44 FORM FLAWS—PART III: WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
Freezing Low ously . . . IF one of them is a programmed action on the subconscious level (the release) while the other is a thought or mental picture that remains on the conscious level (aiming). The way to cure flinching is on the empty bale and/or with a bow simulator by developing a correct and trusted shot sequence, so the program to set off the release (or release the string with the fingers), runs on its own, after being started by the conscious mind, but without conscious supervision. Then, all the conscious (thinking) mind has to do is aim . . . until the “program” finishes (subconsciously). 33. FREEZES OFF (OR ON) THE TARGET (another symptom of target panic) This archer cannot move the sight into the middle of the target. He freezes above, to the side or, more commonly, below the aiming spot, and tries to jerk the sight into (or through) the center while attempting to release. The second type is freezing on target. Here the archer cannot release until the sight is moving away from the middle. Remember, you can only release an arrow under three conditions . . . while arriving on target . . . while staying on target . . . or while leaving the target. Again, the way to cure both of these freezing scenarios (also 18 ARCHERY MAGAZINE
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#31, #32 and #34) is on the empty bale or bow simulator and reprogram the shot sequence, as in #32. Then, do a bridge program like the “21Day Program” and/or “Rotational Aiming” so that the archer trusts the new shot sequence. 34. SNAPSHOOTING – DOESN’T SETTLE INTO THE BULLSEYE (You guessed it . . . another symptom of target panic!) Before releasing, the archer cannot settle into anchor and/or cannot let the sight settle into the bullseye and remain there to aim for 3 to 4 seconds. As soon as the archer touches his anchor, the sight touches the center or sometimes even just touches the edge of the target, the string is released, involuntarily. This “shooting on arrival” scenario is caused, once again by trying to “do” two things at once (like #31, #32, and #33) and must be reprogrammed on an empty bale or bow simulator. The real reason target panic is so widespread is that most archers are over-analytical, risk taker, or control type personalities who won’t trust the subconscious to run the “let-go” program, because they have never programmed it correctly. Therefore, they constantly meddle, monitor, judge, analyze, assist, change, and control it with their conscious minds. 35. DROPS THE BOW ARM (QUITS ON THE SHOT) In an effort to see the arrow fly or see where it hits the target, the archer drops his bow arm prematurely . . . one of the major causes of low and low-left arrows (for righties). The cure for this is to keep or hold your position until conclusion. Conclusion, for example, can be seeing the arrow hit the target (which wouldn’t be a good one in this particular case), hearing the arrow hit the target or (the most popular), your hand will come back and touch your shoulder. All these, and any number of other conclusions, happen after the arrow is out of the bow. This will eliminate this type of movement of the bow before the arrow has cleared the rest and riser. 36. HEELS THE BOW UPON RELEASE As the arrow is leaving the bow, the archer tries to “help” a low arrow into the middle by putting a sudden and inordinate amount of pressure or push on the bottom portion of the bow handle, with the heel of the hand. This can cause high arrows and is a conscious effort to move the sight and there-
Pulls bow to right.
Pushes bow left.
fore, the arrow . . . as it leaves the bow. Obviously, the archer should relax the bow hand and let the bow shoot “through” the hand toward the target into the sling without “helping it.” 37. PRE-LOADED TORQUE—BOW JUMPS SIDEWAYS This is usually caused by incorrect hand position on the bow handle that puts rotational force (left or right) on the bow. When the shot is released, the bow will immediately twist in the hand and will cause erratic arrows. A consistent hand position on the bow handle should be found (and marked if necessary) so that when the archer shoots, the bow leaves the hand straight towards the target, before it moves left and down (for right-handed archers). 38. PULLS BOW TO THE RIGHT (RIGHT-HANDED ARCHER) This occurs when the archer pulls excessively with the right hand, when trying to equalize the number of pounds at full draw. For example, if John Q. Archer is a “push-puller” or “equalizer,” he should have the same amount of weight or pressure in the right hand as in the left. However, if he pulls harder with his draw hand than he is pushing with his bow hand, or he creeps or collapses with the left hand . . . the right hand will pull the bow to the right, causing right arrows. 39. PUSHES BOW LEFT (RIGHT-HANDED ARCHER) Just the opposite, as in #38, is when the archer pushes harder with the bow hand than he pulls with his string hand (or his anchor will sometimes creep forward because he loses back tension), the bow will be pushed to the left, causing left arrows. For both of these form flaws (if the archer is convinced he should be a push-puller), he should practice equalizing the pressure in both hands. However, if he finds this too difficult, he could use a technique more widely used by top archers. This technique, once at full draw, is to hold the bow statically with the bow hand and pull with the string hand. This is called being a “puller”. Another cause of left arrows is when the bow arm is fully extended (usually the draw is too long!), which will cause the bow to “preload” and “jump” to the left during explosion. Also see #26. continued on pg. 38 ARCHERY MAGAZINE
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