I wrote this for another site a few years ago. I hope it helps. It will be in two parts.....

Frank Addington

***********************************Target Panic: No time for it

I have seen some really good archers develop target panic and watched them struggle with it, change equipment, practice and try everything to try and kick this bad habit. I am of the mind set that most of us can't "shoot through" target panic. In other words I don't feel most people can just keep shooting and kick it. In my opinion, and remember this is an opinion, target panic is best dealt with on the sidelines and not the shooting line.

Here's why. If you develop target panic and then start changing everything you do to try kick it--you change the way you anchor, the way you draw, the way you release, your basic form, the way you aim, etc. then pretty soon your shooting style is a mess. You have changed everything and your pal target panic is still hanging around. So now you have a bunch of new bad habits besides target panic. This in my mind is a no-no.

So my advice is deal with it on the mental side of archery, which is where it developed in the first place. I wish I could tell you the things to avoid to stay away from target panic. For some of us it develops because of pressure... you have someone watching you and you want to make a good shot. Perhaps it is anxiety about competition. Sometimes it may just be you and the bow in the backyard, but you develop it. I don't think we'll ever fully understand it or why certain people are plagued by it. One thing is for sure, it can wreck havoc with your accuracy whether you are a hunter, 3-D shooter, target shooter, or backyard archer. Target panic is real and it can be hard to get rid of. One archer recently told me he had literally struggled with it for decades.

Here are my thoughts on this subject. First of all let me give some credit to people who showed me the importance of the mental side of archery. The first to do so was the late, great Al Henderson. He was an Olympic coach and wrote a column in an ARCHERY magazine when I was a kid. Al was big on getting his shooters prepared mentally. He would work with them to get their mental game strong. Years ago I read his "Understanding Winning Archery" and advise any archer to get and read it. You can find it at Glenn Heldgeland's "Target Communication" website. It's not expensive and is still good reading. Although I have not had occasion to read Al's book lately, it had a big influence on my shooting and I advise anyone to have a copy in their library.

The second person to help my mental game was Dr. Wyatt Woodsmall, a "mind coach" who specializes in NLP. What in the world is that you ask? Nuero Linguistic Programing. Woodsmall specializes in getting inside a master athelete's head, finding out what his/her mental processes are, and then helps teach that athlete how to best utilize the mind in competition and performances. He can also pattern a champion's mindset and then have a novice performing very well just by using the champion's mental processes. It sounds difficult to understand and since I am no expert I hope I can explain it for you. I will try. Lets say Joe is a professional archer. He is a champion. He obviously has a mental process he goes through each shot, even if he is not aware of it, and that process is what produces championship shooting. If we could take that process and insert a tape into Joe's brain, record it, and then put that same tape in a novice's head, chances are they would perform at a much accelerated rate and at a higher level than they would have otherwise. Also, if Joe gets in a slump, by using NLP, Joe can go back to championship mode. Woodsmall teaches "anchors" that allow an athlete to be able to go to their peak performance no matter what the situation.

That paragraph was difficult for me to write. I want to do NLP and Woodsmall justice and without being a coach myself, I simply had to try and explain it the best way I could. I hope it helped. Anyway, using the mental aspects of shooting is how you can kick target panic. I first met Dr Wyatt Woodsmall in 1990. I was in a slump and was having difficulty shooting well at my shows. I had just did a lousy performance a few weeks earlier and was in a real slump. So I get a phone call from a friend, Dr. John MacCallum who mentioned he had someone he wanted to bring by to meet me and shoot a few times. So a few hours later we were in my parent's retail archery store in the indoor range. They asked me to shoot a few shots for Wyatt. I did and was no where near the aspirin. I missed by six inches.

Wyatt stopped me and asked me to take a walk with him. We walked back to a quiet bench with no one around. Wyatt talked with me and little did I know it but he was using a method of NLP on me. He taught me a "mental anchor" , in other words a time when I was shooting good. Then he asked me to shoot an aspirin for him. I hit the pill the first shot, and my friend Dr. MacCallum still has that pill. Amazing huh? More amazing is that 19 years later I continue to use NLP.

A few years ago a household name, celebrity of the sport called me after a miserable hunting trip to Africa. He had a tough time and had developed target panic. Needless to say he wanted to kick the target panic. I explained NLP and what I do when I am on stage to perform at my peak. I hope it helped him. We have talked several times since then and he's never again mentioned target panic so I hope it did.

For you, here's my advice. Let's talk about you and this target panic. Was there a time when you didn't have it? Can you remember what it was like to draw the bow back, look at your target and put your arrow in the center? Think of very specific shots that you did this way. Think of when it was, where you were, what the event was, and be as specific as you can. Are you mentally there? See yourself shooting... really concentrate on it. You are shooting with good form, everything is smooth, and you are shooting great. Can you "see" that mentally? Good. Have an exact event, place and time in mind. What you wore, and as many details as you can to really "see" it.

That is your "anchor." This is what you want to mentally concentrate on and you will want to focus on this. Next time you are practicing with your bow, after you set up your gear, have a seat for a minute and think about that time when you were shooting and didn't have target panic. Then step up to the line, take a deep breath, and make your shot. I think you will be amazed.

This is PART 1 and I plan to do a follow up article.

By the way, I looked for a photo to run with the post...wow. Big mistake, sorry about that. I had no idea that photo would post that large. Oh well, on with the post...

Here is part 2. This ran on another site a few years ago, I wrote it. I hope it helps you.

In part I of this column we discussed target panic and the way to deal with it on the mental side. I do not encourage people to shoot through target panic or buy new gear to get rid of it. In my mind buying new gadgets will perhaps push the target panic aside temporarily but I think you should deal with it off the shooting line first, since it is a mental problem. After doing so then it is time to step back up to the shooting line and try again. Darrell Pace, two time Olympic Gold medal winner and expert archer and I discussed the mental aspects of shooting recently. When we discussed his mental game, he used the phrase "switch", as in an imaginary light switch, when talking about his mental game. He told me that when he flips on the switch and walks to the shooting line, it is him and the target.

I was amazed when he told me about the time that he walked to the shooting line surrounded by media photographers. He walked up, shot his arrows, and then later a friend asked him about how he felt about having the gang of photographers around him. "What photographers?" Darrell said. Luckily someone had taken a photo from the stands and was able to show Darrell all the photographers, but after flipping on the "switch" Darrell never saw them. I asked him in a follow up conversation about target panic. His response was interesting. I think this advice is Step II and I hope it will help you get rid of target panic for good. We are talking about a recurve target shooter but you can apply this to your needs as well. Darrell said that he takes the shooter up close to the target matt, maybe 5 meters. Then he has a 122CM target on the matt. The archer then draws the bow and the sight pin sees nothing but Gold. The archer hits the center and says it is easy. Then Darrell gradually backs them up... 5 meters at a time. They get used to hitting the gold and it remains "easy." Then you gradually make the bullseye smaller with smaller targets, taking time and letting the archer's confidence build. Darrell said, "You break it down where it is easy..." Simple but a good solution. So there is some solid advice from an Olympic Gold Medal winner. He is a very wise man and I have a lot of respect for Darrell. One way I had encouraged bowhunters to shoot is a similar piece of advice. I encourage the archer to get up close to the target and use large balloons. The "pop" will build confidence and then you can gradually move back, and gradually make the balloons smaller. The goal here is to start slow and easy, building confidence and restoring your shooting. The idea here is to first deal with your target panic on the mental side and then take action that will help you rid yourself of this pesky problem. I hope this column will help you "kick the bad habit." Remember, when it boils down to it, archery is 90% mental once you reach a certain level. So don't overlook the importance of the mental game to help you shoot your best and to also help keep your shooting free of habits like target panic. Until next time, Adios and God Bless. Shoot Straight, Frank

I hope that something in these posts will help you if you have ever suffered from target panic.

Very thought provoking Frank! Excellent. Now......What if were gettin so old we can't remember that "perfect shot scenario"? Seriously....I'm still trying to remember!.......I'll keep thinking,it may come to me.

