Target panic/

[Commando]

Lately I've developed a bad case of target panic. As soon as my pin is anywhere near the spot I'm shooting at I punch the trigger, I can't relax enough to let the pin style down. It's starting to get really annoying. Anyone got any advice to help me cure this?

[earlmarne]

Levi Morgan was just in the new field and stream.Was a pretty good article.Talked about going out and just settling one of your far pins and aiming.Dont fire, just aim for as long as you can and let down. Said he finds it a good cure for the tp.I have not shot an arrow since Sunday.Idk how well it will work for you or I but I liked the theory behind relaxing and not thinking about the shot

[Band]

For some reason I got the target panic bug earlier this year.  Once I have drawn the bow I usually put my finger on the trigger immediately and the panic makes me fire before I'm really well settled on the target.  I found that by keeping my finger behind the trigger while acquiring the target, settling the pin on the bullseye and keeping it there for a few seconds makes me relax enough that when I finally put my finger in front of the trigger I don't rush and punch it.

[MR5x5]

Trying dropping draw weight 5-10lbs  and putting your focus on the follow through - concentrate on keeping your pin on target until the arrow strikes the target, and never, but never, "look" at your pin - focus only on the point of impact.   

[Elkfever]

Check out the Scott Longhorn Hex release.  I was desperate to tame my case of target panic and came across reviews about this release.  It has saved my season as I was about to put down my bow down for the season when I changed up from a standard trigger release to the hex.  Amazing results.  There are a lot of things you can read about and I tried several but the hex release was worth every penny. You might also listen to the Sharpsticks podcast with joel turner- it's an interesting listen about shot sequence and target panic.  Good luck to you.

[D-Rock425]

Other good training release is the Carter evolution.  It really helped me last year.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Ironmindhunting.com   

I have not dealt with "target panic" in the usual sense of the word. But had definitley hit some shooting plateaus and was looking for some "next level" advice. I was breaking down my form and practicing what I believed was perfect and was not gaining any more ground. The information Joel presented  was helpful and most importantly to me, made sense.

[Jonathan_S]

I had this happen last summer.  I shot at 10 yards, aiming at tiny pieces of masking tape.  Then out to 70-80 yards.  That will calm you down...or you'll lose arrows 

[RadSav]

Nip it in the bud Immediately.  Lifetime of hell if you don't!

Large targets/close range, single pin, proper draw length, change release, allow the pin to float on the target - just a few of the initial things to try as you see if you can work through it rapidly.  Since we are getting close to hunting season cardboard animal cutouts with no dot or bulls eye is a good place to start.

[quadrafire]

"Blind Bale" work with no aiming point, just focus on the draw,anchor and release. Do several sessions without even aiming. Do this at just a few feet or just a little more than an arrows distance from the bale. Get close enough that you can shoot with your eyes closed as well and hold your draw before release.

[wa_archer]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/2015/07/bow-hyperaccuracy-levi-morgans-two-key-drills

Link to the Levi Morgan piece. 

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/2015/07/bow-method-breakthrough

 
Little more on accuracy.

[JamesK.]

I developed a horrible case of this Target Panic and it took me atleast a year to cure myself of it. Granted I had let it develop not knowing it. Started with embarrassing the heck out of myself at 3-D shoots with friends to just plain  shooting like crap even when I was by myself. I didn't even know what target panic was until I saw it mentioned on a magazine cover. After reading the article I realized that that was my problem. As soon as my pin would get remotely near the target I would shoot and pull my pin to the target as I shot. The method of aiming with no intention to shoot helped quite a bit. After doing that a lot I worked up to shooting at my target at like 5 yards in my garage( no daylight after work to shoot outside). I would aim for a long period and then shoot. All of that helped a TON. Oddly enough what helped me the most was shooting the 4 dot side of my target. I would force myself to aim at each individual dot for atleast a few seconds, then settle on a predetermined dot to aim and shoot. This forced me to retrain my brain/muscle memory that it's okay to aim on target  and not let one fly. I apologize for the super long write up but when I saw this post I wanted to share. I've been there and wanted to quit archery hunting all together at one point because of it.


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[RadSav]

I developed a horrible case of this Target Panic and it took me atleast a year to cure myself of it.

30 years and I am still not cured.  Once an addict always an addict   I now manage it most days.  Thanks to great coaches.  But won't be winning 3-D shoots...even with a good pencil and eraser!

