I am new to shooting traditional, I started shooting instinctive, split finger and started surprisingly well at 15 yards getting very good groups but in my last shooting session not so good, I am interested in getting opinions on wether sticking with instictive as I progress or switch to gap or fixed crawl? I know there is probably no right or wrong answer just want to see what most people think Thanks

What is your primary application for shooting, and how accurate do you want to be? That's the BIG question.

For the time being, I would be happy with consistent groups. I will mostly be target shooting and some 3D, if I would eventually hunt if I am confident on my skills

Instinctive,split finger here for over 50 yrs. It has served me well. Practice,Practice,Practice!.......

You may have just done something different, like getting a softer release or maybe you stopped pulling through the release, or maybe your draw forearm is not inline with the arrow.

I would'nt worry about 1 bad shooting session, everybody has a "off day" every now and then.

They all work. I didn't use any aiming method for many years but limited my hunting shots to 20 yards.I just stared at what I wanted to hit. I am working with a fixed crawl now, like Jimmy Blackmon recommended. It does seem to be more accurate using the arrow point to aim with. Good luck and have fun. >>>----> Ken

Stick with what you have been doing. If you have a bad day, let it go and don't bring it to the next shooting secession. It will not be in your favor to change shooting style every time you have a bad day. It takes lots of practice.

Stick with what you have been doing. If you have a bad day, let it go and don't bring it to the next shooting secession. It will not be in your favor to change shooting style every time you have a bad day. It takes lots of practice.

There are some great instructors on here who I hope will see your post.

I'm not much help because I shoot both ways - with and without a gap. Never had a problem switching around to from split to three under just to play with finding a gap for each distance. Use the same tab for both. Whether I shoot with a gap or what folks now call instinctive is different for each bow I shoot depending on how comfortable and familiar the bow is too me. Typically, I gap with my low draw weight target type bows. Using a gap is not more accurate for me when shooting one arrow necessarily, but it is more consistant among several shot arrows. Anotherwords, I can shoot a better pattern with multiple arrows with a gap.

Use the Zen! There is more satisfaction when the arrow goes in. :o) Regards

Ignore everything posted to you on this topic. You are about to descend into the abyss of too much advice. You will end up mixing methods and hitting walls every which way you turn.

Of course, that means you shouldn't listen to me either. :)

If you're new to traditional then these 10 items are paramount before you start worrying about an aiming system:

1. Work on from.

2. Work on form.

3. Work on form.

4. Work on form.

5. Work on form.

6. Work on form.

7. Work on form.

8. Work on form.

9. Work on form.

10. Work on form.

Once you have established your form and an aiming system the see the above and repeat as necessary. Did I mention that form was important?

I've shot instinctive since 1970. I teach gap to most students after we get em to start being consistant. My opinion is though, and I don't wish to offend anyone, if you're going to shoot gap why not just shoot sights? It's same thing. I teach both as time is limited and I'm giving them a chance to try both as I said so I'm not against either, personally I'll stay instinctive. Just suits me better.

You were there..."and started surprisingly well at 15 yards getting very good groups...". You must find your way back. You left tracks, close your eyes and see them.

Your form needs to be consistent for you to be consistent. It's that simple. Don't overload your brain with suggestions from this forum. If you started out good, then shoot every other day. If you have a bad round then stop, and take a couple hours off...even a day or two if necessary or you will ingrain bad habits. Hopefully you aren't overbowed so you can actually build form without strain.

Ignore the form stuff particularly if you are only new to Trad, and not archery in general. If you want to do 3D, you should take up some kind of explicit aiming. I love instinctive and that has been my main method for 50 years, but for hitting spots consistently some kind of sight system is best. In this case sight normally means something like the arrow tip.

Why is form nonsense? Because if you don't overbow them, a beginner can be taught to be an accurate shooter on day one. Form on the other hand is never something you master, and to hear most talk about it, it is the cause of every fault. It is of course important, but putting it on a pedestal doesn't help much. Fundamentals and a sighting system will give you repeatable accuracy.

Also, instinctive really isn't a system for shooting groups. There are no big secrets. You can shoot instinctive with a shotgun, because the target is moving, and the target is large. You want to win at action shooting, through to bench rest shooting you need to sight. It is the same thing with instinctive archery. You want the ability to hit moving targets, rapidly appearing/disappearing targets, large targets, or targets at unspecified range, instinctive works great. You want to shoot a 300 round, you better aim. What is more, pure gap shooting with the same anchor as you use in instinctive, is a great way to work into instinctive. It will allow you to move back and forth between the two systems, and build a foundation. However, for 3D alone, you want some kind of gap/walk system. Which one depends on the rules governing your shoots.

I am sorry but I thought he asked for opinions.>>>----> Ken

SB x2 with a few more practice, practice thrown in for good measure.

When I started shooting stickbows again 15 years ago, it took me about 2 years and what I calculate to be in the neighborhood of about 18,000 arrows shot before my form was ingrained and solid. But for me shooting the bow is the joy of it all so it wasn't really that big of a chore.

Keep shooting, when you get "solid" you will know.

There is a learning curve to everything especially archery. No such thing as instant success. take your time go slowly, don't try to rush it.

Bob

Look for the STAR system to be released in April.

PECO, what year. I don't think any of us will live that long. LOL

"Shooting the Stickbow".

I highly dis agree with the "not paying attention to form" stuff. While everyone has a bit different form, the point is to get you to be consistent shot to shot. Stand the same way, bow arm solid etc. Learn good form is always a key in good shooting. THEN you can try new aiming methods. The biggest tip I learned was to pay attention to your release. Many guys "pluck" the string when they release and their shots are very inconsistent. Learning a smooth, straight back release is what helped me most with my accuracy.

George D. Stout and a few others are telling you right. Don't confuse yourself. Shoot the way you are and get used to it. KISS is a good mantra. You'll have up and down days, don't get frustrated. Perseverance will pay off. Just relax and have fun.

Todd -

Not worrying about form is like shooting a rifle with a loose sight. You can't "aim" if every other shot is pointed in a different direction.

As far as aiming is concerned, unless you have a definite plan or end game to compete as soon as possible, let your aiming system evolve on it's own. If you're serious about precision, your aiming system will become more refined over time. You may even end up with a sight. Just be open and don't be afraid to experiment AFTER your form is consistent.

Viper out.

Just try some 3 under the arrow & see if you like that. It will let you see down the arrow for aiming better. I shoot split finger but it's not for everyone. Being new you may be doing a few things wrong. Solid anchor, Don't drop your bow arm, grip bow to tight, not pulling thru the shot.. Lots to think about to start. Practice will help you out.. Enjoy it, don't make it work..

Thanks for all of the input. Just wondering if you get in a slump if it’s better to keep pushing through with practice or change it up

" Just wondering if you get in a slump if it’s better to keep pushing through with practice or change it up"

Something has changed. If you have started doing something that is not helping your accuracy, why would you repeat that?

OK...

Rule #1 - Never take shooting advice from anyone who is not a better shot than you hope to become. And that includes advice on taking advice.

For example...

"Not worrying about form is like shooting a rifle with a loose sight. You can't 'aim' if every other shot is pointed in a different direction."

OK; THAT guy wrote a Real Book called Shooting the Stickbow. Limbwalker has been to the Olympics. This place is crawling with heavy-hitters, many of whom are too polite to ever mention their credentials. So there is plenty of advice here that's entirely worth taking and experimenting with.

Most people can get to minute-of-pie-plate accuracy out to about 15 yards using the point-and-shoot method, and to be honest, yeah, you can be about good enough to hunt that way if you limit your shots to about 12. But if you want to be any good at this archery stuff, you need to work at it. So the question is... how good do you want to be?

I never started getting better until I had a practical aiming system (just looking all the way down the arrow to see where it's going to go). If you don't aim, you won't know why you missed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but you know....you can't fix ANYTHING if you don't know what's broke.

A slump day can have any number of reasons that make it a slump day. Could be mental, could be something got shortened or weakened, movement on the release, torque in the bow hand or release, it could be any number of things. Don't forget to check your bow settings and string nock, before claiming that you totally lost it.

Aaahh. See what I mean, Grasshopper? Get back before it's too late! :)

As long as you're using good shooting technique and all the mechanical stuff is correct. You've got to have the right mind setbut some days you can't do anything wrong, other days nothing goes right!

As a pup I started shooting "instinctive" and became good enough to bag a few deer, then I tried shooting with pin sights. That helped me develop decent form.

Once I had decent form, I took the sights back off and haven't needed them since.

As I recall that process took about 8 years.

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