Finally feel that I had a break through in dealing with target panic. I have had struggles with TP manifesting itself through out my bow shooting. There are times that I can't get all the way to full draw and anchor,other times I'm able to get to full draw but end up holding off target.

I shot a 3D shoot with Craig (Monkeyball) a couple of weeks ago. I had fun but struggled with getting to full draw. I came home and didn't pick up a bow for 3 days wanting to take some time away from shooting. During the shoot Craig and I talked about ways I can ensure that I get to full draw and one of the ways was to practice drawing the bow, aiming and not releasing.

I started the process a few days ago where I sit in front of the target at about 5 yds. I draw the bow to full draw,anchor and then aim. Instead of shooting I then let down. I have been doing "reps" of 10. Only after 10 reps I will then release an arrow. It seems to be working really well. A couple of time I gave released an arrow prematurely, but for the most part I have been in control of my shot. Each day I back up 5 yards and follow the same routine. If I release and arrow or struggle to get to full draw I move back up and repeat the process.

I'm happy to report that I'm able to be in control of my shot and I have worked my way back to 15 yds and I'm consistently hitting the bulls eye a lot more. I know I have a ways to go, but this seems to be helping immensely.

I'm fighting it hard myself. Sounds like I need to spend more time blank baling. I hope it continues to go well for you. Thanks for posting this thread!

Drop bow weight if you have a lighter bow and do the Draw/Aim/don't release. I had to do it for weeks til my brain was OK with it. I fight it every year.

Often when folks are fighting with TP their mind is full of 'don'ts' , replace the 'don'ts' with 'do'. You can prove that you can hit your individual anchor by closing your eyes and not shooting. You can then do the same closing the eye over the arrow, then the same with the eye over the arrow open and the off eye closed, then the same with both eyes open. Then go to a big dirt hill and follow your 'do it' procedure without caring much where your arrows go, but making sure your shot procedure is complete. When you have hole in the hill and your procedure is automatic, shoot at something on that big hill and still don't care if you miss. If you go to a 3D event too soon, you will immediately start caring too much about where the arrow goes and the TP will return.

It seems to be really helping me. I’m going to continue the process.

Good point Dean.

Tough stuff.... I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I read a post from a fellow years ago that said to do the wall drills (draw, anchor, aim and let down) for 21 days without shooting an arrow. After that, 10 draws and let downs, then shoot one arrow for 21 days, then 5 draws and let downs, then shoot one arrow for 21 days.

He swore by it, but said to always keep wall drills in your sessions.

The secret was to NOT cheat. :^)

Ah, if it were only that easy. But good luck to anyone with the panic.

Tp is in the head. It is like only getting the one channel that you don't want to watch on your tv. You need to adjust your antenna so you can watch the channel that you want to watch, and hopefully the channel that you do not like will no longer come in.

What helps me keep the TP at bay is to go through my shot and really think about each step, dont let loose when you aim, aim then keep pulling back

It will still come back eventually.

Have it still after 45 years. I can pull down on anything and hold it but without an arrow. Add an arrow and it's back. Pretty much gave up shooting. Hunt once and a while.

Thanks everyone I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks Craig. Your right slowly getting there.

Changing the shot order and using a Form Master is helping me.

The issues like TP exists in a number of physical target based activities, I wonder how often the condition happens in other activities. I have heard of a paper that developed TP, some think that it improved his paintings. I have heard of stock car drivers that flinch every time they make a right hand turn. I have never heard of anyone developing nose picking TP.

Michael, weren't you working hard at letting down,only shooting an occasional arrow,not putting a spot on your target,and staying up close,last year. Could I get a little feed back my friend. What happened,didn't work,had a relapse or ???? Good luck. >>>----. Ken

I struggle with this at least once a year...I just have to go back to bringing one arrow out the the practice range and focusing on making the one arrow the best I can. I've never had problems with coming to full draw like most but have prematurely jolted the string from my fingers while at anchor.Bail shooting helps me greatly as well as let down drills. And having fun and not letting myself get upset seems to help too! Shooting with my kids helps that part. Good luck TP is something that will always be there we just have to overcome it how it works best for each of us

Shooting one arrow helps me because if I make a bad shot I always grab another arrow to try and immediately put another shot where I want it and I wind up rushing it and missing. Which results in grabbing another arrow and another...one shot for all the Tostitos as Brent Musburger once said!

Check out Joel Turner's Shot IQ system. He has helped a bunch of people.

Has anyone tried aerial targets? Not aspirins, something bigger and slower. No time to think and fret, just do.

I had it bad back 35 years ago, it still rears it's ugly head every year. But, knowing the steps that help clear it makes it just a thing to work through every year, so it's easier after time.

Yes Ken,last year I worked on all the things you mentioned. I had some success but ultimately continued to struggle. This time something seemed to "click" and everything seems to be falling into place. I know it is no quick fix so I have to keep working at it. I also only take one arrow with me when I practice. One arrow at a time.

aerial targets, those are always fun. One thing that happens when folks try aerials and moving targets, they try to shoot very fast, often too fast. With any bow shooting like stump shooting, game shooting or aerials, it is nice to be able to just do it and not have a step by step forced project just to shoot an arrow. for those that need to do that on static targets, if that is what gets it under control that is all well and good, but on the moving venues that may come to be difficult with the time restraints involved. The mind set of shooting targets and shooting moving targets are often quite distant. For me, a smooth tempo of about one full second is plenty fast for shooting at pheasants, I actually often have a slower tempo when shooting at flying pheasants. I guess when the release is aim motivated the swing draw just slows itself to match the conditions of the individual shot, so things are more aligned as the draw is finished. Some can swing a fully drawn arrow on a moving target, I find that more difficult than shooting with a near instant release and getting my alignment to the the target in a proper tempo to match the target. For shooting moving stuff a study of the methods of John Schulz or Byron Fergusson would be a good first step.

Why don’t you guys just reprogram your brain w a string bow? It works

I have fought with TP for most of my adult life. Through the years I have tried EVERYTHING. Two things have actually helped me:

#1) I HAD to move from a fluid, touch and go shot sequence. The last thing I did was touch, so that was the thing that did not get done. Now I draw to anchor, let up about 1/2 inch and then pull in very slow and methodically until I touch anchor a second time. At the second touch I release. This took the subconscious out of it some for me and built some time into my shot sequence. It became a much more deliberate, mechanical operation that my conscious mind seems to control.

#2) In high stress situations (tough target, strangers watching etc) I still sometimes have trouble hitting anchor the 1st time. I have found that focusing on something on my hand, bow riser, arm guard ANYTHING but the target, helps me get to anchor the first time. After that first anchor, I shift focus back to the target, and the conscious let up 1/2" and pull back in slow/deliberate to anchor kicks in.

My shooting has improved immensely since I started this, but it had to start 5' from a bail and practice it until I got my routine ingrained....

I will say I had an EXTREME case. When it was at its worst, I could close my eyes as I drew and STILL let go as I approached full draw. Tell me THAT is not scary. I know, I'm crazy, but when you have the ailment, nothing is more real and frustrating -which just makes it worse.

My $0.02

Can you explain that? it may be good info for the OP.

Thanks for all the feedback and responses.

You can do it but you have to stay with the program. Good luck. >>>----> ken

Thanks Ken. Will keep at it!

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