Stickbow Target Archery Forums

Well, it was the biggest showing ever at Muzzy, with about 180 shooters. Maybe about 60 or 70 in longbow class.

I ended up taking first in longbow for the third time in 10 years. Unfortunately I lost in the final match against the winner of the recurve division.

Normally, both guys have a case of the nerves going into the final round, as the stakes are high and a crowd follows behind to watch. I succumbed to the nerves, but my opponent did not, and he shot great, royally cleaning my clock!

After all these years, I'm still fascinated by the mental side of the game. Even when I feel calm inside, and consciously relax my muscles, there is still something that affects my ability to shoot like I do in practice. And it's on a deep subconscious level that can't be controlled by conscious thoughts.

It's easy to call it target panic, but there is so much more to it that has not been figured out yet by the experts. Believe me, I've tried all the advice and devised my own cures which have helped me control it the most, but there is still something more I can't quite figure out.

Fear of missing is certainly a cause, but it does nothing to describe the 'why' of what happens or how to fix it. I'm beginning to think it's related to a loss of muscle control when scared. You know when you are really afraid your knees shake? Or when someone gets so scared they lose control of their bladder? I think the same thing happens in a more mild form when you are afraid of missing the target. Something causes the muscles to feel weaker and less controllable. That's why so many people snap shoot. They use the momentum of the draw to stay on target because they are losing fine motor control and strength in their muscles.

You cannot *choose* to not fear missing, any more than you can *choose* to not fear for the safety of your loved ones when they are long over due to return home. You can lessen the fear by talking it down and rationalizing and talking yourself into thinking it's not a big deal. But the base fear remains out of reach on a subconscious level. No matter how sure you're being silly, you won't be able to convince yourself enough to sleep peacefully until your loved ones return safely home.

I know what you are saying. What I can't figure out is when I am working on form and I can hold for five and let down and on the next shot even though I am concentrating on the hold I let go right when I touch anchor. It is wierd how the mind works. My conscious mind knows that if I "hit" my shot (pause settle release), I will be accurate but sometimes that "fear" of not hitting the shot causes me to place the arrow like I was aiming at the sun. I have gotten better doing Kidwell's exercises and others I have seen on the net but sometimes it creeps back and it is almost like square one again.

Also Todd congrats on the longbow win.

no matter what, that is some superbly fine shootin' ya done todd - big congrats, sir!!!

yeah, it all comes down to the mental game, eh?

Thanks for the congrats. Now I have to find out which of my woodies fly the best, reprogram my brain a little, and it's off to the IBO worlds.

GOOD LUCK, and straight shootin'!!!

Congratulations on the longbow win, Todd

Congrats Todd.