Question regarding target panic

[TxAg]

How many of you have successfully whipped target panic?

Are you completely over it?... Is it like curing an illness or like fending off an addiction?

[fireball31]

I had a serious issue with it for about 6 months last year. The only thing that helped me get over it was using sites. I used sights for about 3 months. It allowed me to focus on form and follow through and not worry about picking a spot. I also found that I was just drawing to much weight. I dropped about 10lbs of bow weight and it turned into fun instead of a workout.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

Been shooting a clicker for a couple years. Doubt i will ever be able to get back to shooting without one. Target panic is just in my nature i think

[Pine]

I had a case of that in the late 70s .
The way I cured it was to shoot like I did when I was a kid .
Just walk around the yard and shoot things like clover blossoms , dandelions or whatever .
Keep the distance short , like 20 feet or less .
Don't think about it , thinking is what causes target panic in the first place .
If you don't shoot targets , no panic .
Seriously , just go have fun shootin' and don't care about how you are shooting .
Don't aim , just put the arrow on the clover blossom .
Be a kid .      
I think you will very soon say to yourself " I get it " .

[KodaChuck]

Try shooting next to a friend. Draw at the same time and shoot at the same target.....but only release after your friend releases...this seemed to break apart the target panic rut I found myself falling into which included releasing too quickly and failing to be on target

[FlintNSteel]

Originally posted by Graps:

The way I cured it was to shoot like I did when I was a kid .
Just walk around the yard and shoot things like clover blossoms , dandelions or whatever .
Keep the distance short , like 20 feet or less .
Don't think about it , thinking is what causes target panic in the first place .
If you don't shoot targets , no panic .

I have had the same experience.  I have seen people with worse target panic...a friend of mine could only draw about 15" before lettin' her fly...but I NEVER had target panic while stump shooting or hunting.  Only while standing on a line shooting targets (paper or 3D).

To the original poster: I've never been a snap shooter...I need to "aim."  My version was/is having my bow arm yank the arrow off target as soon as I would get it in place. That then causes one to starting shooting while still moving the arrow onto the target which cannot give consistency.

In my own personal experience it's been more like what fighting an  addiction would be.  I can work to control it, but I don't know that it will ever be cured. Right now I'm as close as I've ever been (except before I got it).  During the shot sequence I talk to myself saying each step and especially HOLD...HOLD...HOLD until everything is ready for the shot.  If I do have my bow arm jerk off target, I let down and redraw.

[peanut39350]

I have found that I can't shoot at a target, like already mentioned as long as i am just walking around and finding things to shoot like a stick on the ground, a pine cone, etc i shoot great but when i shoot at a target i can't hit anything

[old_goat2]

Drawing my bow very slow and keeping my concentration on the target, helped a lot, I still struggle some, but nothing like it used to be.

[reddogge]

My version is quite common among archers, the double clutch. I am a conscious aimer and gapper so now I'll just let down and start over but sometimes I'll just yak it right off the whole target. It doesn't come up too often these days though. Sometime I go months without seeing it.

[ron w]

I think it affects everyone differently, I also think it never really goes away, you beat it for a while but it's lurking in the background.

[TxAg]

^^^ that's what I was afraid of

[KSdan]

Read Jay Kidwell "Instinctive Archery Insights." This is his specialty- Phd. in Sports Pyschology  and teaches this stuff. Nothing weird.  Knows why it happens and how to resolve.  100% success on resolving TP with Olympians.

Dan in KS

[David Mitchell]

Originally posted by ron w:
I think it affects everyone differently, I also think it never really goes away, you beat it for a while but it's lurking in the background.

Ditto   :(

[J. Cook]

Target panic with my compound is what pushed me to really start shooting traditional more ...because it didn't affect me when shooting my recurves.  With my compound (years ago), I would get stuck 6" below my intended target and couldn't come back up for nothing!  It was miserable.  With traditional instinctive shooting I don't get the panic.

[nek4me]

Tried to switch to RH recurve from LH compound as I am LH but right eye dominant but had terrible TP from the  beginning. Went to a RH compound and could shoot that because the sights with peep require the different procedure and perspective for aiming.  

Recently tried switching back to LH recurve with both eyes open. It's a bit more difficult than looking down the arrow but doable - others have been successful at it - and just more comfortable from the LH side.

So temporary sight as fireball did may help. I am also avoiding paper targets as much as possible as others here have mentioned to help prevent the possibility of TP creeping up on my left side too.

[McDave]

Originally posted by ron w:
I think it affects everyone differently, I also think it never really goes away, you beat it for a while but it's lurking in the background.

+1

I think it not only affects everyone differently, but some cures work for some people and not others, and what might work for you one time might not work the next.  I firmly believe that anyone who is persistent can lick target panic if they keep their mind open and keep trying things until they find something that works.

I also believe there are two distinct types of target panic.  The first is caused by the subconscious mind anticipating the shot.  This type of target panic is most susceptible to the methods recommended by Kidwell and Turner.  

The second type is caused by the conscious mind experiencing pressure caused by doubt or nervousness.  This type is not unique to archery, but can occur in any hand-eye coordination sport, like golf, tennis, baseball, etc., and is commonly called clutching.  Since it is so widespread, a lot has been written about dealing with pressure, not only in sports but in public speaking, business situations, etc.  Just because a lot has been written about it doesn't make it any easier to solve.  I'm sure we're all aware of many top sports figures who have dropped way down in the ratings because of this, and I'm sure they are getting all the advice in the world.

[Jake Scott]

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=006578

This thread helped me more than anything.

Jake

[Dan Jones]

MCDave and others:

I would say that your first type of panic leads directly to/causes the second type - the doubt and nervousness that robs one of confidence in one's ability to execute a shot.  At least I believe that was my experience.

Slight brushes with the panic may pass, but I seriously doubt that there is a lasting 100% cure for the panic once it becomes deeply ingrained. And in my experience, the more you try to overcome the panic, the worse it seems to get.

I believe there is a lot of wisdom in what was said above - avoid formal targets, go roving and shoot at pine cones, dandelions, stumps etc. and have fun. Ignore the damn panic.

[oldrubline]

X2 what Jake said....plus, I got his book and have been shooting good since.  Cure?  No!  Gotta make an effort with every shot to focus on the action of drawing/building tension until the cliker clicks or whatever your trigger is (I use an index on my arrow shaft or base of point)

Dan