I've been a snap shooter for 20+ years and would like to try and possibly "hold " a half second or so to see if that works out better for me. The problem lies in my subconscious. It's so ingrained in my current method that if I try and hold , my subconscious screams At me  and before I know it, the arrow is on its way. I am not short drawing, I've been videotaped several times and looked at it, but I can't seem to hold it. Any Suggestions on training an old dog new tricks?

God willing and creek don't rise, I will be at Stevens Point in Feb .  I may be able to help.
Arne

If you are serious about wanting to make a change, I recommend taking Jim Casto's course.  It is quite a commitment, but if you're willing to give up two months of your shooting life, I can pretty much guarantee you that you'll be able to hold as long as your back muscles will hold out.

Clay Hayes just posted a vid on this recently, he recommended using a clicker to make sure you are achieving full expansion and back tension at full draw.

I saw that. My issue lies in holding at full draw, not achieving full draw.

When I changed from "snap" to hold I would draw the bow and count to five before release. I found that getting close to the target and not trying to hit a specific spot helped the process move along. Took a fair bit of time to resist dropping the string when I reached full draw but the results where worth it.

Quote from: frassettor on December 01, 2019, 11:15:07 AM
I saw that. My issue lies in holding at full draw, not achieving full draw.

As in...inability to physically hold full draw, or 'TP release' type?

Quote from: Captain*Kirk on December 03, 2019, 10:20:03 AM

Quote from: frassettor on December 01, 2019, 11:15:07 AM
I saw that. My issue lies in holding at full draw, not achieving full draw.

As in...inability to physically hold full draw, or 'TP release' type?

I can physically hold it, no issues.

Sounds like beginning stages of TP.
I might suggest contacting Jim Casto here on TG...he deals with this stuff a lot.

Ditto on the suggestion that you put yourself on Jim Casto's program.  It works great IF you are willing to make a full commitment to do it as designed, and that depends on how much you want to deal with the problem.

Do you have a link/ information on this program?

frassettor,

PM me your email address and I'll forward the program to you. 

    Jim Casto's course is the way to go . The only other advice I can give , is to not wait until you're 68 to deal with the issue , like I did .

I used the counting method also, but I only counted to two - out loud. Got a few funny looks, but it didn't take too long get used to holding at full draw.

"The only other advice I can give , is to not wait until you're 68 to deal with the issue , like I did ."

Thanks for the giggle BruceT. I did Jim's course last year when I was 68. Worked wonders. Think of the grief it would have saved if you'd told me 20 years ago. LOL

What I do since I'm a gapper and use the point to establish gap is to wait until the arrow stops moving around and settles down before I let go. Simple as that. If I don't and the arrow is still bobbing around I'll make a poor shot. If you are instinctive and don't see the arrow (some say they don't) I guess this will not work. It really is my only shooting thought I have too.

I assume if you are a gapper, you have a point in mind where you would like the arrow point to end up.  While you are waiting for the arrow to stop moving around, are you directing it to that point, or is that something that just happens?  If you are consciously directing it, what part of your body are you moving to make that happen?

I guess it's easier to do than explain. I'm a gapper and gap at the riser so the largest gap for me would be putting the point 1" down from the spot so easy to keep the point and spot in focus. I draw, anchor, and hold while the point does a little dance around the spot and will stop or nearly stop and then I shoot. When I get to anchor the point is there but moving around slightly. Very similar to shooting a rifle offhand. I must let the sights settle down before pulling the trigger. The whole thing only takes a second or two.

When I encountered this problem a few years ago I hung my 60# Black Widow on the wall and bought a bow that probably drew around 25# and practiced my shot sequence for about 2 months before I ever picked up my hunting bow again. Once you lose the weight you have more room in your mind to concentrate. It worked wonders for me maybe its worth a try.

Rod Jenkins said that he and I shoot the exact same way only I do it faster..... You should never hold but continue to pull even if it's micro.

Every person I've ever seen hold at full draw shakes.

My motto is an anchor point is not a destination but an evolution to execution.

My recommendation would be to simply slow down your draw.

If you have target panic I can't help you with that I have never experienced it.

But whatever you find that works for you is the best.

Call me ...I have one question to ask you before you change your entire repertoire....