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Target Panic; group therapy

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Grasshopper Mouse:
The first bow I got was a hickory/purple heart lam longbow. The bowyer told me the bow was "7/8 broken at full draw." This was to impress his customers that the bow should not be overdrawn or held at full draw too long, less the wood be overstressed and blow.
I took his instructions to heart and managed to develop a snap shooting technique where I did not come to full draw and I never really got a chance to aim because I was letting the string go too early.
When I had an opportunity to get a glass lam recurve I discovered that I couldn't get it to full draw without letting the string go too early. I kept hearing "7/8 broken" in my mind and couldn't get past that, even on a bow where that was not an issue.
My girlfriend is a hypnotist. She's done stage shows at parties and events as well as personal therapy with people. When I asked her if hypnosis would help me she asked me a few questions about what I wanted to accomplish and then suggested we give it a try. After our session it was a few days before we had an opportunity to visit the archery range. The first time I drew my bow I tried to not think about things. My string hand came back to a solid anchor and showed no desire to let go of the string until I decided it was time to do so. The rest of the range session was the same. In fact, I've never experienced the short draw-snap shot again, and that was some 16 years ago or so.

I can't say if hypnosis would work for everyone with a target panic-like issue but it sure seemed to help me.

Guy

Nate:
Hey Guy. There have been days when I felt I was more in need of an exorcist than a hypnotist! As if my bow and draw hand were conspiring against me. It's an interesting thought. Hypnosis for shooting problems, but it really sounds logical because instinctive shooting is largely a mental  process and hypnosis as I understand it is somehow tapping in to one's subconscious. Not sure if I'm ready to try it though. I'd probably get laughed out of my church if it was known I'd been to a hypnotist to cure my shooting issues.

Nate:
Pete, is there a link to that article by Jim Polen or a way to find a copy? I'd be very interested to read it.

burchett.donald:
  Target panic for me is an off/on thing...I think the biggest cause is fatigue...Panicking to get the shot off before the shaking or stress comes into play...I have a glass bow that I pick up and repeatedly draw/exercise to stay in what I consider archery condition...I shoot one at a time and pull from 15yds and in when I get to go outside and shoot my self bows...If I am in shape everything seems to just be relaxed and on the money...If I get tired and start panicking/rushing I quit...There's so much going on when I have a deer coming that the target panic doesn't come into play, thankfully...For me, conditioning is the key...
                        Don
                                                                                                               

PeteC:
 Hypnosis,very interesting.They have been used by some sports teams in the past to help rid the sub-conscience of negative thoughts,but I have no experience with it,nor do I know anyone who has.I wish I knew of one.If I did,I might give it a try.  Donald,without a doubt,it is worse with me when I'm tired.I try not to shoot when exhausted. Nate,all I have is the issue.Fall 2000, Instinctive Archer. Page 47-50. I have no idea whether they are archived or not. Thanks y'all.   God Bless

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