Archery…

I own a Hoyt compound. I would like to shoot it. All I need to do is get it set up for me, draw length, peep sight, centreshot etc. I want to shoot it, to face the challenge.

But it will be a distraction, both in time and finances (though less of the latter) from shooting my recurve. I want to get good with this, and the coaching of yesterday has put me on the right road.

I bought it to be an outlet for those times when I needed a break, but I now know I can’t do that. I can shoot one style or another, but not both; well not with any degree of aptitude. At least not yet.

I know that I must stop chasing points with my wallet and start chasing it with practice, proper practice where I apply myself mentally as well as physically. I don’t have enough shooting time to devote to my recurve, without the lure of the compound, flat bow & horse bow..

So.

Do I keep it? Do I sell it? Am I mistaken?

This morning was the first of two coaching sessions arranged for the winter. They are both being run by the Berks & Oxfordshire coaching group….probably got the title wrong there..

Several coaches, one per two archers, two archers per boss and 3hrs. My coach for the morning was the very agreeable napolienne. My target mate was at various times a teenage boy, a victorian lady, Byron and other personalities.

Shortly after starting I was told that I’m not as bad as I think I am..possibly true.

We went quicly from shooting at faces to blank bossing, with only target pins as reference points…

Things we worked on? – without reference to the piece of paper.

Shoulder low / back tension
Give it some! – shoot like I mean it & other concentration ideas..another of the coaches told me I had vacant eyes…they say the nicest things!
Keeping my jaw closed
My release/string hand follow through
Positive thinking – rather than dwelling on what was wrong with a shot, what was right?

More by luck than judgement I killed two target pins..

When I *really* got it together, my groups would be tight, other times less so.

By giving me other things to worry/think about, I found that I was able to ignore my clicker and actually use it.

Thanks napolienne….I still don’t think I’m awesome…but I do have a brighter outlook now.

oh and I’m to buy myself an ipod….and shoot with it to cut down the distractions….

there is a standing invite to travel to oxford to shoot with her of an evening if I wish…outdoors in the cold…maybe not…