Frank: Enjoyed talking with you this weekend and good show! Danny.

Thanks Dan! Great meeting you, enjoyed the visit. Thanks for letting me hang out in your booth.

Hope our trails cross again..

Best, Frank

Thanks Frank.I will give it a try.

I been saying this all along in things I write that its mostly mental and its a game of inchs.

Work on form and your panic will be at bay. Start out close to a target with your eyes closed 10 feet away visualize and pratice form and keep moving back when you feel comfortable. Your going to use a dot or somethings small to focuse on not the whole target. You need to remain focused on the spot and be mentally stable at the shot. Physical comes into play as well if you can handle the weight bow your shooting as well that some times plays more of a factor than the mental when its physical.

These things need to be sorted out with your equipment before you begin to seriously practice your form.

Once you have conditioned your thinking 2nd nature takes over but keep praticing if you only practice once or twice a week it will be a lot harder to work on this.

Then the other thing is if you surround yourself with good shooters and when they shoot further back you can shoot closer. Travel with people that will encourage and teach you not your buddys who call themselves buddys but are interested in themselves and make it all compitition it won't do anything other than badger you.

Some say you can't break a gun shy dog and it can be done same as target panic. It may take a little while but so does all else.

I haven't been practicing form myself for a couple weeks and it has shown in my shooting on Saturday when I was slighlty over bowed myself and should have used a lighter bow. Sunday I was able to maintain a respectable shooting level again with only a couple targets I broke form on.I did bow weight down and it was more comfortable and pleasuarable.

Cat

Thanks for taking the time to share this info Frank. I am sure it will help a lot of people.

No just when I mention things on sites I guess I should have worded I mention. This isn't that hard to figure out but some times takes a while to feel through things. I had target panic bad at one time 15 year ago and I was way over bowed that caused it to come on. I did see it yesterday with a shooter who had it so bad he wouldn't even aim he preleased before he was set on a target at one point I thought he thought he was using a shot gun and could just spray the target. I mentioned to him to get closer and don't shoot the 3d targets just shoot the backboard paper targets off to the side.He did and was better off and wasn't looking for arrows every target.

I then learned this was his first time with a recurve and a bow for that matter so this wasn't a good thing to start him out with like this I thought to myself. The shooters that brought him were great shooters and I guess they just felt well he wanted to go so well here is what its about.

He will learn eventually not without pain I saw what he went through yesterday then he talked about his gun hunting as we compared animals with archery takes and he was amased. I said see these shots taken on the 3d's well you have to be in range and properly place the arrow. Same as a gun usally but you can't reach out with an arrow and your woodsmanship has to play in bow hunting.

Cat

Thanks Frank, I appreciate your sharing on this popular topic.

Frank, Thanks for the reprint-post of one of your older treatises.. Some good archers and coaches mentioned..Henderson and Pace..Knew them both..:) NLP.. I like to think of that in the simplest terms.

We can learn and do best what we speak aloud to ourselves..and then speak to ourselves under pressure thru the mind.

IF one 'hears voices'..:) HE should be in control of what the voices are telling him if possible..and at the least, HE should be in control of which ones he pays attention to..:)and which ones he laughs off into the darkness.

It may be as simple as "I can do this well..I have done it many times.."

Something you didn't mention is getting over-past the FEAR of failing..or dieing or being eaten..:) Many fail because they subconsciously are afraid of success..and the pressures that can bring if allowed to do at least as good next time or better..

So quit worrying about failing and concentrate on those things that make for success..and ESP for those of us whose lives or livlihoods DON'T depend on good archery..

Frees a fellow up to simply do the best he can for that moment in time..with no pressures from anyone, or anything..including his OWN SELF..:)

I have never suffered from target panic..I know many who have.. I also know many who whipped it pretty simply..but not in the way some try to do it..

Thanks for your helps..always..Jim

Welcome, hope it helps.

Shoot Straight, Frank

Thanks Frank, this will no doubt come in very handy.

PS. Maybe I'll print out that picture and use it as a poster in the garage. ;)

Pilgrim In your garden may be better, to keep the animals away. Laughing...

Frank

Frank... I had tp for near 25 years, had it very badly.

I thank Len Cardinale's training methods for my cure.

We used the bale to re-construct my form, to develop a proper shot sequence. mental re-contruction

The large target was huge in re-introducing me to the target, much as you described.

No one has to suffer from tp, the knowledge is out there. Unfortunately, sometime it's tough to sort thru the other stuff to find it..

It's not easy, but the longer you wait the tougher it becomes. I even tried switching from left to right hand.. didn't work for me..

Hope to give back by helping someone else.

woodsman

I am sure there are a number of good cures, I just encourage folks to try the mental approach first....

I am glad you have gotten over it!

Frank

TTT

Thought this old article may help some people.

TTT

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thanks Frank. Like one of the other guys, I'm having a little trouble remembering a time when I was happy with the way I was shooting and the shot sequence felt good but maybe I will come up with something. Thanks again.

Frank, Al Henderson down in Phoenix was my primary archery coach years ago..before he went on to become a winning Olympic archery coach.. He used to whack me with an arrow when I wasn't following directions and doing it right. His book: "Understanding Winning Archery" is a good book for ANY archer..

I have never suffered from target panic..

I was taught strength, good consistent form..and how to properly match up bow, arrows and archer.. Jim

Jim Great post! I met Al in 1978. I believe he was with Colby Johnson from Bohning. You are right, a great man.

I loved the column he had in archery magazine.

Thanks for the post.

Frank

Thanks, Frank. Jawge

Yes sir Jawge.

Even Fred Bear had target panic once. Dick Maych shared a very funny story from a moose hunt-- Fred was using a clicker at the time. I won't repeat the story here but if you see Divk ask him. It's a great story and you will laugh and laugh.

Frank

Frank..That is Dick MAUCH..:) You know who this 2 time National Champion was?..:)..I knew him..:)Jim

Wow.

Ive had it for years and can honestly say archery is not as fun as it used to be.

Been to different "experts" last few years Tried it all !

This may Im going to see Rod Jenkins - Its the last resort for this middle aged Gap shooter.

I do something really rare and radical to handle my TP...

I have Faith in God...and pray he will heal me and give the the inner peace and strength that my spirit may have control over my flesh and not the other way around.

And it seems God does His part as long as I do mine and often times?...He Still does His part even when I slip up a little on my end! LOL!

Thanks, Frank. I've been struggling with TP for years. Sometimes I win; sometimes it does. I think there might be something to training one's mind to make easy shots, which in turn can be used as that mental anchor for those for whom it's been so long since they shot well that they can't remember what a good shot felt/looked like. (LOL). Take care.

If you've never had it you can't understand it. Many people trying to coach fall into that catagory. I have two indoor league first place trophys. The last night I shot I missed entire backstop twice and got beat by a six year old. went to wheels until I can work out some miracle cure.

hawkeye arrow..

"You wrote:...If you've never had it you can't understand it.."

I don't agree..

I have never crashed an airplane but I DO understand that it happens and HOW it happens..A variety of causative issues..

I've never been divorced....but know how such trauma occurs and the contibutory matters that get folks to that point..

I've NEVER shot myself but know how to tend to and use firearms and teach others how to do so safely..

And yes..I can shoot good archery..:) Matched bow and arrows under on'es control..

Down the line..to the mark..

Training, basic strength for one's bow, solid form..focus and a crisp loose..Jim

I have to agree with Hawkeye. You may know how TP manifests itself but unless you have or had TP, you have no idea of the hold it can have on you. I shot indoor PAA and after several years I developed TP. Now 30 some years later I still wrestle with it. Most of the time I keep it under control but I am no where near as good as I was in the years before. I'm always interested in what folks have to say about the subject. I'm open to try different theroies on how to rid ones self of this malady for good.

I agree, Steve. A heart surgeon can't appreciate the fear, anxiety, and pain the patient experiences unless he's gone thru it himself.

