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Careful Thoughts, Confident Thoughts
As you are going through the steps of your shot sequence your thoughts are analytical and careful. You are watching yourself, checking each stage is done correctly and aiming to do the next step properly. This happens until you are at full draw, anchored, on target and ready to make the release work. Ah yes, the release. The problem with the release is that you can't force it to work. You can't carefully unwrap your fingers. It happens too fast to see let alone check that you are doing it right. And besides; you've got enough on your mind just aiming your bow at the target. To get the release off consistantly you have to skip to the next stage. That is: where you are going after the release. This requires a shift in your thoughts. The thoughts to get you through release are; confident, bold, go for it, unshakable and sure as death and taxes you will get to your after release position. And more than any other step that after release position has to be really known. Where does your hand finish? Touching your shoulder? Surely if you put it there the shot will have gone off. It is easiest to do with a release aid trigger or clicker. With the trigger you boldly start to pull the trigger and then just concentrate on aiming. With the clicker you boldly start to draw back toward your 'after release position' and then, again, just concentrate on aiming. A release aid trigger will automatically go off if you keep pulling it. The clicker will click at some point before you reach your 'after release position'. The 'click' creates an automated relax-your-fingers response and your hand continues on its path. The triggerless, clickerless archer might create a built in timer which he mentally counts through to help him past the release. He boldly starts to draw to his 'after release position' and sets his 'counter' off. Eg. 'One - start to pull, two, three - relax fingers - reach shoulder.' It merely remains to hold everything together until you are sure that the arrow has cleared the bow. This is worth mentioning. Far too many archers seem far too interested in seeing where the arrow is going to bother with holding their posture. Or they think that the shot is over once they have released. No, no, no. You must maintain that solid wall of certainty past release. Wait till your bow drops or you hear the string vibrate. Now you can relax. You've done well. And its fun to watch your arrows land in the gold - plumb next to the others. |