Exercise
in Aiming
Adapted from an Article by Mike
Gerard
Here is the aiming
exercise —
 | The first thing to do is to choose a location on a target butt off of the center to aim at. This could be at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, or 9:00 o`clock positions as long as you can also see the center of the target also. I like to choose a line on the target to aim at make this a precise location such as 12:00 o`clock on the 9/8 or 8/7 line. |
| After shooting a few arrows while aiming off, adjust your sight so that you hit the middle while aiming off. Note – if you choose a 3 or 9 o`clock position, note the number of turns you have made to your windage adjustment in order to hit the middle. This is so you can adjust it back when the time comes to aim on again. |
| At this point, come to full draw the way you normally do and briefly aim hard with great focus at your chosen location. Next, move your eye`s focus to the center of the target (where you are trying to get your arrows to hit) and shoot the arrow while focused on the middle. The sight will stay in your peripheral vision, but your direct focus is on the center of the target. |
What this does for you is to
relieve your direct focus from the act of aiming. You are still aware of your
pin out there in your peripheral vision, but you are not having it`s image in
your direct focus. The center of the target is instead in your direct focus.
Why It Works. As you shoot
using this exercise, you will notice your face and neck becoming more relaxed
and that you shoot a nice relaxed shot. The reason for this is that you are not
painfully aware of the movement in your sight pin and this relieves the stress
that aiming puts on your shot sequence. Target panic is a product of the stress
or 'lock up` that occurs when your sight picture does not allow you to complete
your shot properly. The message your sight picture sends to your brain is that
you are not aimed perfectly and are therefore not ready to shoot.
By being totally focussed on your sight pin, your brain is bombarded with
continually changing signals that in effect say, "Okay, I`m ready ... now
I`m not ... okay, ready again, Oh no, not yet! ... creating a "start and
stop" set of signals to all of the control centers of your shot. Ever shoot
an arrow at the instant that the signal says, "No, not ready yet?" In
my case, it is not a pretty sight! This start and stop confidence crusher is the
foundation for target panic. We become fearful of shooting the arrow at the
wrong instant. Typically this is caused by the event of that very thing
happening during a perfectly good day of shooting!. By shifting your sight
picture to being focused on a target empty of a sight, it is almost like
shooting barebow, and the fear of shooting the arrow at the wrong instant
gradually goes away!
"Ever shoot an arrow at the instant that the signal says, "No, not ready yet""
Not only does the fear of
shooting an arrow at the wrong instant gradually build up on you, it also
gradually goes away through the positive reinforcement of having success. This
is how the exercise works: by aiming intensely at the beginning of the shot, you
in effect burn the image into your memory. When you turn your active attention
to the center of the target, the burned in image stays in your peripheral vision
and even though you are not focused on your aiming device, I guarantee you are
still aware of exactly were it is aimed. This restores your smooth shot
execution and removes the hesitation from your shooting motion.
You also get a beautiful picture of the ten ring and your arrow hitting it
without the obstruction of a sight pin. Since success breeds confidence, you
begin to strengthen your faith in the fact that you can relax and shoot a good
strong shot without having aimed on a pinpoint. Gradually you will become
comfortable shooting with a full view of the center as you get to watch your
arrows hitting it!
Once you feel you have restored your confidence in your shooting and sighting
picture, you will notice that when aiming on the center with your sight again,
you are able to do so without concern for the normal movements that take place
during the shot. You are also able to keep your focus on the target with your
sight pin in the background instead of bouncing your focus back and forth
between your sight and the target. This gives a more relaxed nature to the
aiming process and allows your face and neck to have less tension in them. That
relaxation seems to spread through the rest of your body as well.
"Practicing good habits is always the key
to conquering your goals"