Im looking for a little insight from you folks out there as to why I can do this on a more than regular basis every evening,(these were shot from 24 yrds) but as soon as I put my paper plate up for the Fun Shoot I fall apart.
I dont have this problem shooting game, only when shooting for a score, its frustrating as hell! Is there a cure?  [/url] [/IMG]

Pick a spot

It's most likely a mental thing, or it was for me. Just relax and focus, the "it;s for score thing" is in your sub-concious so try not thinking about it.

Evidently there is something about shooting for score, perhaps in front of other people, that makes you spend a part of your capacity to focus on a future event: the outcome, rather than focusing 100% on the present: drawing, aiming, and shooting your bow. You can't hit anything in the future; only the present.

Saying that is the easy part, although it is true. Every good athlete knows he has to play in the present. Actually doing that is a never ending challenge.

McDave's got some wise words there..... Also, gorgeous bow moleman!

Looks like you're bag target is puking out it's heart and lungs.  If you shoot that way on game why worry?  3D, fun shoots and all that are just practice for the only shot that counts; shots on game.

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

That's a cool quote, bobco

Thanks for the great comments guys, Im gonna keep at it, but what Flingblade said really hits home, as long as im shooting well and making clean kills, thats the true goal.
Thanks Rossco, the bow is a 70" Hill Panther, all red cedar under clear glass. I dont shoot much of anything else since it got here a few months ago.

When you shoot for score, you might be 'over thinking' the shot.....or 'trying not to miss' to the point you screw the shot up.  You can't hit something consistently if you are 'trying not to miss'.

Sounds like the reverse of target panic, great shooting game but mess up on targets.  Has anyone ever heard of someone that adrenaline helps while shooting?  Could that added tension be giving him greater focus?

Just a thought.

moleman is that a HH Redman?

I had a buddy that had same thing happen to him.  Shot great on backstop, but when he put a plate up, was all over.  so we tried a few things, then what worked, was we painted the plate a brown and he was back on.  the white appeared to have a hard time focusing.

Aim small miss small.  I can't shoot at paper plates either.