the 2008 national indoor results - National Field Archery Association

to subconsciously favor holding
low left on the target for the #2
arrow.
Draw the scoring rings, representing
the target, on the pages
in your log book, or make reduced
copies of your targets (see
diagram), and record where each
numbered arrow hits the target . .
. put the number where the arrow
hole was. Example: #3 hit
6 o’clock in the 5-ring; #6 hit 1
o’clock in the 4-ring; #8 hit the
center of 5-ring, etc. At the end
of five sessions or so, take your
log book and chart the results
on a “bar graph” or “pie chart.”
You will probably notice certain
patterns developing. Maybe, for
example, 70% of your misses
are low left. Now, this is valuable
information! This could mean
you are dropping your bow arm
or maybe popping your head
up. Or, you might discover that
62% of your misses are on the
last two arrows. This could mean
you are not resting between
shots and are getting tired. Or,
you may be over analyzing and
trying too hard to shoot a perfect
end . . . holding way too
long, thus making you shoot
outside your comfort zone. Or
maybe you find out that your
#4 arrow, always shoots high.
This could mean it is hitting the
rest, weighs less than the others,
is bent or you need to check the
fletch and/or nock alignment.
This type of accelerated practice
session can put you years ahead
of your competition in just a few
weeks or months.
• DO run what I call, “instant
replays.” What this means is,
as soon as you shoot an arrow,
“replay” in your mind where
the sight was (or more important,
where your mind was!) .
. . at the instant of release. For
instance, if the sight was at 6
o’clock, one inch below the
bullseye, and your mind followed
it down there . . . and then the
shot went off and the arrow
landed at 6 o’clock . . . then you
shot a good shot! You will usually
find that, if you think in the
middle . . . the sight and the
arrow will go where you think!
Write it down in your log book.
Record the shots that felt bad or
were aimed off target, and you
will be surprised at the results.
If you have access to a video
camera, use it in your practice
sessions. Record yourself from a
side view and then, from behind
and from the front. When you
shoot a good or bad shot . . .
tell the camera what you think.
Then, tell it what you did right
or wrong immediately, while it’s
still fresh in your mind. Hold
up a target for the camera and
point to where that arrow hit.
By talking to the camera on bad
and good shots, later when you
watch it, you can analyze this
“instant feedback” . . . which is
invaluable for self-coaching. By
recording your practice sessions,
you can discover and analyze
patterns and flaws . . . to learn
why and when you miss most
often. Then you can overcome
anything that arises, before it
becomes too serious or ingrained
into your form. You can also put
an inexpensive ($5) wardrobe
mirror under the camera, leaning
against the tripod, to show a
Use a video camera in your practice sessions. Put a mirror under it and look at it
occasionally to see if your form is okay!
profile view of your form. As you
come to full draw, peek out of
the corner of your eye and look
in the mirror at your form . . .
are you leaning back? . . . is your
elbow too low? . . . is your draw
shoulder up or down? If you see
something wrong . . . let down
and start over! This will help you
stop a lot of bad form before it
takes hold, if you are willing to
apply yourself.
• DON’T pressure yourself into
trying to beat the local “hot
shot” or into trying to shoot a
perfect 200 on a 3-D round, if
your personal best is only 174.
Only a fool expects to shoot
twenty bullseyes in a row in a
tournament, when he has never
shot more than eight in a row in
practice.
• DO set realistic and attainable
goals. You should have
three types of goals. Your immediate
goal should be to shoot
only this one shot today . . . in
the exact center of the target.
Your intermediate goal should
be to beat your previous best
score. Your long term goal may
to be to win the world championship
. . . but that one is up to
you! You should only compete,
in any given tournament, with
your last best score, not the local
hero. Pay no attention to your
competitor’s scores . . . you
can’t change them. The only
thing worrying about them will
do is change your score! Your
goal should be one point higher
than your best previous effort!
If you want to greatly improve
your accuracy in the woods or
at a tournament, then you must
be more astute, organized, analytical,
and intense in your practice
sessions than you’ve ever
been in the past. Remember . .
. “If you continue (in practice)
to do what you’ve always done,
you’ll get what you always got
(in tournaments)!”
Also, don’t forget
the Rule of 6 P’s —
Persistent Perfect Practice
Prevents Poor Performance!
You’ll get worse before you
get better
If you do decide to bear down
and “take the cure,” remember
this: you’ll get worse before you
get better . . . accept it! Normally,
it takes sixty to ninety days for
your score to return to normal .
. . and then to steadily increase.
The reason for that is, as you try
parts of the new “idiot proof”
form, each shot will be part your
new way and part your old way.
Until you totally ingrain the new
form into your subconscious, it’s
still not yours. That’s why we recommend
not shooting a target .
. . just an empty bale or a bow
simulator. Gradually, the new
form will completely replace
your old way and you won’t
even be able to remember how
you used to do it. Don’t give up!
Stick with it . . . it will pay off in
the end. Just ask any of my students!
Stay away from targets.
They will only slow down or kill
your progress. Remember, you
can’t learn while you’re aiming.
Insert picture “eyes closed”.
Caption: Shooting with your
eyes closed transfers the feeling
into your muscle memory.
Here’s an idea that a lot of pro
shops and clubs have adopted
that will help make empty bale
shooting less boring. I call it
“Empty Bale Night.” One night
continued on pg. 32
30 Archery Magazine June / July 2008 Archery Magazine June / July 2008 31