those with target panic need to try this!!

[clinton miller]

i'm struggling with target panic at the moment and it got to the point where i sought help. i was on tradgang the other day and i emailed Jay Kidwell who has coached olympic class archers on TP. he has been most helpful in his reply so much so that i'll include a copy of what he emailed me. i've been doing the drills only for a day and they have helped me tremendously.
so if your like me and have been frustrated with TP, YOU NEED TO TRY THIS!!!

this is a copy of jay's email-

Target panic, or in your case, a desire to release prematurely which makes it difficult to come to full draw, is learned through associations. You will need to break those associations so you can get back to shooting with control again. I'll give you an overview of the cause of tp then drills to help you break the associations. Let me know how you do with the drills and we'll go from there.

Target panic manifests itself in one of two ways; a premature hold or a
premature release. A person who holds prematurely will lock up before they
get to the bullseye and then they will experience a sudden push toward the
target and a sometimes violent release. A person who releases prematurely
will, well you know how this one works. Each type of tp has the same cause.
The symptoms are different due to different shooting styles. A premature
release is most common with instinctive shooters and the premature hold is
most common with sight and gap shooters. There are some exceptions;
however, they are irrelevant to treatment.

Target panic is actually learned through associations the subconscious makes
while you are shooting. That same part of the brain you are relying on to
shoot "instinctively" is responsible for your symptoms. That part of your
brain is actually trying to help you by making associations and completing
the process more quickly. It, your brain, has learned through much
repetition that you will release when the string is pulled back to anchor.
It is simply trying to function more efficiently by releasing faster. In
many situations you might appreciate this "learning" because it will give
you faster reaction times. There are many sports where these associations
make you a better athlete. In archery, however, that is not the case.

So, what needs to be accomplished here? It's actually quite simple. You
need to teach your brain to stop these associations and put you back in
control. I have not had tp and expect I never will. I have been shooting
for 25 years and I implement the following techniques in my daily shooting.
This keeps me in control. It is similar to dry fire practice with a handgun
that keeps you from flinching.

Basically, depending on your shooting style, the shot process we are
interested in has four parts. (1) Draw (2) Move toward the Bullseye (or the
spot you pick) (3.) Acquire the Bullseye and (4) Release. Your brain,
through repetition, now jumps from 2 to 4 and omits 3. You have to teach
your brain that just because you begin to move through this sequence it has
experienced many times, you are not necessarily going to release. A light
bow is a real help because you won't get as fatigued and will have more
control. I used to shoot 60+ lb recurves, yet, due to age lowered my
poundage to 50 and now shoot a longbow. I feel that I can hold at full draw
for at least 5 seconds with no discomfort. If you can do that with your bow
you will probably be fine. Otherwise, you may need a lighter bow. You can
even make one out of PVC tubing or something.

Now on with the treatment; you need a light enough bow so that you can get a
firm enough grip on the string so that you do not release. Wrap your hand
around the string if necessary so that you do not release during the
exercise because you will be drawing and "moving through" the target - then
easing off to an at rest position during these drills. What you will be
teaching your brain is that drawing and moving toward the target does not
mean that you will release the arrow.

Random Draw Drill - In your shooting area, nock and arrow and draw on a tuft
of grass, stump etc. then ease off to an at rest position. This would be
the same as aiming a gun at something and not firing. Actually, you should
incorporate this into your shooting from now on to loosen your shooting
muscles and get them warmed up before you actually shoot. I do this fairly
regularly to warm up and strengthen my drawing muscles. Do this drill 2-4
times and intersperse with the other drills.

Move Through Drill - Do not "fix on a spot" and draw in front of the
target from a distance where you can easily hit the target (5-7 yards) and
move the bow around the whole target in a figure 8 or sideways 8 a few times
then ease off without releasing an arrow. Relax and do it a couple more
times. You have an arrow nocked but you do not release. Do this drill a
2-3 times then walk away a few steps and repeat the random draw drill once
or twice on different objects.

You have drawn an arrow at this point 8 or more times and you have not
released. Your brain is now realizing that something new is happening. The
association it once knew is not being repeated and it will reset itself
within time.

