Concentration, confidence and the bane of shooting

       In an earlier blog I spoke about concentration and the amount of focus we need to have when shooting at objects or animals in the field.  This is an extremely important part of learning and using the Hill style for shooting a longbow.  Concentration on the shot was shown to me when I watched John Schulz shoot arrows.  But all the concentration we can muster can be immediately rendered ineffective and we turn into basket-cases, unable to muddle our way through any further shooting.  How does this happen?  Voices.

     In most cases, when we are learning to shoot in the Hill style method...aka fluid, casual, relaxed swing-draw style...we have ears that are too big and minds that are too active.  Our ears are quick to catch that comment from our shooting partner.  "You know, your fingers didn't touch anchor." or "Did you know your release hand didn't come back ... are you using proper back tension"  or my favorite " Your hand was about 'this far' from anchor and you had 'this much arrow' sticking out in front of your bow' ".   Any kind of comment along these lines, said to us when we were concentrating on the spot to hit and not thinking about form, can be devastating to our confidence and we immediately try to rectify the problem on the next shot...and the next...and very quickly we drop down into the pit of despair.  We turn from the hunting style of shooting into the target style of shooting.

     Remember,  I've hounded on the premise of only thinking about shooting form when you are at the close bales away from the "bush" as Hill termed it.  When there is not a single spot on the backstop to take your attention away from thinking your way through every part of the shot process...and the need for this practice to happen over and over to ingrain the proper shooting form into the subconscious.  Schulz said that Hill said, you cannot concentrate on the target and worry about form at the same time.  This is for shooting in the Hill hunting style. If you are target shooting, and approach shooting with that mentality, there can and will be a checklist of things to think about when making a shot, but that's ok, because the target isn't going to grow weary of your shot process and run away.  For shooting in the Hill style, there is no thinking of form once you are out in the "bush" and shooting at game or roving targets. Out there, you just look and shoot with extreme concentration.  You Trust, Trust...Trust your form to work and the arrows to fly where you are looking because you've put in the time shooting thousands of arrows at the blank, close backstop ingraining proper form.

     The partner that makes those comments, isn't doing you any favors.  Or you can learn to tune them out, just like I witnessed Schulz do.  He could care less what anyone said or thought.  In his mind, he had perfect form when he shot, so all concentration could be on the target, and he would hit it because the mind and body knew what to do if they were just allowed to do it.

    The same premise holds if you're out shooting by yourself, away from the close bale and in the woods or "bush" as Hill says.  If you shoot at a stump, or leaf, or that squirrel, rabbit or deer...and you miss the spot you're looking at...Don't, Don't...Don't analyze what you just did.  You are not shooting groups on a target face and each shot will be varied.  Just get that arrow and pick another spot at something else and shoot it.  In your mind you have perfect shooting form that you can trust to perform when you need to, because you know you've put the time in at the close blank bale perfecting it.  Absolutely do not listen to the voice in your head, suggesting you did something wrong to miss the shot.   Maybe you did, or maybe you didn't.  That isn't of any consequence.  What matters is shooting with a clear mind, with absolute Trust that you can make this shot, right now, because you've shot well before.  You've made those shots, you've put in the time and now you can trust it to happen again.  

    You may miss, but you can't allow it to affect you.  Period. You cannot fear missing and try to adjust.

     Schulz told me one day, in all seriousness, something very important.  He said he was witness to the best arrow shooter he'd ever seen...Howard Hill...and John said he watched Hill miss. John said a miss absolutely did not affect Hill in any fashion.  He said sometimes Hill missed shots that would normally be deemed easy.  After all, he was human.  However,  Schulz told me that what set Howard apart was that if he missed, it didn't affect him...he would just grab another arrow and shoot the target or animal.  Past shots, whether good or bad, didn't have any affect on future shots. Each shot was it's own and each shot was made with utmost confidence that it would be perfect.  With this mentality, this positive thinking and approach, it made him a very confident and accurate arrow shooter. Confidence breeds success.  The more confidently you shoot, by not listening to the voices, the more accurate you will shoot.  If the voices come,  dismiss them and just look and shoot and you will hit.

     Hunting shots don't need the consistency of shooting groups.  That is target shooting mentality and shooting for groups in the backyard, even if it's for hunting practice, is just reinforcing the target shooting mentality.  Learn to leave that mentality behind and follow Hill's guidance.  Learn to shoot one arrow, right now, as perfectly as possible.  And if you miss, go get it and shoot again, perfectly.  Each shot with extreme confidence, with extreme concentration.  That is how you will

     Shoot Straight.