[boneaddict]

I'd suggest backing off on the poundage and practicing form, then as it improves, work your way back up.   It's been awhile since I shot compound and haven't experienced this first hand thank god, but this seems like a logical step.


I guess someone else suggested it too.

[Jonathan_S]

won't be winning 3-D shoots...even with a good pencil and eraser!

Have we played darts and I didn't know it? 

 

Seems like whenever I get punchy... I shoot at 10 yards or closer and then way back to 70+ and it helps me for a long time 

[coachcw]

funny more poundage helps me 

[boneaddict]

Maybe you have to concentrate more to pull it back and it keeps you mind from wandering.   

[RadSav]

A lot of folks make the mistake of thinking good accuracy practice is good target panic medicine.  Doesn't usually work out that way.  If you are getting bit by TP it's best to abandon accuracy practice for awhile and put 100% of your efforts into TP control. 

Really sucks to be getting bit just before hunting season.  The few times I got it badly just before season I found it best to just quit shooting all together during hunting season.  I don't even shoot at small game or stumps those years - only big game!  The time off seems to help.  Then after early season I can give it 100% of my attention and get the upper hand.

[boneaddict]

Interesting.     You've shot trad.  Have you ever had it with that?

[WALLEYEGUY]

Lots of good advise here but the last ditch effort when nothing else works is to switch hands.  Not the best solution (expensive) but will fix the problem.  Do not remember his name but we had an Olympian who competed in two different Olympics one right and one left because of this problem. I just took up muzzle loading, was an accuracy freak and could not get past it, one of these days I will start back with my off hand.

[RadSav]

Interesting.     You've shot trad.  Have you ever had it with that?

Never had it with traditional bows.  I don't anchor long enough for my mind to panic about nothin 

My trad style is a lot like Fred Bear.  Not really snap shooting as I do anchor, but I do get blamed for doing it by those who aren't paying attention.  Most of my trad kills were during my worst target panic years.  I just ditched the training wheels once hunting season got close.  Though I've never had bad target panic shooting animals.  Maybe if I shot animals with spots on them

[D-Rock425]

I developed a horrible case of this Target Panic and it took me atleast a year to cure myself of it.

30 years and I am still not cured.  Once and addict always an addict   I now manage it most days.  Thanks to great coaches.  But won't be winning 3-D shoots...even with a good pencil and eraser!

everyone can win with the right pencil.

[coachcw]

Maybe you have to concentrate more to pull it back and it keeps you mind from wandering.   

Squirrel !

[RadSav]

I developed a horrible case of this Target Panic and it took me atleast a year to cure myself of it.

30 years and I am still not cured.  Once and addict always an addict   I now manage it most days.  Thanks to great coaches.  But won't be winning 3-D shoots...even with a good pencil and eraser!

everyone can win with the right pencil.

You should have been around, trying to win 3-D shoots, in the mid to late 80's.  Last guy to turn in his score card always won  

[Jonathan_S]

I developed a horrible case of this Target Panic and it took me atleast a year to cure myself of it.

30 years and I am still not cured.  Once and addict always an addict   I now manage it most days.  Thanks to great coaches.  But won't be winning 3-D shoots...even with a good pencil and eraser!

everyone can win with the right pencil.

You should have been around, trying to win 3-D shoots, in the mid to late 80's.  Last guy to turn in his score card always won

That is hilarious.   

[blackveltbowhunter]

 IMO target panic is simply an exaggerated symptom of the bigger virus, flinching. Once you catch it you can beat it and become immune, but there is no "cure". Heres the rub, everyone is born with it. And I am willing to bet the majority of shooters have it. In a way you are blessed as you have the symptoms to exaggerate the problem and get you back on the path to the podium! The equipment of today is so forgiving that many errors in shot execution go unnoticed. I know it did for me. But once you figure out your shot process and what makes it "click" you will not "panic" again.