I think that most archers have experienced a little target panic, some just brush it off and start new the next time. Some give in to it and then it gets worse.

I believe you have to say, "I have this target panic but I am going to fix it.." And then you get busy on the mental side. It has to chane there. You can't do anything physical to get rid of it for good. You deal with it on the mental side and then move on.

My two cents..

Jinkster. Let me know how that works out.

Some will say the only way to fix TP is to put a clicker on your bow. I used one as a draw check on one of my target bows. If I tried to release the the instant the clicker went off, I would not have a good release. So I had to do a little stretch after I heard the clicker before the release. When I developed bad TP with my hunting bows, years after my target days, the first thing I did was to get a clicker. It seemed like it reminded me that I had to flinch. I tried the visualization, but I could not cross the line from remembering to the present. I tried the blank bale, the drawing and moving the bow off line to back online, nothing worked. Then I met a target archery coach and he gave me a way to get a handle on what it felt like to be in control. A little rewiring trick with the eyes, just to give the confidence that a complete full draw was still possible with an intended release. Something clicked and it was gone. When it begins to show itself with similar stress situations that started it in the first place, a simple rerun of that brings me back. Three of my friends also had TP, they claimed that it must have been contagious, because they think they caught from me. I did the same with them and it worked for them as well. It is most definitely a mental game, almost an archer's focal dystonia, and it can show itself to various degrees with certain triggers, as it does with me and my friends at times, but this fear of missing or completing a shot can be controlled. That control simply needs to become part of ones shooting ritual. I think that shooting the blank bale is good for working on form, but the reason it does not work so good for TP is that the reason you need to be so close is because of the fear of missing. It never comes when hunting, stump shooting or shooting at my 3d targets out in the woods, but at a 3D thing a few years back, a muggy day and everyone was uncomfortable and crabby, I felt the bad vibe and it started again. I took a breather separated my self from the crabby crowd, went through it, proved to myself that I could and reminded myself that on a real deer I shoot through the deer not at the surface of the deer and my power and control came back. I don't play golf, but I watched this weekend. I noticed that often when a golfer is having putts get weak at the hole and the grain of the grass pushes the ball around or the ball stops just short, it looks like the golfer is trying to stop the ball at the circle of the hole, much like if it were not a hole just a circle on the grass. As hunters we are not concerned about the surface, we are concerned about the effectiveness of our arrows on what is under the surface, the surface impact point is only the proper entry point. When practicing, remember to hit 'em hard.

I agree with hawkeye, understanding driving forces or how something physically happens is not the same as understanding something internally from the mental side. Also the most prominent form of it I have seen is the short draw uncontrolled snap shoot which can be remedied by stopping the pre aim burn a hole technique and developing a shot sequence. If a process isn't working for me I do not keep doing it over and over hoping it will get better, I change it to something that will work.

TP is a catch 22. Once you know what it is and what it does it's easier to get. If you know nothing about it you can get it slowly without realizing till its too late.

thanks frank I have it bad started after I had won once maybe this will help thanks to all

But with the right mental technique it's gone instantly. It's almost like patching a line around the target panic in your mind. The top performers in any sport win because of mental ability. Those that have programmed their computer for success. (The brain). Think about it. Most Olympic archers have similar experience, the very best gear, and best coaching. Mental toughness makes the difference.

I don't give myself permission to have target panic. A month or so ago I did a show with a bunch of VIPs on hand, including Governor Perry of Texas on the front row, a 3 star general on hand, the owner of the San Antonio Spurs, Etc. If you focus on that you won't perform well. So you ignore it and do a good show.

I have seen many ways people try and cope with TP. The best method is to del with it at the root level, the mental side. Anything else is a temporary bandaide.

Frank

I have to agree with the "unless you've had TP, you really don't truly understand." Kinda like women who will only go to female OB/GYN's for their care and baby delivery. You really don't know the frustration or the way to a cure unless you have deal with the issue. I've experienced TP with both a compound years ago and recently with the recurve. I've used clickers, close range shooting, forced shot sequence, blah, blah, blah. The only thing that truly has worked is to completely throw out the supposed "cures" and relax and enjoy shooting for what it is. Fun, entertainment and a way to relax after a long day of work or other stress. Most of us don't depend on archery or hunting to make a living, so, don't put so much pressure on the need to hit the gold in a circle, 10 ring on a 3D animal or kill something every time you go into the woods. This stuff is for enjoyment, so enjoy!

Correct mindset..Important..

That comes from confidence that your bow and arrows are matched up well..Bow is true and braced properly..

You have the strength to draw and anchor and hold the drawn bow..

You have solid form, repeatable anchoring place.

You can see the mark..:)even IF it is a candle flame at 25 yards..

Some folks do better than others under pressure-competition..

BUT one should not be wrestlng with poor equipment.. poo form..

Those matters are remedied fairly easily..perhaps with some assistance from knowlegeable archery folks..

Target panic is NOT failing to hit the desired mark every time..

It is a fear of missing or excelling..:)perhaps coupled with poor unsolid un repeatable archery form..blended with poorly matched up equipment..?...Stress? Competition..?

Ask your self:

When was the LAST time I felt good shooting and hit the mark and everything about my archery came together WELL?..

IF the answer is: NEVER.. You need to start back with the basics I mention above..

If it is:

Last week..last month?

Stops and ask your self: "WHAT changed for me, my equipment..in my life"?.. Jim

"I don't give myself permission to have target panic."

I wish I had a dollar for every "I'll never get TP" person I met who ended up eating his/her words.

JRW I have had it. 1990. Trust me. The mental approach is the only way to cure it.

Frank

Another form of NLP is called visualization. Elite athletes and coaches have used if for decades. One study took a group of 20 basketball players and spilt them into two even groups of ten. Group A shot free throws (100 a day if I remember right?) for 6 weeks. The second group did not touch a basketball, they just used visualization to see themselves making 100 shots a day for six weeks. At the end of the six weeks, each person from both groups were allowed to take 20 free throw attempts. (please don't hold me to the exact numbers as I am working off memory and the actual numbers are irrelevant)

Statistically both groups performed the same. The group that never touched a basketball, but only used visualization, sunk as many free throws as the group that had shot 100 free throws a day for six weeks. The mind is far more capable (or destructive) then what we think.

DT What is yor background? Glad you have heard of NLP. Wyatt Woodsmall was at my place in 1990 and that's who taught it to me. He is one of the founders of NLP. It is real and it works.

Frank

I don't know anything about target panic but I will whole heartedly recommend "Understanding Winning Archery" by Al Henderson. Single greatest thing I've ever read that has contributed to improving my archery skill set.

Jay Kidwell teaches visualization as well.

I've been a fan of NLP since 1990. It's the way to roll.

Frank

I wonder if that is what that coach did, all I am doing is copying what he said. It went like 1. Draw with your eyes closed, feel your power. 2. Draw with your right eye closed feel your anchor make it powerful. 3. Draw with your left eye closed, see but do not shoot. 4. Draw with both eyes open feel the power, see the shot, let down. 5. Pointing up and out, do 1,2,3,4,and 5 again. 6. Do 1,2,3,4,5, but this time shoot out there somewhere, it doesn't matter. I took the first shot, he said, "That felt good, didn't it. Remember all the times that it felt good, go on." which I did. Then to a deer target way out there with no chance of hitting it, so it did not matter if I missed. I hit it. If that is what NLP is, I am a fan.

I think the indoor league was the cause of my TP. The preasure to keep up the high scores as my partner kept shooting better and better and begin to out shoot me. I coached him along when we started shooting. First I went to a clicker and that worked for quite a while. In the end I couldn't draw any where near making the clicker go off. I can shoot fairly well out in the yard alone now but wouldn't even consider competion again. Its not worth it.

