Author Topic: Having hard time focusing  (Read 9434 times)

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Offline Hickoryswitch

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Having hard time focusing
« on: July 01, 2008, 08:54:58 am »
The other day i took out my new bow and was shootin at a target that has 5 3'' dots on it and I couldn't hit for crap. I had a really hard time focusing on where I wanted my arrows to go. Has anyone else had problems focusing and how can I cure this? I usually shoot fairly well. Deer season will be here soon and I wanna be shootin good again by then.


Thanks
  Wayne
Wayne Silverthorn

DBernier

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2008, 09:52:17 am »
I shoot at a sofa cushion with no markings on it. As Mel Gibson said, "Aim small, miss small". Stare at the center of the cushion and let go. Having 3, 4, or 5 small targets is a distraction which I have difficulty overcomming. See photo. Both groups were shot at 20 yards. I sympathise with you.

Dick

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: July 01, 2008, 11:49:23 am by DBernier »

Offline Pat B

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2008, 12:02:46 pm »
Try shooting one arrow at a time at a target with no markings. Concentrate where you want the arrow to go and shoot...retrieve that arrow and shoot it again and continue this until you feel confident in your shooting. The deer you will be hunting don't have a bulls eye on them so why practice on a target that does. It can be confusing to your mind.   Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Hickoryswitch

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2008, 02:31:31 pm »
Thanks for the tip. Maybe thats why i was shooting better before I just used a hay bale without a target. I was thinkin something was wrong with me thanks guys.
Wayne Silverthorn

Offline Pat B

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2008, 04:46:54 pm »
On those targets there are too many things to distract you. After your technique, form and release are mastered and well embedded in your brain it might not matter but for person learning to shoot(at least for me) they are too busy. None of my targets have any markings on them. Near deer season most of my shooting is at 3D foam deer. A week before the season I shoot only 1 arrow a day(sometimes 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening) at a 3D deer so when the time comes all I have to do is concentrate on where the arrow "IS" going. Sometimes I don't remember drawing the bow. It just happens.       Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Otoe Bow

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2008, 05:17:16 pm »
Hickory:  I think Dick and Pat are right on.  I recently started using a target with multiple target circles on it and I keep hitting one, but not the one I wanted.   >:(  I think I'll cover it up and use it just for a backstop.  First chance I get, I'm getting a 3D one too. 
So far, I haven't found any Osage or knappable rock over here.  Embrace the suck

Offline Pat B

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2008, 06:23:21 pm »
Shooting more than one arrow at one can be distracting also, especially with bright nocks. Your eye goes for the "spot" and you shoot where you are looking.      Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Hickoryswitch

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2008, 06:44:09 pm »
Yeah I turned my bale around earlier and shot .  Whoa what a difference!  I was shooting fist size groups instead of basketball size ones. It's takin a little while for instinctive shootin to come back to me after shootin wheelie bows for so long. I am gettin back in there tho just little things like this throw me for loops sometimes. Thanks everyone for the tips they really have helped.



Wayne
Wayne Silverthorn

Offline recurve shooter

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2008, 09:38:06 pm »
shoot cans sitting on top of stumps. use yer target for a backstop. i can nail cans at 20 but cant hit a much larger dot on my target.

plus, i aint ever seen deer running around with big red dots on their shoulders.
lets just shoot it

Offline mullet

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2008, 10:02:00 pm »
  Try shooting from about 10' away and focus on the same anchor point and form each time. Then try moving back once it becomes a natural feeling of anchoring and releasing. I used to go out at night and shoot at a burning candle from 10 yards trying to put out the flame. It's harder than you think.
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline recurve shooter

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2008, 10:09:56 pm »
i guess so. i might could hit the candle itself, not the wick.
lets just shoot it

Offline Pat B

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2008, 12:01:04 am »
You might be surprised how close you would get to a candle flame(glow stick might be safer) at night. All other visual clutter is missing and you can concentrate on the flame...and that is where your arrow will go.   ;) 
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline GregB

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #12 on: July 02, 2008, 08:36:37 am »
I've had trouble with target panic for some time now although I'm making good progress this summer. I know that the visual comes into play big time. I could shoot at a target and "double clutch" a couple of times with my eyes open. If I closed my eyes and shoot at a target up close, everything smooths out and I have a good release and follow through. :)
Greg

A rich person can be poor monetarily, the best things in life are free...

Offline kayakfisher

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2008, 01:09:12 am »
its just practice and focusing if I had a rough day or a lot on my mind and cant concentrate my shooting is way off  >:( picture this little guy on your target and shoot him .  you will come real close
                                 Dennis
The river of life twist and bends, you never know whats around the next bend till your there

Springfield Mo home of  Kids,Tomato's and Tornado's

Offline Pat B

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Re: Having hard time focusing
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2008, 01:34:46 am »
The most important thing in instinctive shooting is getting the fundamentals of shooting down pat! When it comes time to make the shot, all you want to do is put the arrow in a specific location. Everything else should just happen!   If you haven't developed the fundamentals, all the concentration in the world won't necessarily put the arrow where it is supposed to be. The second most important thing in instinctive shooting is concentration. All the fundamentals in the world won't necessarily put the arrow where it is supposed to be without concentration.  ;D        Pat
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC