I have been using gap since the beginning. But recently l have been interested in learning instinctive due to how nice it feel to have both eyes open. The reason l always closed my eye is l have really bad double vision near sightedness. Like really bad, if l have both eyes open, l see double arrows clearly, it really mess with my confident. The target is fine, focusing on the target is fine. But having 2 arrows in my peripheral vision really give me anxiety. I consider split vision aiming too but those dang 2 arrows. Is this something l simply have to overcome with practice and enough arrows? Or is there a method to overcome this? Thank you!

You have to train your eyes Sounds homey, but it's true.

Start doing by pointing your finger. Then move on to pointing your finger at things you see in your peripheral vision while keeping your eyes focused on something else.

Instinctively you really don’t need to be looking at the arrow

Just the target you want to hit

Like fdp said, "you have to train your eyes". It takes serious work at ignoring what you know is wrong but it can be done.

You know that arrow not under your eye and straight at the point you want to hit is wrong so pay it no mind. It does take time and work but all good things do. It took me about a month to completely ignore that wrong arrow but if I can do it anyone can. Wish I had more advice but that's all I can give as that was my experience going from a true gap to both eyes open instinctive.

Good luck and may your sight be straight and true.

No idea if this will help. I read that shooting a blowgun you see two of them because of the long length & the proximity to your face. They set the target between the two & it is supposed to be very accurate. I witnessed a guy that was deadly on bugs with one. I sure was tempted to purchase one but don't need another hobby. >>>----> Ken

With "Instinctive"?...your form points the arrow and your eyes point the form so there's no reason to consciously acknowledge the arrow exists and though your subconscious will be aware of the arrows existence?...it will be a very small part of a much larger peripheral view (aka "The Big Picture") which will be blurred then blotted out by the tunnel vision effect that should take place as your eyes burn a hole in that spot.

Nobody's eyes can converge on two distances at the same time. It's a geometric impossibility.

For your new shooting method, just concentrate on the target and forget the arrow(s).

" learning instinctive" Isn't that an oxymoron? (:>)

Actually, when I shoot/hunt right handed, I consentrate on the target and don't consciously pay attention to the arrow. When I shoot left handed, I cannot not see the arrow, so I shoot split vision.

No, it is not. We know it is not a real instinct. It is just a metaphor for something done subconsciosely.

But for the original question I can't say. You just have to give it a whirl and see.

I have taught a lot of people with varying abilities. I start them up real close, about 6 feet and tell them to not aim just point the arrow where they want it to go and make a strong shot. When they are comfortable with that I suggest stepping back a couple of paces, and so forth. Most of them are able over a few weeks to work back to 15 or 20 yards. Then maybe to 23 or so.

After that something goes wrong that I have not figured out completely. Try this and kindly let us know how it goes for you. - lbg

With your problem of see 2 objects up close, start shooting from the dark into a lit room at close range. A lot of guys get tore up on the word "instinctive", but when a big fat doe walks by at 13 yards and your arrow hits the mark without you even thinking about it........

Clydebow:

"learning instinctive" Isn't that an oxymoron? (:>)

LOL! Yessir, It Is! LOL!

Jack Whitmrie jr:

"...A lot of guys get tore up on the word "instinctive", but when a big fat doe walks by at 13 yards and your arrow hits the mark without you even thinking about it."

And ^^That Statement^^ embodies "Instinctive Archery" which goes way back to the beginning when man first began hunting with a bow.

I mean can you imagine cave dwellers trying to gap stone points or rifle barreling their eye down a crooked dogwood arrow shaft?...and if they took the time to consciously process that shot they'd be going hungry in the belly of a sabre-tooth tiger! LOL!

You can learn how to react instinctively, so it's not snake oil; it's also not that hard to do, I've seen eight-year-olds do it. It is a learned trait, otherwise you would hardly need to practice. Some folks just like to emphasize incorrect terminology rather than just help someone learn to do it. It can be taught.

GDS:

"You can learn how to react instinctively, so it's not snake oil; it's also not that hard to do, I've seen eight-year-olds do it. It is a learned trait, otherwise you would hardly need to practice. Some folks just like to emphasize incorrect terminology rather than just help someone learn to do it. It can be taught."

I agree to a degree in that not everyone's mind is wired the same.

What makes the topic so polarizing is that those who can't don't want to accept the belief that others can.

There's things some people can do that others can't.

I can shoot instinctively but put a paddle-ball in my hand and I look like the town dork! LOL! Meanwhile others can whale away with one straight out of the package. LOL!

True that, Jinkster. As for paddle ball, I won't even tell you how bad I am at that. I look like I just found out I had hands and arms.

Travis, The optical nerve in my right (dominate) eye is bad. My glasses do very little to correct it, so it's never as clear as my left eye. Objects appear larger/closer in my right eye. A horizontal line looks slightly wavy. I can still shoot deer with no problem in the woods with both eyes open. Like mentioned, just concentrate on where you want the arrow to go.

I have horrible vision with my left/nondominant eye. I am scheduled for a cornea transplant. I recently lost binocular vision. Funny thing is- I started closing that eye and I have never shot better. I consider myself a split vision shooter. Good luck to you and I hope you figure out what works for you. Keep flinging arrows!

Everyone sees double when they are trying that hard.

We all see two arrows. Don't worry about it. Just look at the spot you want to hit and disregard everything else.

Yeah, it's that simple.

Yep. What Red said.

Jinkster, a question, did you just pick up a bow and shoot awesomely the first time? I do not know what your accuracy is now, but were you, at the beginning as good as you are now? If not, you learned. Did someone coach in you what to do, ever? If so, you learned.

Human -

Well, Frank is right. Do anything long enough and your brain will adapt. The instinctive part happens because the gap becomes subconscious to a point.

But it is still so cute that people think the don't use the arrow ...

Viper out.

Thanks for all the replies.

Viper, that's what I assume happens!

At first I noticed that, my brain try to gap even when I try not to. Like I was trying to line up the target between the arrow and the hand that was holding the bow. The 2nd arrows always seem to get closer to the spot I was focused on. As if my mind was adjusting to the gap even when I wasn't trying to. I know I'm over thinking a lot and it's a very self confident issue. Like at a practice session. My first arrow would be either low or high, but after my brain 'auto gap' the distance, I can shoot decently. But I can't get the principle of 'first arrow is the only important one when you hunt' out of my mind, and its something I have to learn to overcome.

Its a long journey and baby steps. But that baby step of my brain telling me 'YOU BETTER MAKE THE FIRST SHOT GOOD BECAUSE ITS THE ONLY SHOT THAT MATTERS!" when I start practicing make me want to fall back into gap shooting.

"As if my mind was adjusting to the gap even when I wasn't trying to." There you go! Your subconscious is setting the gap for you.

That's instinctive shooting.

If you are seeing two arrows simply squint the off side eye a bit while making a shot.

As to visible arrow, I can shoot my bow accurately after sunset. The target is barely visible, the arrow is barely visible. Try it and see for yourself. If you can see the target, you can hit it.

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