I am practicing for an upcoming hunt and shot terrible today. Why are there days when I can barely keep my shoots in a 14" circle at 15 yds? I normally can put most of my arrows in a 4" circle. Does anyone else have this problem? I have been bow hunting 35+ years.

Some days I just have no focus, I think I need some kind of a routine before I shoot to ensure the same, proper focus before trying to shoot each day.
I hear Byron Fergesson starts out with form practice.

Welcome to the world of shooting your bow. Some days you got it and some days you don't. That is why we practice. One thing I will not do is quit shooting with a bad shot or 3 arrow group. I always want to end on a good form shot.

QuoteOriginally posted by Archer Fanatic:
Welcome to the world of shooting your bow. Some days you got it and some days you don't. That is why we practice.

I know that feeling, just accept the bad days with the good, if you let it bother you it just lasts longer or becomes an even bigger problem.

If the groups arn't good do some bale work and focus on form and not groups. I ALWAYS start my practice with Form shots at the bale before moving on to anything else, the bad days happen a lot less frequently with this routine.    

------------------------------------
IFAA World\\European Field Champ, Fita 3D World Champ

I stop an work through my form step by step.
Think about how and why I do each part the way I do.
That normaly sorts it.

Don't know about you, but I suck most of the time because I ALWAYS shoot at a target and I NEVER work on form.

Everyone has their good & their bad days, me I try to at least once a week do some form shooting like Blind Bale or Watch the Arrow &  when ever I do shoot at a target I try to focus on the spot.

I practice form each time I shoot, 6'away, eyes closed into a bag with good backstop per Ferguson and found this has helped alot. However sometimes everything can go bad and make you have a bad day, just keep trying. Focus on what your doing and give it 100%!

On days you just don't have it, time to get up close and just blind bail practice. One thing I got from watching Rod shoot is how relaxed he looks, I noticed that when ever I was too hyped up during my shooting I didn't have as much focus or consistency. So practice shooting relaxed and focused. Don't let focusing in on the target bring up anxiety, focus calmly.

QuoteOriginally posted by LongStick64:
On days you just don't have it, time to get up close and just blind bail practice. One thing I got from watching Rod shoot is how relaxed he looks, I noticed that when ever I was too hyped up during my shooting I didn't have as much focus or consistency. So practice shooting relaxed and focused. Don't let focusing in on the target bring up anxiety, focus calmly.

Good post. Relaxed and Focused is the best way to shoot at any distance. It can also be something to practice.

I am like Zetabow when I go out to practice I shoot blank bale for about 10-15 minutes then I work on shooting at different yardages. Like Zetabow your bad days get less and less. If you work on a blank bale and ingrain your form and release in your mind it will become 2nd nature to you. That way you can increase your accuracy.

it depends on the mood Im in for me.. If things are going good in life it seems im an archery god, my basketball game has improved, my weighlifting is better. But if things are bad, very stressful, just not going well, I wont even string my bow because i wont be able to focus enough to make good shots

Rod Jenkins says the best archers in the world right now are the Koreans and they work on their form for years before they start to target shoot.  I hope I said that right Rod.  I was to concerned with hitting something and now I am trying to become obsessed with form as apposed to the target.  Larry Yip says something like we should be concentrating on our form and the shot will follow.  It's a hard concept but now I can hit an area and say that my form was bad and be a little off and say my form was good.  I keep working on it.  Larry and Rod are tops.  Attend one of Rod's classes if possible.  He is a great teacher.

Rick

John,

Lots of good advice. I will throw my two bits in.

I have read a few articles on Sports Psychology and how it deals with archery in particular. When we focus on the output, or the result, an archer can get frustrated with poor outcomes.

When an archer focuses on the process of making a good shot, we can have more success. Concentrate on shooting a good arrow, going through the process well each time, and the close hits will come.

I will be honest here, I have a short attention span. I can not maintain adequate focus for half a dozen arrows, so I only shoot three at a time. I can shoot three good arrows but not four or five. A sixth is always better because after a bad number 4 and 5 I buckle down, but the damage is done. So... I just shoot three. I have tried practicing my concentration skills with puzzles, brain teasers and the like. It helps I guess or maybe I am just rationalizing goofing off. Don't seem to have any trouble concentrating at the fly tying table or fletching arrows for hours on end.

One last thing. I have a shooting buddy who is an amazing shot, when he doesn't get too far into his own head. We shoot 3-D together. Two poor shots in a row and he falls apart because he gets upset. I always have to remind him that we are supposed to be having fun. When I get him to relax and "don't worry, be happy" he is back to dinging 12s.

Concentrate on the process of shooting not the outcome. Don't over-tax your ability to concentrate and have fun. Guess I could have just said that and saved you from reading all the other.

OkKeith

This is kind of neat and is as applicable to today as it was in 300 BC:

"When an archer is shooting for nothing he has all his skill.
If he shoots for a brass buckle he is already nervous.
If he shoots for a prize of gold
he goes blind or sees two targets
- he is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize
divides him. He cares.
He thinks more of winning than of shooting
and the need to win
drains him of power. "

Chuang Tzu

Nice post bobco

Who is Chuang Tzu and how does he know me so well?

BobCo, I'm going to copy that quote and post it in my workshop.

i know the feeling, some day's shoot a nice tight group and then next day my groups widen. get's kinda frustrating dosn't it. that's why we keep practicing.

QuoteOriginally posted by Eugene Slagle:
Everyone has their good & their bad days, me I try to at least once a week do some form shooting like Blind Bale or Watch the Arrow &  when ever I do shoot at a target I try to focus on the spot.

What is "Watch the Arrow"?

bobco ... that was awsome !!!! im printing that and it going on my wall in a frame . i may even put it on the bathroom mirror .lol