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cold shot

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
These things can become an unbearable struggle almost instantly. When done properly, shooting a simple bow is one of the pure joys in life and seems about the easiest thing a person can undertake... and then it goes to crap.
My shooting has been a miserable crap show most of the summer. I was shooting good enough to likely kill a deer at reasonable range but by the feel of the shot and the groups landed, I knew I was doing something wrong.
Finally, just last night, through weeks of frustration, it came to me. The fluidity of the process came back immediately. The arrow flight straightened right up and they landed perfectly. As all of you know, when it leaves and you get it back, it feels really good. But as you also know, it can be gone the very next day!
This morning I rolled out to check on some arrows I’d just painted. They were dry so I went to the target. 25 yards for the first group of the day. I remembered what I’d forgotten for weeks.... each shot felt really good throughout my session.
With one string bows it seems it’s only a matter of time before I forget how to do it again, but for now it’s good.
Here’s that first 25 yard group.
EA6C44A9-D930-4C10-B7B3-59754DA98039.jpeg
 

Creamer

Active Member
1,584
81
Athens


Right after this I jacked up another arrow. I was shooting the swinger and stuck one arrow in it. The next arrow, while the target was swinging a little, hit the side of the first arrow shaft. Heard the crack when it hit, that's the second time this year I've done that. :mad:
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
These things can become an unbearable struggle almost instantly. When done properly, shooting a simple bow is one of the pure joys in life and seems about the easiest thing a person can undertake... and then it goes to crap.
My shooting has been a miserable crap show most of the summer. I was shooting good enough to likely kill a deer at reasonable range but by the feel of the shot and the groups landed, I knew I was doing something wrong.
Finally, just last night, through weeks of frustration, it came to me. The fluidity of the process came back immediately. The arrow flight straightened right up and they landed perfectly. As all of you know, when it leaves and you get it back, it feels really good. But as you also know, it can be gone the very next day!
This morning I rolled out to check on some arrows I’d just painted. They were dry so I went to the target. 25 yards for the first group of the day. I remembered what I’d forgotten for weeks.... each shot felt really good throughout my session.
With one string bows it seems it’s only a matter of time before I forget how to do it again, but for now it’s good.
Here’s that first 25 yard group. View attachment 159795
What’d you forget?
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
What’d you forget?
Simple form issue; when I draw a bow I have to see it as left of center. In other words when I draw the riser is essentially in my line of sight with what I want to hit, arrow appears to be angled to the left of my intended point of impact. My drawing hand comes back and then over to my anchor point. Some coaches refer to it as a “J” draw because the drawing hand if viewed from above makes a hook to the face. Your mind has an uncanny ability to make things more efficient. It’s so darn easy to allow yourself to skip steps. In my case I was skipping the entire thing that forces me into proper alignment so my accuracy went to crap. Not miss a deer crap, but missing the spot I wanted to hit kinda crap. 😁. Once I’ve worked through these issues I’m always amazed at how I forget to do things the right way. I can’t wait to have to figure out the next stupid thing I start doing 🤣
 

Creamer

Active Member
1,584
81
Athens
I didn't shoot much last night. I focused on some real world reps. I have a ground blind set up on private this year so I took my cold shot from 15 from my knees, like I plan to shoot from the blind.



Last three.



I've shot this summer from a blind chair and from my knees, and (save your jokes, assholes) I feel more comfortable shooting from my knees.