Interesting thread

Frank I am retired military and now work as a contingency plans officer for the US Air Force. I spent a lot of time using NLP as part of life coaching and weight lifting and other sports. NLP has definitely helped me with instinctive shooting... I know that term probably is an accurate and most people take offense to it however when I try to aim and use a reference my shooting goes dowhill fast. It is nowhere near as accurate as when I visualize an instinctive shot and then make it. I would say for every arrow I've ever released at a buck I have probably released hundreds of NLP (visualization) guided arrows :-)

I'm a big fan and always enjoy your posts.... hopefully I can make it to one of your shows when you get down this way to Texas?

I remember a football coach always told us that if you visualize the play your body can't tell the difference.

Frank sounds like confidence is a major part of the equation?

Nova Well, it comes with experience. Wyatt Woodsmall is a genius. Seriously.

I do one show that has 15,000 people in the audience. If you think about that you will miss. Kind of like buck fever. A huge buck comes along and you stare at his rack. No, you make yourself ignore the rack and pick yoir spot. I have programmed my brain to ignore all outside factors and focus on the baby aspirin.

Confidence comes with experience. Good observation.

Frank

Frank, whilst I understand and respect your enthusiasm for NLP, it does have some quite serious flaws.

First it relies on the practitioners ability to build a precise model of the cognitive structure of the archers problem, something, unfortunately most coaches and NLP therapists are unable to do.

And second, critical to the success of NLP is the skill level of the NLP practitioner. A poor or unskilled NLP practitioner won't get good results. The model and skill set required is very well-defined, but often difficult to achieve.

If NLP is a panacea for all Target panic .. everyone would be cured ... unfortunately, they're not and that's why I respectfully don't share your enthusiasm for NLP.

Well, having Wyatt Woodsmall as my coach that afternoon truly helped me. Rather than keep it a secret I would rather share the story and my results. Al Henderson and many others recognized the mental aspects of the sport.

In my opinion you any buy your way out of target panic (new gear, etc), you can't practice your way out... I believe that perhaps this mental side post will encourage more people to look that direction to help their target panic. I do believe that NLP, the way Wyatt uses it, can help any human produce results and stay at the top of their game.

I can't speak to any trainers except wyatt, and he is a good man.

Frank

Phil Also, I would respectfully add that you are rare in the archery world, until I posted about it a few years ago I'd never seen anything about it on any archery site.

It works. Wyatt has a long list of people from All walks of life that he has helped...

Thanks Frank

In the interest of a fair and balanced discussion, these quotes might be of some interest ...

"..the assumptions of NLP, namely that our cognition, behavior and emotions can be 'programmed' by mimicking the more superficial aspects of those with desirable attributes (for example posture and mannerism) are wrong. The last thirty years of research have simply shown that NLP is bunk.--Steven Novella, M.D. (by the way Steve Novella is Professor of Clinical Neurology at Yale)

...after three decades, there is still no credible theoretical basis for NLP, researchers having failed to establish any evidence for its efficacy that is not anecdotal.--Gareth Roderique-Davies (Gareth is head of the school of Psychology at the University of Glamorgan Wales)

Some research conducted and published by Tomasz Witkowski in his paper Thirty-Five Years of Research on Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP Research Data Base. State of the Art or Pseudoscientific Decoration? ... concluded that " Out of 33 studies, 18.2% show results supporting the tenets of NLP, 54.5% - results non-supportive of the NLP tenets and 27.3% brings uncertain results. The qualitative analysis indicates the greater weight of the non-supportive studies and their greater methodological worth against the ones supporting the tenets. Results contradict the claim of an empirical basis of NLP.

So .... lets all be a little careful about what we post here on the Wall. Sometimes things aren't exactly what they appear to be

Has anyone known or shot with a women archer that has dealt with target panic?

Phil Rather than read about things or study them I prefer to see things for myself. And as I stated Wyatt Woodsmall worked with me in 1990. He taught me much about controlling my archery game and concentration. I use NLP in my shows on a regular basis. So from a practical standpoint, for me, NLP works. I don't pretend to know enough about it to coach others. However I feel it's worth looking into for some one that is struggling with target panic.

Granted Woodsmall is one of the founders of NLP, and I cannot speak to any one's coaching but his... He has a fairly solid reputation and track record.

In a nutshell NLP can help you achieve consistent results and be at the top of your game. I am certain you could, in the interest of a fair And balanced discussion, find others like me that use and believe in NLP in their chosen fields.

Here's some Info on Mr. Woodsmall :

https://www.thecorporatetoolbox.com/authors/wyatt_l__woodsmall,_ph_d

Note his work with the U.S. Military on marksmanship accuracy and training.

Frank

Frank

I don't put any faith in celebrity or anecdotal endorsements, I'm more interested in the science and according to the science NLP has no real validity. I've read a lot of Woodsmalls work over the years and whilst most of it is mildly entertaining the rest of it is more or less untestable and unsubstantiated nonsense.

"Has anyone known or shot with a women archer that has dealt with target panic?"

Yes, several.

If there's anything I've learned about TP after several years of dealing with it myself and helping others it's that there's no one cure for everyone. And anyone who tells you there is doesn't know what they're talking about.

Thanks, JRW. I suspected as much. Didn't know if a women's mental approach to competition, hunting would be a difference maker. My wife can not understand my periodic frustrations with TP. She's been blessed over the years not to be affected by the "disease." Beav

Frank

Maybe Dr. Wodsmall forgot to tell you this part ....

“The Committee on Techniques for the Enhancement of Human Performance” which was commissioned by the US army to examine various techniques including NLP. In addition to reviewing the research literature they talked to co-founder Richard Bandler. Here are some of their comments:

“The underpinnings of NLP are not a set of findings and propositions arranged so that they imply the NLP statements of structure; instead, they are a series of concatenated anecdotes and facts that lead to no particular conclusion …

In brief, the NLP system of eye, posture, tone and language patterns as indexing representational patterns is not derived or derivable from known scientific work” (Druckman & Swets, 1988, pp. 141-142).

In the UK Dr Michael Heap of Sheffield University and Sheffield Health Authority approached NLP from the angle of its potential therapeutic usefulness. His conclusion was: “The present author is satisfied that the assertions of NLP writers concerning representational systems have been objectively and fairly investigated and found to be lacking ... it may well be appropriate now to conclude that there is not, and never has been any substance to the conjecture that people represent their world internally in a preferred mode which may be inferred from their choice of predicates and from their eye movements”

When I went to a couple of MENSA meetings, besides being disturbed by the eclectic butt sniffing, I noticed in the discussions a consistent resistance to anything that would be considered outside of mainstream academics. Whether it was health, science, philosophy or politics, if it came from any outside source, it was taboo. It is very easy to find dissenting opinions about anything that is outside of the anything mainstream on the web. As an example, if vaccinations are so safe and effective, why is there constant programming on the web that is intent on making vaccinated people fearful of contracting a disease from a non vaccinated person? For some reason the academics always find that they need to stop things like NLP, homeopathics, orgon healing, real weather observations versus climate change propaganda, etc. Scientist can write any claims they want, but when one has hands on personal experience and can shoot aspirins with a finicky recurve to prove it, sorry, but that is evidence.

Phil Do you understand that no matter what quotes you drag into the thread that Dr Woodsmall's technique's helped me? There are others that he helped as well. Also when researching him you can read what he did with some of the military's training programs regarding accuracy. Do you dispute this as well?!?

I can tell that perhaps this is your field, and it is not mine. I guess I could dig into some research and come up with quotes that dispute your quotes, but I do not have time nor inclination to do so. For a proper debate you should debate Dr Woodsmall, perhaps that would be a better debate. I can only attest that it works for me.

I haven't talked to Wyatt in maybe 8 years?!? So I am not selling anything but simply suggesting to those that suffer target panic to deal with it on the mental side. Al Henderson knew the mental approach was important. Dr Woodsmall proved to me that NLP works. I don't need quotes or Reaearch, to me that matters not. When I need it I have a tool that helps me do my job.

Having performed on front of 15,000, on LIVE TV, and for celebrities it is as if I am alone in my backyard. It's no big deal. I suggest to you that you talk with the source to discuss and debate NLP.