[RadSav]

If only my problems were "flinching" related I would be dancing a jig   Unfortunately with true target panic a flinch is only the result of the underlying problem.  I have often thought of giving hypnotism a try.  Seemed to have worked wonders for John Smoltz

[blackveltbowhunter]

If I had serious panic, hypnosis would probably be the very first thing I would try. From what I have researched (which is very little mind you)  it appears much of  hypnosis is based on mantra and concentration in the conscious leading to release of the subconscious. Exactly what is needed when looking at a target, pins, and executing the shot. If I can essentially lull the aiming to sleep with.my eyes open, then I have nuthing but shot execution on my plate to worry about. But I have trust issues  

[BULLBLASTER]

I had a time with target panic. Blind bailing and a lot of it helped me out. As well as getting and learning to use a hinge release. The goal is to make the shot execute automatic. So all you need to consciously do is aim the pin. It usually helps me to draw back and aim without shooting and then let down also. Do this 5-10 times a day for a week without actually shooting any arrows and then after that when you do shoot make sure that all the shots you shoot are actually good shots. If I force a bad shot I put my gear up for the day and try again tomorrow.

For me it seems that target panic never truly goes away once it sets in. It can just be controlled to various degrees.

[pianoman9701]

"Blind Bale" work with no aiming point, just focus on the draw,anchor and release. Do several sessions without even aiming. Do this at just a few feet or just a little more than an arrows distance from the bale. Get close enough that you can shoot with your eyes closed as well and hold your draw before release.

20-25 arrows everyday. It cured mine in about a week several years ago.

[steeliedrew]

I'm struggling with target panic also. For me, I can hold my pin rock solid directly below the dot at 6'oclock. I try and bring the bow up and it's as if someone is pushing down on my top limbs to keep me from raising the pin up to the dot.  I think it is that my brain thinks it "needs" to see the entire dot and doesn't like when something like a pin is blocking it.

I'll be doing some blind bale shooting this weekend.

[Jonathan_S]

Never underestimate the power of walking away from something for a while.  I think somebody who's target panic has them really addled should take a few days before shooting blind bales etc.

I think it is that my brain thinks it "needs" to see the entire dot and doesn't like when something like a pin is blocking it.

Good point, last year I finally figured out why I was grouping low past 40 and this was why 

[steeliedrew]

Yep. I listened to a Gritty Bowmen podcast the other week and the guest was the owner of XXX Archery. He discussed his battle with target panic and he had said that you have to be able to tell yourself that you're "ok" with the pin being on the dot or hovering around the dot.

[RadSav]

Yep. I listened to a Gritty Bowmen podcast the other week and the guest was the owner of XXX Archery. He discussed his battle with target panic and he had said that you have to be able to tell yourself that you're "ok" with the pin being on the dot or hovering around the dot.

Corey was right about that!  Unfortunately that idiot I talk to when discussing things with myself doesn't listen very well

[steeliedrew]

Yep. I listened to a Gritty Bowmen podcast the other week and the guest was the owner of XXX Archery. He discussed his battle with target panic and he had said that you have to be able to tell yourself that you're "ok" with the pin being on the dot or hovering around the dot.

Corey was right about that!  Unfortunately that idiot I talk to when discussing things with myself doesn't listen for very well

I hear ya RadSav! haha

[tbrady]

Dang, I've learned a lot reading this thread.  All these years I thought target panic was that terrible feeling an animal got when it heard the loud TWAAAANG from Hoyt/Matthews bows (Bowtech doesn't suffer from this).

[RadSav]

Dang, I've learned a lot reading this thread.  All these years I thought target panic was that terrible feeling an animal got when it heard the loud TWAAAANG from Hoyt/Matthews bows (Bowtech doesn't suffer from this).

Yep, those Bowtechs are so quiet and put the arrows through them so fast they don't feel a thing!

[BIGDOG253]

Dang, I've learned a lot reading this thread.  All these years I thought target panic was that terrible feeling an animal got when it heard the loud TWAAAANG from Hoyt/Matthews bows (Bowtech doesn't suffer from this).

You must be shooting some older bows. No TWANG from the Mathews HTR. Its the quietest/smoothest bow Ive ever shot. But it is a much slower than the Bowtech's.

[Greg Mullins]

Bite the tip of your tounge..Dont laugh just try it.

[dawn2dusk]

Suffered from this nightmare a lot. The carter evolution release taught me a lot about MY target panic. This release taught me to focus on just executing the right shot and not worry about firing of the release just set pin and pull. Moved to a thumb trigger and haven't had a problem since. It's all about your thought process during execution for me just focus on the target and everything just happens. Too much thinkingI of when your gonna pull the trigger was my problem instead of just looking at my spot. Blank bailing can do wonders too!!