Shooting technique

[Woodely]

Call it what you like and you are right Woodely it is discussed a lot and everyone has their own thoughts on the subject, but what DC said is dead on. Your brain don't know with the first arrow or base ball what to do but over time doing it over and over again it will learn where you need to be pointing to hit what you want. 
 Pappy

Ok,   what Don said was  "you have to aim in one form or another"   "doing it over and over again it will learn where you need to be pointing to hit what you want."   Is pointing another way of saying its aiming.

[Pat B]

I guess pointing is the same as aiming. I look where I want my arrow to go. With enough practice the arrows will go where you are looking. The smaller your target is the closer you'll get to that point so instead of looking at the target overall concentrate on one particular spot, another arrow hole, a slight discoloration or whatever and not just the target.
 When shooting a basketball, throwing a baseball or football you don't aim but look where you want the ball to go. Same with instinctive shooting  with archery.

[DC]

My complaint is not with how it works. It's the use of the word "instinctive" that bothers me. Humans have very few instincts left and throwing/pointing is not one of them. They are learned. I know it's picky and I don't know why it bothers me. It should be called "unconscious" or "habitual". I'll try and keep my mouth shut about it because it wastes a lot of time for no good purpose. I gave up trying to change the world when I turned 30 and now we have legalised marijuana I care even less

[Pat B]

The book I learned to shoot from was G.Fred Asbell's "Instinctive Shooting" so that's why I say I shoot instinctively. Call it what you may but this a universal term for this type of shooting. Just like our primitive archery isn't really primitive archery. 

[Pappy]

I don't know DC , I have a grand daughter that as soon as she could move her arm would point at what she wanted, she hadn't been around long enough at that time to learn that. This conversation is always fun, always seems to get under the skin of folks that use a point of aim that some
don't. I guess I do aim,   I look at what I want to hit, point my arm at it and over time I learn the trajectory.  Eye hand coordination which is if I am not mistaken [correct me if I am wrong] you are born with. 
 Pappy

[Scyth]

. . . I shoot with a thumb ring . . .

the following video has been (more than) useful

https://youtu.be/ckCRXwDThxI


regards

Scyth

[bradsmith2010]

one of the things that helped me the most, was shooting like I shoot best and not trying to change that to shoot "better"...I am bout 6 foot,,, and at some times I tried my best to develope a longer draw,, well I can do it,, but its just not comfortable for me,, I made alot of bows for people with long draws and test shoot them pretty well,, but when I just accepted that I like to shoot 24 25 inch draw,, I had more fun,,,
  I started making bows that were effecient at that draw so I dont have any performance issues,, I have a high anchor so I see right down the arrow,, if you saw me shoot you might think I am snap shooting,, I have a shot process,, I just dont pause,, that works better for me so I dont second guess the shot,, once I draw I am commited,,
ok I can hold if you insist, but I dont like it,, and dont shoot that well like that,, I have killed deer holding till they come to a clearing, but that is not the normal for me,, so I think accepting my shooting style as ok, and going with it, have been what helped me most,,and making bows that fit that style,, hmmm bout the same length as Ishi,,

[DC]

I find that if I don't hold a tad I start down the path to target panic/snap shooting. If I'm just shooting for fun, every few shots I hold a little longer, just so I know that I did stop. That seems to stop the long slide downhill. It seems to reinforce that there is a pause there.

[bradsmith2010]

DC,, I think every one has a little bit different style that works for them,,if you can find that ,, thats the key,, I forgot to mention,, pulling through the shot for me,, the pausing is what gives me the problem,, so I dont do it,,
I always felt like I needed to pause,, but in the long run,, I just shoot better if I dont,, well,, there is a slight pause as I pull through the shot,, but I dont think of it that way,,   I just try not to think,, at this point I have practice for so many years,, I should be able to do it thinking or not,,
most of my practice is at close range,, except on stump shooting,, and I will shoot as far as my bow will shoot,,
just keep doing what is working for you,,thats the best,,
Im not suggesting any one shoot like me,, I am just saying what helped me in my quest for hitting the target,, or deer,,

there is a utube video of me, shooting a few arrows with my short turkey bow,, brad shooting wood bow,, will bring it up

also in the video i am shooting no nocking point,,and no shelf

[StickMark]

Brad, I think we shoot the same way.  Interestingly enough, I hesistated/waited for the more perfect shot, and "my buck of the year" turned his head over the vitals, then pranced after the doe. 

Shooting quick is field efficient.

[Sticks]

I look at the target and my minds eye sees where the arrow will fly to get there then I raise the bow come to anchor and let it fly.Some times I hit something.

[Woodely]

All this stuff about instinctive has got me going.  I have experineced certain things like ESP, déjà vu, some clairvoyant stuff and astral travel (out of body experience). And yes I have seen UFO's though only once.  Maybe pure instinctive is an Alien trait.   In our brains there are areas that need discovering further. 

[Hawkdancer]

I may not be remembering this properly, but it seems that in my very early shooting years, we would actually stick an "aiming stake in the ground for each distance we would shoot with a given arrow length.  Sooner or later, hand/eye coordination and muscle memory would take over, and we shot by "instinct" - actually by learned action.  After a few years or so of good practice, we learned how to adjust for various ranges with more practice, without stakes.  Good practice is the key! 
Hawkdancer

[Woodely]

 "we would shoot with a given arrow length"  I don't get that part I always shoot arrows that are 30" long regardless.  Wouldn't various sizes hinder accuracy.

[neuse]

I hold on target to long, probably 8 to 11 seconds.