Author Topic: shot anticipation...AKA--FLINCHING  (Read 1186 times)

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Offline huntswithdogs

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shot anticipation...AKA--FLINCHING
« on: January 04, 2011, 07:44:10 AM »
Before I messed up my shoulder and started using with a crossbow, I'd started flinching as I pulled the trigger on my release. It problably stemmed from getting my glasses pulled off on or twice. Since my shoulder has healed up enough for me to try the bow again, I've found the flinch is still there(doesn't happen with anything else, just the bow). I had a guy tell me recently to get one of the older style releases you touch off with your thumb versus a trigger for your finger.
Ya'll ever had this happen? What'd ya do to fix yourself?  Do ya think changing to a different style release will help? I really want to get back into BOW hunting. Me and that crossbow ain't gee/hawing too well.

Thanks
HWD

Offline bigbird09

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Re: shot anticipation...AKA--FLINCHING
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2011, 04:39:16 AM »
couple things you can do.  easiest and best thing is swithc to a back tension style release.  If you are like me you may not like the back tension release, so your next step is to try and cure your target panic.   first if you can turn your target around so you see no spots, just a white bale.  If you can't do this I suppose your could cover it with something, but the trick is to get something that is going to eliminate you trying to aim at a particular spot.  For this you only need to be a few feet from the target, say 5 feet or so.  Then draw back and anchor as you normally do but instead of aiming only concentrate on SQUEEZING the trigger,  the release should suprise you.  Also make sure that you have a wrist strap on your bow as you will drop the bow if done correctly.  Now keep doing this say a few hundred times.  The trick is to get use to a suprise release.  The best way to do it is actually close your eyes and then concentrate on the release.  You pretty much follow the same steps, but you close your eyes, then it completely eliminates your from worrying about the target, but unless you have a big target that your not gonna miss from a couple paces, I would becareful with it.  Again this is something that will take time,  I have heard of people doing this 5 or 600 times before they were "cured".  Also this is something that can come back, so if you notice that you are starting to flinch again, immediately stop and start blank baling again.
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Offline Jane308

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Re: shot anticipation...AKA--FLINCHING
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2011, 01:56:16 PM »
I taught myself to bow hunt, no one in my family bow hunted. In my uncertain mind, the voice would always say SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT, even before I lined up. Causing me to flinch. Since I had noone to teach me often I would get the string burn on my arm. Also causing me to flinch even if I didn't get myself that time.

I tried many things, but what worked for me is just a mental game.
I keep my finger straight, not curled around the trigger, until the second I am going to let the arrow go.

I found it makes me less jittery and makes me have to concentrate on the trigger not the adrenaline. Lining up, the curling finger around, then shooting.

I'm a very careful hunter, if I don't think there is a 100% guaranteed kill, I won't take the shot. So rarely does the finger curl around, except when I target shoot with the kids. Just too many variables for me, I have bad depth perception, blonde, Polish and left handed.  :D :D :D
I tried being reasonable, I didn't like it.   - Clint Eastwood