Frank

Like I said Frank, I don't put any faith in celebrity endorsements, I look to the science ..it's my job

I understand. The main difference being you have read about NLP and I have used it. May not work for another single person but it worked for me. I don't dispute that there are those that disagree with NLP. However I do believe that the work he did for the military would perhaps speak to its success.

I don't know who you refer to as a celebrity. Dr Woodsmall is not one nor am I.

I do respect you and the way you conduct your debates. It's the mature way to discuss and debate. We can walk away respecting each other and agreeing to disagree.

What type of work so you do? Also, how important is the mental aspect of shooting?

Frank

Close minded person.

Dean Thank you. Phil has handled this with class. I understand the scientific community refutes NLP. But it works. I was in a slump in 1990. My friend Dr John MacCallum was room mates with Wyatt at the University of Va. He knew I was in a slump. So he had me meet him at my amilys shooting range one day. He didn't tell me why. Dr Woodsmall was with him. He tells me to shoot an aspirin for Dr Woodsmall. I had Rob Parog toss some tablets up... I was shooting regular then (not behind my back) and I missed about ten times in a row. Wasn't even close. So Dr Woodsmall asks me to take a walk with him. He spent the next little while talking with me. Asking a series of questions, etc. When he was done, he asks me to get my bow and try again. Rob tossed a tablet into mid air and my arrow nailed it first try. Dr MacCallum still has the tablet I hit (25 years ago). He taught me an "anchor".

So when CNN points a camera at me, instead of realizing 200 million people will see it, I do what I do. If all my critics from LW were to show up front row and boo.. I would be able to conduct my show as if they were not there. I can block out external or internal disturbances and so my show.

Unfortunately I am not able to coach others because I am not trained to do so but instead of keeping it my secret I share what helps me. The mind is very powerful.

Frank

I wonder if talking someone through it is a main part. I do not know if the target coach was using NLP, but it was intended to develop an internalized visualization combined with the feel of a perfect shot. I explained what I did over lunch with a recurve shooter I know that had been trying for years to hit something with his recurve. A week later, he said it did not work. He came over to my place and we went through with my direction and with the eye closing routines, just to prove to him that he could draw and anchor and feel a good shot. Since he had no prior good trad form to work with, he had to find it from scratch. He started out with a bow that he could not draw and got off on to the wrong foot right from the start with traditional archery. With my wife's summer bow, he at least had the strength to draw fully, but at first he would explode and release at about 20 inches. He only could reach an anchor with his eyes closed. When we went out to my farmer friends alfalfa field, a light came on and he got it. Then he tried some shot with a judo with a slightly heavier bow and it was still working. He tried his bow and it worked for six or seven shots, but when his strength ran low and he could not reach his draw, he stopped himself when he was drawing short and let the bow down, instead of flubbing the shot. He said that he needed a lighter bow. I gave him a 45 pound a Super Kodiak, which he is still using and he gave me his 65 pound longbow, which I gave to someone else that had the strength to use it.

http://livtastic.com/2012/11/21/how-a-vietnam-prisoner-of-war-can-help- you/

How would you explain this Phil?

Phil, the odds of anyone beating their handicap by even 8 strokes is well over 1 in 1000. I am definitely not as intelligent as you seem to be but, there is much to be said for,"so think ye so be ye." Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Link didn't work. Try this. http://www.commandposts.com/2012/04/seal- sniper-school-reshaping-the-course/

Couldn't get my last link to work, either. If you type in "Vietnam POW Jack Sands Mental Golf", that should bring up the story

Well Ken your Golf analogy was a good post. I often said that when Tiger Woods life got stressful on the personal side his golf game seemed to suffer. It seems he tried many things to get back on track. I firmly believe Wyatt Woodsmall could have had him back on track very quickly. It was his mental approach that needed help. Although not target panic, he seemed to have something wrong with his game.

I would say that in any sport, once you reach a certain level and have similar equipment that it becomes 90% mental.

Thanks Ken

You CANNOT allow negative thoughts to enter your brain in archery or golf. Seems simple to me, Frank. Good Thread

Ken I've seen so many people claim they can cure target panic with gadgets or new get but my experience is you can't but your way out of it. Then I've seen people who claim you can take certain practice steps to get rid of it. I guess this can build confidence over time but nine times out of ten it can come back. The best and surest way to rid yourself of it is to deal with it at the root-- your brain. It's a mental issue not a physical issue.

Frank

Phil - scientist cannot even agree on global warming or evolution - do you really think your three sources knows everything?

There is PLENTY of documented research on NLP.... but it would be hard to prove one way or another in a lab. Go talk to the athletes that have actually used it to improve. Every here of Michael Jordon? Guess when he talks about visualization he doesn't know what worked for him either? How about Tiger Woods? This kind of reminds me of the instinctive shooting debates - someone totally ignores the fact that an archer, and I might say a pretty decent shot like Frank, states that NLP worked for him. Rather others have to insist that what is or has worked for them doesn't exist. I think I'll put faith in what Frank states works for him rather then a 3rd party observer armed with a few irrelevant statements.

I know Joel Turner uses NLP in his program to get people over target panic.

I am a firm believer. Woodsmall was at the forefront of this and having him at our place was pretty cool. Funny how timing is everything. God has a plan.. That's for sure. My career has been awesome and 25 years later I use NLP daily.

Frank

Frank, does Woodsmall offer his instruction via book or DVD ?

Steve I do not know. I know he does a lot abroad lately. I could try a phone number I have for him and let you guys know. Online there may be some support material. Let me try and contact Wyatt. Problem is he worked with me one on one... But I do think NLP will benefit all shooters.

Frank

Thanks for the info. Took an IBO World Championship Trophy with my longbow in 93. After that pretty much had a complete melt down. Was also ranked 2nd with a recurve that year IBO in IL. Tried to shoot Cloverdale a few years ago and had such a panic attack at the practice range, put the bow back in the truck

My Dad had always talked about target panic but I never understood it till I got it. Understand it now. Would love to shake it off. I truly enjoyed shooting 3D. I can still shoot well unless you put me on a 3D range!

Thank you very much, Oldbowyer

Old bowyer message me if I can help you. Good luck..

Frank

Steve, you can buy your cure for target panic right here

https://www.thecorporatetoolbox.com/authors/wyatt_l__woodsmall,_ph_d

Thanks Phil, but where do I start? Does one book lend itself to dealing with TP more than the others or do they all work together?

I've absolutely no idea Steve. My suggestion would be to contact Joel Turner. I've recently read many of Joel's posts regarding target panic on here and other forums and I've been very impressed with his approach and he seems to be getting excellent results.

Thanks Phil. Joel seems to be focused on TP specifically and that may be the best approach for me.

I agree. Contact Joel.

Someone post his website or contact into for Joel if it works.

This thread was an attempt to help those with target panic explore the mental side. NLP worked for me and as mentioned Al Henderson's "Understanding Winning Archery" is a great book. I am not selling or promoting any particular product, just telling what helped me. Obviously different people have different approaches.

I am a fan of dealing with it on the mental side. I don't know Joel but of his program has helped please post it.

Frank

Frank, I would think with Wyatt dealing with you one on one he was able to tailor his instruction do deal with your problem specifically. By us reading his material I would think it would be more difficult for us to apply the proper principals to help our problems without his direction.I haven't read any of his books so I am just surmising.

Dr. Wyatt Woodsmall

Steve You have asked an interesting question. When Wyatt explained it to me it made perfect sense. Had I read it I am not sure it would have had the same affect. There are "mental coaches" out there and NLP trainers but I have no idea what the cost is. I would be happy to explain what I know about it As best I can if you would like.

Juneau Wyatt has aged in that photo since I last saw him. I've spoken to him on the phone. I hope you read his bio. He has made huge contributions with his talent.

Frank

Frank, by all means. If you are able to put it into some kind of format where we can apply it that would be great. I'm sure there are other folks here that would appreciate that as well.

