What is target panic? Have you ever experienced it? Here’s the definition; Target Panic is a psychological phenomenon where an archer experiences anxiety or panic while aiming and releasing the arrow, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate shots.
Is That Really A Question?
I’ve been told that everyone will experience target panic at some point or another in their archery endeavors. When it hits, it’s difficult to get passed. It’s not the Bear Archery Legit Compound Bow, or the Trophy Ridge Spot On Release. It’s not any of the equipment, nor your form, it’s all in your head.
To get past this stumbling block it’s going to take effort. It’s so much easier to change out equipment than it is to change a mind, especially my mind. The question is do I want to get past this and continue shooting my bows? Is that really a question, of course I want to!
Here’s what happened…
After getting the Legit out of the box, I looked it over and made sure everything was accounted for. Then I applied Boning Accelerator Bowstring Wax to the strings, adjusted the draw weight and length to the appropriate poundage and length for my personal use.
The sights needed to be aligned and zeroed as well, out the range I went. I began at ten yards. I nocked the first arrow and attached my release. Once I accomplished a full draw, I placed the sight pin on the top right circle of the Big Shot Ballistic 450X Bag Target and triggered the release.
I Couldn’t Overcome
Yes I hit the bag, windage was good but elevation was a little high. No, I didn’t adjust the sight, I wasn’t shooting at ten yards, I moved back to twenty yards and that’s when it happened. Suddenly, I tried raising the sight pin to the center of the target and no matter how hard I fought the resistance, I couldn’t overcome it!
You can stop making fun of me now, if you haven’t experienced it, and you shoot enough, you wait, because you will. If you’re sitting back right now with compassion because you know exactly what I’m talking about, please do tell in the comments below.
Target Panic’s Many Signs
- Stress induced can cause you to speed shoot or punch it.
- The rise and fall is often called a driveby.
- Freezing at full draw and unable to move the sight pin.
- Flinching or jerking the bow when trying to release.
- Premature release.
How do you overcome a problem in your mind? Okay, you’re right, we’re talking about me here. I’m going to retrain my brain. I need to put my mind at ease, making it impossible to miss. I’ll start at a close distance, three yards. Every day for three days I’ll take twenty five to fifty shots and all of them have to be perfect.
Strengthen the Mind
Followed by this regimen three days at 5 yds, three days at 8 yds, three days at 10 yds, three days at 15 yds, and three days at 20. If at any time you mess up,(well, I mean me) I’ll start back over. This is a confidence building exercise, by the time you’ve gone through it, or we, we’ll have strengthened our mind against the anxiety and fear that causes target panic.
I heard someone once say, “There are no shortcuts in Archery.” Admit you are just as susceptible as anyone else and put the work in to be strengthened, and create a hard reset in your mind that will be sure to make you a better archer and possibly a better person.
This is good advice for airgun and/or firearm shooters as well.
FawltyManuel,
Absolutely! Sometimes our brain needs a little retraining.
Thanks for engaging! 🙂
-TBB
This is somewhat how my uncle thought me how to shoot my first pellet gun. He advised starting close too, probably 5 yards or so. If I could hit the metal measuring cup nailed to a tree (it made a nice ringing sound when hit) consistently, then I could take one step back and try again. A miss meant a step forward.
Roamin Greco,
All too often we want to get ahead of ourselves and push for distance, distance, distance! We lose so much from moving too fast sometimes. A good slow down to work on technique is exactly what TBB orders!
Thanks for stopping by to read and leaving some feedback!
-TBB
Target panic is just loss of control of your shot process. It can have many symptoms, but that is the root of it.
Do not underestimate time on a blank bale. Engrain every step and feel of the shot process. If you are a traditional shooter, spend time with a bow with a clicker. The most common issue with new shooters is trying to punch the trigger as they “drive by” the spot. Aiming is done early in your shot process, and the good shooters just put it on the spot and let it float. Then, start your execution, whatever that is. Could be a surprise break for a hinge or tension shooter. Could be expending through the clicker for an Olympic recurve shooter. For a traditional shooter, it can be squeezing with the back until you pull the fingers right through the string. If anything doesn’t feel right or your mind wanders from the checklist, let down and start it all over again.
c_m_shooter,
Thank you for the input, all in all great advice!
-TBB