes closed with an arrow on the string today, well same old same old i couldnt get to full draw. I been out everynight pulling my bow back about 30 times, holding for 3 long seconds solid with my eyes shut with no arrow and i been feeling confident and i feel like i have good form at full draw. BUT now i dont feel so confident no more and its realy getting to me! so i guess its back to the start again...
arggg all i want to do is shoot my freaking bow!
Did you try drawing with your eyes closed and an arrow nocked, holding for a count of 3 and letting down?
After the first step, which by the sounds of it you accomplished, you should do this next step for a period of time before you try to actually release an arrow.
Persevere mate, it's worth it.
aussiehunter
22-07-07, 10:24 AM
mate,the guys have given u good advice,glenn is on the money,see a coach...in all other sports we take leasons or have a coach..
may i suggest a very good book...
idiot proof archery by bernie pellerite
http://www.robinhoodvideos.com/prod01.htm
ull see it advertised in archery action,he not only does a book but numerous videos..
ive just finished the book and i would have to say its one of the best reads ive read .
u seem to have a very extreme case of tp,dont give up ,u can be cured,it will take time and disipline...grab the book first and have a read,find a good coach,someone who can really help with tp...
all the best
pat
Cheers guys,
I been thinking for a while about that book and i will get it soon as i can.
I was drawing with an arrow nocked with my eyes closed but it just wasnt happening, i got no where near full draw and i released even thoe i was telling my self not to. I dont think its the target that makes my brain go crazy its the arrow on the string.
Also its realy hard to do this next step down at the range with people around, its realy distracting knowing your getting watched. Any idears how to get around this?
aussiehunter
24-07-07, 10:13 AM
do it on ur own...
heres a good trick,draw on a brick wall,bet u dont release then....then again,u may,i hope not
allt he best
do it on ur own...
heres a good trick,draw on a brick wall,bet u dont release then....then again,u may,i hope not
allt he best
Thats a great idear! Ill get to it, i hope i dont release thoe lol
Mullac every thing you have said so far leads me to believe that you beleive you will stuff it up ,your statements so far - I cant get to full draw , I feel anxious every time I shoot or words to that effect- Negative thought process , I have had the same problems and a coach will tell you the same thing - you can do it , so what you didn't get to full draw on the last arrow , the next one will be better , little steps first , be patient , don't just say you wont to shoot without target panic , bloody well mean it . Have not read Bernie 's book but I'm sure its full of top advice as he is a first rate coach . When ever I feel I need some more help I go back to the FITA club where I started 30 odd years ago and find there coaches first rate . regards Perry
After this thread started it made me realise that it(TP)was causing me some probs and had to be fixed FAST.On a trad site from the US they where talking about a book that seemed to be helping everyone that tried the tips to get over their target panic so I ordered it from 3 Rivers and have been reading it and working at it for about week and I now have a real understanding about what happens in our head when we shoot a bow instintivley.I am shooting HEAPS better and fealing so much more confident while doing it.One of the main tips goes against almost all other things that have been said about this style of shooting but when its explained WHY it works and then you try it and it works it is like being able to see in the dark.
The book is called "Instinctive Archery Insights" revised edition and it is written by Jay Kidwell.It is not dear at about 12 bucks US and I wish it was given to me years ago.
Cheers KIM
Well i have been brushing away all the bad thoughts and its all %100 positive now and im so pumped to beat this TP. The brick wall method works wonders! took a few goes but after that i was hitting full draw evey time! it was a great feeling! The progress i feel im making is realy good and i have set goals and i should be shooting by september. I cant wait to give the old man a flogging on the range hehe.
Kimall,i have seen that book on one of those sites aswell, i will be getting it asap!
Thanks for the all help!
Ill keep ya posted on how im getting on.
Mate that's great to hear.:D
Mick Smith
31-07-07, 08:15 PM
That's great news!
The more you shoot with correct form, the more it reinforces correct form. More importantly, it seems you have found the answer should the dreaded target panic ever return.
Mick
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