Steve I am at an event.. And I have a show in Corpus Christi next weekend. It will take me a bit to write it down and as I said I am not a trainer and am not adequate to teach but if you think it may help I can tell you from my perspective. Don't let me Forget.

Happy to try to help. Most athletes probably won't share this kind of training and keep it to themselves. I like to help people and hopefully some of you can benefit from my experience.

That's why I say NLP works for me.

Frank

I have read a thousand threads on target panic..snap shooting..and thos who consistently miss the mark.

It's not just a mental thang..it's a form-training-equipment & conditioning thing..

Today, I am coining a new term for those who wrestle with being out of control of their lives ( archery) to consider..

The term is: ( not S.T.A.R.S.)..:)

The term is: :

"PREMATURE TOXOPHILIFILICATION".....

Respectfully offered..:)..Jim

Actually, I think my methods will eventually be proven to really help those who have target panic; at least you will get to anchor using some of the more radical methods. Pretty difficult not to.

Anyway, I'd like to offer this comment - I believe you have a much lower chance of getting target panic if you don't care what others think of you.

Frank, I know it will be a lot of work writing this out so please don't put yourself out for my sake. But if you find the time and feel others can benefit from it I'm sure there are more than a few here that would appreciate it. perhaps start a new thread dedicated solely to NLP. Thank you Frank and I hope the shows do great. Safe travels.

Dave..I don't know what your S.T.A.R.S methodology entails..but I ...and we are interested..:)

I do 'care' about what others think about me..:) I do y best to help others, not offend others, love others, pray for others..

I think most folks want to be appreciated ..admired.. I'm no different..:)

But when all is said and done..:)...

It's what I think of myself and what my Lord Jesus thinks of me that truly matter..:)Jim

PS:..I learned this old poem when in grade school.. It's called:

MYSELF.. I have to live with myself and so I want to be fit for myself to know, I want to be able as days go by, To look at myself straight in the eye. I don't want to stand with the setting sun And hate myself for the things I've done.

I don't want to hide on a closet shelf A lot of secrets about myself, And fool myself as I come and go Into thinking that nobody else will know What kind of man I really am; I don't want to dress myself in sham.

I want to go with my head erect, I want to deserve all men's respect And in this struggle for fame and pelf I want to be able to like myself. I don't want to look at myself and know That I am a bluster and empty show.

I cannot hide myself from me; I can see what others can never see; I know what others can never know, I cannot fool myself, and so

Whatever happens, I want to be Self-respecting and conscience free.

Do you suffer from Premature Toxophilifilification?

If you have ever released your shaft before you intended, you may have PT. PT can be embarrassing and lead to a complete lack of shaft-releasing interest. If you or a loved one are showing signs of PT, please consider rubbing a paste of crushed mustard seeds on your limbs to alleviate the symptoms.

*Do not ingest crushed mustard seeds if you are allergic to mustard seeds or just don't care for mustard.

*Do not inhale mustard seed dust if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Nobody knows why.

*Avoid crushed mustard seeds if you are also in contact with 81mg aspirins.

*For more information on the science behind crushed mustard seeds and mustard seed by-products, please visit 'There must be something I can be doing at work besides playing on the internet.org'

Patrick, Well I love mustard in about any form..) With canned sardines..on burgers..with corned beef sandwiches...

I also have faith that's at least the size of a mustard seed..:)Jim ( and now we have derailed this thread..:)

I apologize. Frank is at a show, so I thought we'd offer an intermission. Back to the thread, by all means! :)

Sardines, brown mustard and Premium saltines. It don't get much better:-)

Ken, I'm clickin; the 'LIKE' button on your last..:) Jim

For those interested in Joel Turners approach, here's some contact information from other sites

http://www.acsbows.com/id193.html

This number appears in one of Joels threads 253-686-3623.

David Afford,

"I believe you have a much lower chance of getting target panic if you don't care what others think of you."

I fully disagree with your therory. Target panic is based on the expectations that you have of yourself and not meeting those expectations. Then making adjustments to meet those expectations, still not meeting them, and then losing total control.

What others think of you, has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with target panic. DANNY

Dire wolf You are a good man. The fact that you and I dont 100% agree on target panic isn't a huge deal. Here's my thoughts on it...

The eyes gather data. They aquire data such as target, distance, Etc. The arms raise and draw the bow. The hand pulls to the corner of the mouth, etc. Those are physical things the body does to execute a shot. But the brain is the center of it all. It collects data and then tells each body part what to do. But the brain is driving every step of the shot. 100%. So if stands to reason that if there is a mistake, the source is the brain.

So that's the root of target panic. The fingers only release the strong when the brain tells them to...

Frank... I understand.. But the mind CANNOT well-direct the body to do any thing WELL that the body hasn't worked with the mind to learn properly..

And poorly matched up bows and arrows unsuited for the archer add to the problem..

You have said that your Dad assists you in your archery endeavors concerning tackle....:)

Why bother with tackle IF the mind ALONE is the deciding factor?...Jim

Falling apart in your shooting in front of people does not seem like TP to me but more like stage frieght. People will mess up doing any type of exercise if front spectators. Even at work where computer honed indivduals are masters at speedy reptative tasks will end up flustered with an onlooker or several peering over their shoulder.

Now if someone has a problem with short drawing even in the solitude and silence then they most likely have TP from trying to burn a hole combined with a touch and release. This is also exaggerated by being overbowed. I have found that when aiming starts before the draw and shooter intends to release at the moment the anchor is touched, that it will ingrain a muscle tension memory in the brain somwhere around 3/4 draw. This is very difficult to overcome esprcailly if this has reproduced over and over for years.

The majority of archers who have this can overcome it fairly quickly by first drawing the bow to anchor, line up, start the focused aim and release. It will not happen overnight, but takes several weeks to start retraining the brain. It doesn't work for everyone. Using clickers or other types of triggers (feather to nose) is basically building a shot sequence and getting away from from something that doesn't work for them to something that does.

Jim Here's the deal. To get to a top level takes experience (practice), equipment that is properly tuned and set up, and a good shooter. Usually target panic comes after all these steps.

The bow set up is irrelevant. In other words it's typically an experienced shooter that gets target panic. So all those steps have been taken. You have practiced, have good gear properly tuned and experience. So now you have to figure out the mental game.

If the mental game wasn't a factor there would be no buck fever, and everyone would win. How many people do you know that can shoot great in their backyard but then they go to a tournament with people watching and they fall apart? That's the mental game at play.

You and I can agree to disagree but I say that 90% of a champions skills is the mental control of their sport.

Frank

Perhaps it would make for an interesting discussion if you could elaborate on what you mean by " mental game"

Frank , I think 90% mental is to low.

Sardines, brown mustard and Premium saltines. It don't get much better:-)

Looked at my bank account and sadly, I agree.

Danny wrote: "What others think of you, has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with target panic."

Please don't twist around what I said...I never said that. I believe some types of TP are similar to stage fright. Let's say you play guitar and are asked to play in public. You want to do a good job, but unless you are a pro I would say the odds are pretty hight you will not have the same control over your fingers that you do playing at home by yourself. Your timing will be off. Your fingers may even tremble. While you are playing a song or composition you will not be in the moment feeling the music but rather WANTING TO DO GOOD.

This is actually congruent to the second part of your reply: " Target panic is based on the expectations that you have of yourself and not meeting those expectations. Then making adjustments to meet those expectations, still not meeting them, and then losing total control."

Direwolf, while we can care what others think of us and that's fine, if it causes a type of stage panic, the performance suffers, whether it's a performance, a speech, or completing one's shot routine in archery.

All of this relates to confidence. Would anyone argue that confidence is not good for performance? Of course not. But what is the antecedent of confidence? It is wanting to to perform satisfactory so others either thing well of us or at least do not think poorly of us.

Why even have a public award ceremony at tournaments if what others think of us isn't important. Think about that!