If you have no problem holding the string normally while doing these drills
you can move on. If you have to really grasp the string you should repeat
the drill with a more normal grip as you see fit. You are getting to the
point where you can get a normal grip and do the first two drills with no
problem.

You still have not released an arrow!

Move Through and Release Drill - This is simply the move through drill with
the addition of a release. Do the move through drill and after a figure 8
or two (depending on how long you can hold) release when you get in the
general area of the center of the target. Repeat this drill a couple times.
You might want to focus on working on a crisp release on this drill. That
way you will be focused on something in your shooting form. Do a sideways
figure 8 and a regular figure 8 to break things up a little.

Do this a couple times then repeat the first two drills without releasing
then back to this one.

So far, these drills should be easy since you are not fixing on a spot. You
are just drawing back, holding and maybe releasing or maybe easing back
down. What you are doing is breaking up old associations.

Take your time with these drills and enjoy yourself. Don't rush or push the
hold beyond your comfort level.

Finally, we get to the final drill that you will incorporate in your
shooting from now on. I use this all the time to avoid learning the tp
associations.

Move To and Away Drill (add release) - In this drill you will pick a spot
and draw on that spot, hold and move to the right, left, up and down in a +
sign shape. Move to and way, to and away then release. You don't have to
get all 4 in at once. You can do 1 to 4moves then ease off to an at rest
position. Do this a couple times then repeat, only this time you will
release at the bullseye on the second, third or fourth move to. You will
get to where you will draw, move away, move back and release periodically as
you practice.

You probably can work through these drills in one session. If you have a
problem, take a break and come back and begin again. I'd expect that within
half an hour you should be getting back control.

Let me know how things progress.

[perry]

Stop teasing us Clinton Post a link or a copy thanks mate

Edit OOPS , THANKS MATE

regards Jacko

[clinton miller]

sorry mate i had trouble copying it.

jay is happy to help anyone. his email is- jay@n-sights.net should you wish to contact him.

i'm going to grab a copy of his book, 'instinctive archery insights' next time i do a 3rivers order.

[perry]

Good read Clinton, so broadly speaking the fix is to re-educate you mind into a correct shot process. Really important information in it, thanks again . I hope you get on top of it sooner than later.

regards Jacko

[clinton miller]

it's not a half hour session and your cured. it's something you incorparate into you daily practice.

i did however experience better results and more confidence after one session of drills.

[kimall]

I came upon this type of drill myself when I was suffering that bad I almost through it all in.I got that extreme I would draw and hold on a brick wall just so the brain was overridden by the dont shoot or it will break not the "quick release response"
I had tried to deny I had TP until someone asked me to draw and hold for a photo and I could not do it.
I do almost exact as he says now and am loving my archery again.
Cheers KIM

[Chase N. Nocks]

I'd go even on step further. Do Jay the courtesy of purchasing and reading his exceptional and ridiculously priced "Instinctive Archery Insights".

I wish I had read this book 20 years ago.

That way you have a feel and a basis for clear conversation of what this insightful Archer has to say.

[kimall]

Yep I agree mate I got the book and it is the best value book I have ever bought.
Cheers KIM

[Chase N. Nocks]

Hi Kim,

I was trying to edit what I said as it came out a bit bossy

Yes I only bought it about 3 weeks ago and it has been to work with me everyday and on the reading stand at night even though I finished it fairly quickly I keep popping in to certain sections.

It has been around for an long time though as I can remember someone mentioning Jay's "Button/Picking a spot technique" to me about 20 years ago.

[kimall]

Not bossy at all mate right on the money this guy sends free help to guys all over the world it is nice if he gets a bit back for this. It is VERY cheap too and I get more from it every time I read it.I got sick of everyone saying that it was just a to heavy bow and this had nothing to do with it I could draw a bow 10 pound heavier as long as there was no arrow and hold it all day no probs but put an arrow on and I could not anchor 30 pound.When I relised it was a thought process that had a glitch in it I was half way to fixing it.
Cheers KIM

[terryzac]

clinton can you get a copy of the book for me too. i will send you some money when you want.
have never had tp aswhen i tought myself to shoot i would always hold for the count of 5 before i released, and still do to some extent
terry

[clinton miller]

no worries terry. i might be a while before my next order though.

[terryzac]

too easy clint, it would be even longer before i ordered anything
terry