What kind of archer are you? Time to work!

 There comes a time in all of our archery career when we move from being beginners to real archers. With this comes work.

 Beginner's luck is a real thing, when we are new it just happens. As we progress and start wanting to improve we actually lose this bit of luck. We start trying hard, or worse don't try to do the things that we were doing as new students. When we are new we tend to be taught and try to do the steps. when we start shooting 8's and better, and plateau ...we for some reason stop paying attention and just shoot.

 Now here is the muddy bit.... to some extent this is the goal. To SUBconsciously execute is what we strive for. If we are not ready, we very quickly lose the basic form in exchange for throwing a bunch of arrows down range.

  Every step,  every shot, in practice and even more in training should be given conscious thought. this is what builds muscle memory, slows our execution, and builds solid form that will be the base when stress of competition comes. It also builds confidence that when you shoot your shot good things happen.

   Bad shots will still happen, we should take note of what needs extra thought on the next shot. We cannot get wigged out, just identify and correct. If we worry the bad shot we will breed more bad shots.

  Often when people practice they shoot loads of arrows. I would argue that volume is NOTHING if not stepped through and given thought on every step. Volume is important for developing stamina, but NOT if that volume is reinforcing poor shot execution and poor form. If you shoot 200 arrows punching your trigger, how can you expect to fix the punch. 5 shots focused on pulling through the shot and rotation of the scapula.

So long story short...if you are having a plateau..go back to stepping through your shot...every shot.
                              ...if you want to improve..go back to stepping through your shot process...every                                    shot.

As a coach I can only identify, demonstrate , show , tell ,correct and encourage, I cannot execute, I cannot impart work ethic, when we struggle, and we all do, is when we define what kind of archer we are.

 As I said, we all go through this. It is easier with a coach for sure, but it is not magic. These skills take time and repetition of doing it correctly to become YOUR form, YOUR execution. if we are not repeating the good shots we are taught we cannot hope to get better.

   I for one will be making a audio recording for myself it will say the following......

      Set stance, ( Pause)
      Knock an arrow (Pause)
      Set Grip( (Pause)
      Hook release( Pause)
      Set   
      Set Up , (short pause) Set front shoulder (Short Pause)
      Draw to load come to anchor( pause)
      Verify alignment transfer to hold (pause)
      Aim, hold in the middle (pause)
      Expand, expand, expand

      ( 10 second pause )
     
            This will repeat, it is how I plan on practicing for all of my training shots, half of my practice shots, after all I wont have this when I compete, just as you wont have your coach whispering in your ear when you compete.
     
            You will see I added a step to set up, and transfer to hold and aim, these are areas I need to focus on, we all struggle, and I am ready to work.

Indoor season is in full swing

     a while back my wife Kim said she wanted a hobby so she has non work to think about when not at the office. even though she had shot for years off and on she never seemed to want to go that route. this has CHANGED!!! she came to me and said she wanted to see how good she could get.

 she has been shooting a couple months and is regularly in the 280's she is possibly the best student i have ever had. anyways this has also inspired me to shoot with some purpose.

 i had expressed the desire to shoot Trad and recure, but realisticlly i dont have the time to dedicate to instinctive, and i cant practice a 70" Olympic rig in my shop. i never had anything against compound, just the newness of the 'curve was callin'
  i have , after having them about a year, decided to really set up my white X pression 3D with proper arrows. i had some 500 Fatboys with 120 upfront. although the increased FOC was noticeable, so was the weakening of the spine so most likely responsible for some out side the line calls. 500 w 80 gr has always tuned well for me and since i dont like messing with my set ups i will use the 3D arrow set up indoors. i have 0 interest in alum x23 etc with 2 million up front. the point of the heavy weight upfront is so you could use a fatter( stiffer) arrow than  would normally chart.

   since the SPINE charts out  about perfect with a 80 g i have no need to increase weight....this has become a fad and people are doing it without the logic being applied.


   so long story short.....practice, mental management training and coaching.....repeat.


oh... as a side hobby for myself so i dont burn out i have decided to teach myself bass guitar, i played 6 string for many years  but initially wanted to play bass so its new to me. i got a bass mid summer, and recently got a P Bass kit

   it came pretty rough and with no holes drilled, headstock like a canoe paddle .

    here is the headstock label Gunderfus is my Jazz band KC 4 is for Kim Castle (4 string) and the sn is my anniverasry. from Moe Betta Design off Ebay.

the finished Bass. it feels like a P Bass, sounds like a P Bass and i am in love with it. all it needs is a fret level and crown and it may be perfect. bad new is i had so much FUN building it and seeing it come to life i want to build more. i am considering a Violin style kit or maybe a steinberger headess kit. reason is i want something smaller for vacation etc.