One may ask, what about persons who have TP just shooting by themselves in their backward? Well, I didn't say my theory applies to all types of TP and to everyone. It would be more applicable to those who shoot well by themselves but then see a large drop off under the pressure of public shooting or even in just front of a friend, esp. if that friend is a good shot. Who cares what someone's little brother thinks...etc.

Well actually one can get acclimated pretty quickly shooting with friends. Stage fright usually requires "strangers" or a group of "critics" although they may just be the general public. But the higher their knowledge and therefore the higher the chance they will be critical of mediocrity or a poor performance, the greater the chance of the performer losing control of his routine. Definitely a mental breakdown simply because we want to do good and not embarrass ourselves. But as I said, this doesn't explain all types of TP.

Phil I would define mental game as the ability to execute perfect shots mentally and then follow through and do so physically.

Typically target panic interrupts this process. You can't buy your way out of it with new gear nor can you practice your way out of it. You must deal with it at the source. Anything else is a temporary bandaide.

Frank

OK ... that sound like a reasonable diagnosis Frank.

So, what do you think goes wrong, that stops the archer from executing the mentally imagined shot during the physical process ??

I will see if I can get Joel to answer some of these questions. He is at the P&Y convention so it might not be until Monday.

David,

I don't know the comment "I believe you have a much lower chance of target panic if you don't care what others think of you.". My comment didn't twist anything, you did not make it a conditional statement, it was a across the board statement. In your rebuttal you made it conditional. Stage fright and true target panic are two completely different things. Target panic is not having control of the shot whether shooting by yourself or with others. It is not conditional on situation. The reasons why shooters get target panic may vary but its ultimate out come is losing total control from the speed of the draw, hitting anchor (or trying to), and the release. It turns into the Ultimate FLINCH in archery. Just as someone develops a bad flinch shooting firearms for what ever reason it is a very hard thing for them to get rid of once it has firmly taken root. Stage fright is situational. One does not forget how to speak with friends or a small group. Place that person in front of that small group or audience where everyone is focused on them it becomes difficult for them to concentrate, remained focus, and say what they really want to. There are those that can do and those that can't. Competition shooters are the same, some can handle the pressure some can't no matter how hard they try, but they don't have target panic. They may lose their focus by being distracted because of the attention placed on them when they step up for that single shot. Take them out of the competition situation, let them relax, and shoot for fun they have no issue making that shot. A person with True Target Panic, is unsure that they can even make a simple shot, because they know they have no real control of the shot process no matter what kind of situation they are in. That FLINCH, is a extremely hard thing to deal with and quit doing, it is sub-conscious. I have known a few people that have had target panic and I have been there myself. It is NOT fun. For someone to make the comment as you did, REALLY doesn't understand what someone with target panic is dealing with. That is almost like telling a drug addict: Don't pay attention to what those you associate with (they aren't friends) just quit taking them.

As for my comment: Target panic is base on the expectation you have of yourself and not meeting those expectations. Then making adjustments to meet those expectations, not meeting them, and then losing total control. When you are shooting well and hitting what you are aiming/looking at for years, then all of a sudden you start not hitting (you are not just off, but way off, by how you were shooting) for some unknown reason and in your mind you haven't change anything. You start making adjustments: Thinking it's my grip, how I am holding the string, where I am anchoring. Something had to of changed. You make adjustments thinking all of this will help and it doesn't and you lose total control. Because all you are trying to do is hit what you are aiming/looking at. You know how well you had been shooting (your expectations of yourself) and why can't I still do it. That flinch takes over, you short draw or you yank/jerk off of the string, because your minds eye is screaming shoot, shoot as the arrow lines up and you do, because you have really lost total control of your shot. DANNY

In the late '50s, target panic was referred by some as "archer's paralysis." Edmund H. Burke wrote about it in his book, "Field and Target Archery," 1961.

"Archer's paralysis occurs, very simply, when the mind relaxes its control and allows the eyes to act as the trigger mechanism for the release."

"The roots of paralysis, or TP, lie not so much in slipshod technique, but in sloppy thinking which allows the bad technique to arise."

"One of England's best known coaches, at that time, Howard Wiseman, strongly advocated the mental aspect and told his pupils to use it all the time." bvd

I believe it was Asbel that wrote that TP or a short draw snap can be caused by the brain taking a short cut in the process of drawing the brain says we got that part done, now let go. If that is one of the causes, it could easily be what some do in the privacy of their back yard, shooting the same shot over and over until the things go to automatic and the brain makes its own short cut. I worked on my TP in my backyard with no luck, it actually got much worse. With the help I got, at first I could stump shoot and hunt without any issues, but I could not shoot at 3d events. John Schulz recommended to not shoot 3d events or anything that fed the TP. It took a while, but eventually I could shoot with onlookers. I would not recommend harassing me like those two that were cheating at that event that started it all for me in the first place, I will handle situations like that differently now.

Buster- That Coach was wise. Al Henderson was wise too.

The mental aspect of archery and mastery of it seperates the champions from the others. Controlling the mind sounds easy but requires some work.

Phil- Who is to say what interrupts a person's mental game? For some it could be something at home, perhaps stress from work or perhaps knowing people are watching you shoot-- any of theae factors can wreck havoc with your mental game. I think it varies from person to person. The champions are the ones that learn the proper techniques to block those distractions and perform consistantly. Sound easy huh?!?

Frank

Danny, do you understand there is a huge difference between caring what others think of you vs. what others are thinking of you? So yes, you did twist what I said. The fact is most people could usually care less, but it is our concern that they actually do that can really result in a poor performance and in the case of archery, a break down in our normal method/loss of control.

Second, if you want to claim it is not TP when one has control over shooting in private but not at a tournament or in front of others, fine. I disagree and would certainly include that under TP, in fact I would say it is one of the most common forms. A variety of this would be losing control over the shot in the pressure of a hunting situation. Sure, sometimes people have TP so badly they always have it. Not everyone fits this extreme category. For many, it is indeed situational.

Shucks..Watch that old movie: "Cat Ballou"..and see how Lee Marvin ( Kid Sheleen) dealt with target panic..:)......

Not good to have TP in a gunfight, eh? Pulling the trigger while your gun is still in the holster?...bad result.

"Not good to have TP in a gunfight, eh?"

Having the target shoot back sounds like a permanent remedy for it.

David,

If you want to call what I call Stage Fright, Target Panic I will concede to that for the moment but,

1)"I believe you have a much lower chance of getting Target Panic if you don't care what others think of you."

2)"I believe "some" (quotations marks my using) types of TP are similar to stage fright."

2) "Danny you do understand there is a huge difference between caring what other think of you vs. what others are thinking of you?"

First you made a blanket statement: "...if you don't care what others think about you." your words not mine, no clarification, blanket statement. Then when called on it you keep clarifying. Oh and I do understand the difference in your last statement, I am not ignorant. For instance: What I want/care You to think of me (Your perception of me), MAY NOT be what You DO think of me. I want you to think I am the best shooter out here and YOU can't beat me. You impression of me: He's a real Dork. You assumption is that, what causes many to fail "... but it is our concern that they actually do that can result in a poor performance and in the case of archery, a break down in our normal method/loss of control." Basically even though the shooter says they don't care what others think, they really do. That is a assumption on your part. I want to present to you what I have seen on the archery range during a competition and what I have perceived. The shooter comes to the shoot KNOWING or at least having a good idea what score they are going to have to shoot, against the competition that is there, and "They" place the pressure on themselves to WIN/Place. They start the coarse shooting well they drop at target missing the 11 or 10 ring and drop into the 8 or in the case of Traditional the whole target. They get frustrated with themselves, because of the expectations "They" have put on Themselves. Then they Try, and regain composure shoot a couple of targets but you can see they are unsettled, but hit the ten ring, couple of targets later they drop another one, and become more frustrated and angry. The next time during the shoot they they drop another one. The results anywhere from throwing the bow, withdrawal, to walking off of the coarse. We see it more with compounders but there are those Traditional shooters who take themselves to seriously also. Wasn't what they thought others were thinking of them. It was the expectations they put on themselves, and they couldn't meet their own expectations. In a few cases, it MAYBE because what others have come to expect out of them as a shooter, and the pressure it puts on them. More often then not it is the pressure they place on themselves.

Also you wrote "Second if you want to claim it is not TP when one has control over shooting in private not in a tournament or in front of others fine." That is NOT what I said. What I said was "Take them out of the competition situation, let them relax, and shoot for fun, they have no issue with making that shot.". You know a lot of us do that, Shoot For Fun, give each other a hard time, it's not about the total score. The key comment was Competition Situation, nothing was said about not shooting in front of others. If you go back and reread what I wrote the theme was about Pressure. I said "Competition shooters are the same, some can handle the pressure some can't..." Actually it is because of the pressure that many of the compound shooters that have switched to Traditional. They see us laughing and having fun as compared to the seriousness of many compound shooters.

If you want to use the generic term "Pressure" that causes a shooter to have Target Panic/stage fright especially in a competition situation I would totally agree. To use the blanket comment you used (which it was) initially as your reason shooters have higher chance of Target Panic, is what has brought up a lot of this disagreement. Pressure some people thrive under it, most can't last under it. DANNY

Frank mentioned earlier that target panic usually doesn't strike until one has become an accomplished archer. I fully agree. I shot for 20 years before I contracted it. During that time, I did a lot of local/state tournament shooting and in truth, won most of the events I entered. The pressure to keep winning is ultimately what led to my target panic. I've since seen the same thing happen to a few of my bow shooting friends.

I'd also note that TP can express itself in different ways. For many, it's an inability to reach full draw before releasing. For me, reaching full draw is not a problem, but getting off the string cleanly is. For me, it's an inability to release the arrow when I'm on target, which ultimately results in holding inordinately long and violently jerking my hand off the string, with a concomitant movement of my bow arm..

Visualization does help me when I remember to do it. So does a set protocol/mantra before and during the shot. Sometimes I can control it. Sometimes it gets the better of me. The importance of getting the feel for a good shot cannot be overemphasized. For someone who is suffering from target panic, there have been so many bad shots, that it's very difficult to recover that feeling of a good shot. Blank baling and, as Frank suggested, shooting at close, easy targets to get the brain in the groove, I think are steps in that direction.

Danny, many have TP at the practice line before they start to shoot for score. I agree for others, it may only be later when their score starts falling apart when their expectations aren't met.

Orion, I've seen archers who have TP and are not accomplished and have not been shooting for years. Many of these are using the swing draw/touch your anchor and release type of form. After awhile they can't get back to anchor at all and everything goes to heck. In some cases it can just be a biomechanical bad habit that developed early on.

Perhaps we can all agree TP has multiple causes and the more perspectives on those causes, the better we can understand it. David

We do know what causes TP, and we know how to cure it. If someone says they don't know, but have some ideas, then we shouldn't listen too hard, unless they are just being modest.

First, there is a component that is hard wired,medical particularly likely to occur in older people. This has been proven scientifically. I don't personally worry about that, and haven't looked into where that research and any issues to deal with it stand. I can only help you with the part that is technical. But if your problems stem from something could be part of aging, it might be worth looking into.

TP is caused by inappropriate focus when shooting. You must have only one point of concentration when shooting. Having more than one will literally short circuit your mental process, in some cases you will see a jerk.

While substituting a pro's mental process might help, it can't solve a weak shooter's problem, because to get to one thought (OT) you have to meticulously organize your shooting technique. And you have to make certain choices. If what you do is not identical to the pro you are copying, then his will not work. By definition no competent pro is overbowed, that is a basic factual building block. Most competitors in the field are overbowed, so right off the bat, you have a huge likely difference that the field competitor will need to solve before moving off the first rung of the ladder.

One of the perplexing things is that the various descriptions and prescriptions to solve target panic by and large don't work. Why is that? Partly because the problem and solution are not simple, at least if not fully embraced. Many of the fixes provide only temporary relief. That is an interesting fact that any theory of target panic needs to address.

Organization: So you need to know what your shooting process is. What is built on what. What are the steps, and which come first, second and so forth. Do you have a shooting process, do you have a routine. All this is necessary to the shot technically, but it also affects the mental. If you are overbowed, you are going to have that thought leak into your mind. You won't get to OT.

Choices: What is your one controlling thought? For some shooters sight picture. In my case I think the most important is the process of pulling through the shot/back tension, which leads to release, not collapsing, maintaining` form, and so forth. One has to decide based on one's personal style and the type of archery one shoots. To get to one thought all the other processes, have to occur automatically, like sighting and release. Getting a manual release to work anywhere in the same way as a perfect mechanical back tension release was the hardest part for me. I still have some work to do there (and elsewhere).

I would have thought Al Henderson taught this stuff, certainly Len Cardinalle did. The issues around all this have been well identified going back centuries, one of the problems is that in our way of learning archery we start at the finish line and run backwards, everyone wants to be hitting the target on the first day, and they don't want to lay the proper foundation.

Tim Pretty accurate description. Well done.

I was busy and noted this thread has been active. Good to have so many post.

Thanks.

An old thread but a good one.

Frank

I hope this thread helps people with target panic find a solution-- a book, a coach or a new mental game.

The more I read old threads that Jim (dire wolf) participated in, the more I like the man. Has anyone heard how he is doing ?

Great stuff Frank. Spot-on advice about how to develop a strong mental game. Al was one of the best and his advice is still as valuable today as it was when he wrote it.

The "anchor" you speak of is taught by many as a "shot process." This is how I learned it, and how I teach it. Specific, repeatable steps that an archer goes through each shot. Sometimes it's just one thing, sometimes its a series of two or three. Just depends on the archer.

Like most competitive archers, I've suffered from target panic, and it still creeps into my shooting from time to time. I've said this before - and I realize it's a bit controversial to say this - but there are only two kinds of competitive archers... those who have had target panic, and those who are going to get it. Notice I said "competitive" archers. Many recreational archers will never experience it because they have not competed long enough or for prizes that were important enough to them.

As a coach of many teenage competitive archers who have tried to make the U.S. Archery Team, I can tell you that the bigger the goal, the easier it is to get target panic. It is a goal- connected problem. Remove the goal, and target panic will go away. For some, the goal is just to hit the bullseye, and for others, it might be to shoot a clean indoor 300 or a 340-point outdoor 70 meter round. Regardless of what it is, every one of us has a certain point in goal setting when the consequences become significant enough to trigger target panic. If you keep your goals low, you reduce the chance of developing target panic.

In a strange way, I have target panic to "thank" for my becoming an Olympic archer. But that's another story for another day.

John I pulled this thread up after I saw people discussing it. Target panic can be cruel for those that get it and cannot shake it. They try and buy their way out of it, buying clickers, for compound shooters they buy new release aids, they attend expensive clinics, buy books... All trying to cure their target panic. It starts in the brain and I've always felt that's where you deal with it. Obviously different things work for different people but I believe NLP cures it longterm.

Frank

Great post. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge Frank.

But.. it still doesn't actually help..

Woodsman Email me. Tell me what your target panic story is.

[email protected]

Maybe I can help. Who knows...

Frank, excellent thread. Is it possible that a person is told by a competent instructor of NLP that this will help you, heal you, etc, and that would have hypocondriac effect? Is this NLP like self hypnosis? I

Bitten I look at the NLP "mind coach" as simply knowing how to help you program your own brain for success. Through a series of questions and discussions they figure out what your mental process is and then they help you find an anchor to come to when the water gets rocky. It's amazing. I cannot emphasize enough how effective it is.

When I am on stage you could ring a bell, blow a whistle and shout my name and I probably won't react. I am so focused on my task at hand. It's amazing.

Wyatt was room mates in college with a close Doctor friend of mine and came to my place as a favor. I had no idea who he was or what NLP was. That was 1990. I use it to this day.

Frank

Frank

See it. Achieve it.

The human brain is amazing. You program your brain to succeed and it will.

God designed it that way.

Frank

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