four arrows in the 10 ring at 90 Metres

[James Park]

You have a few arrows in the 10 ring at 90M, and know that everyone will be mightily impressed when you get your 60 and will want to come and have a look. Also, Archery Australia has a beaut little badge you can claim for a 60 at 90M (as it does for each range). You can picture yourself shaking hands with the club President as you collect your badge and your name in the club newsletter (and on the forum).
The next arrow you have a huge flinch, shoot a 3 (and Clint gains yet another 7 points on you for that end - he got the 60).
Have you been there? How do you deal with it so that you do indeed get you nice little badge?

(While the above text refers to 90M, the problem is scalable: for a new archer it could be 4 arrows in the gold at 40M, with the prospect of an "all gold" badge, or Noel with 9 arrows in a kill zone on 3D with one arrow still to shoot and the prospect of a "perfect round", or Marcus needing his last two arrows in the 10 ring for a perfect indoor round. Same problem, different scope depending on the archer.)

[Jay Bowden]

There's nothing like pressure to sort the men from the boys is there.

Personally, when I'm in that situation I just think of it as any other shoot on any other day. Just another shot to shoot, if it gets a 10 it gets a ten.
If it doesn't,I'll do it next time.

[James Park]

How about the last shot to win a National Championships Jay, with the opposition already having his last shot in the 10 and you needing to get at least a 9? What do you think of then?

[Jay Bowden]

I don't generally watch other peoples arrows.
And most times I'll be the one sitting down while the other shooter needs the 10 to win. Shooting fast does have some advantages.

I will admit that during the Indoor nats this year,I started to think that "I could win this". About 6 shots later I was thinking "I could lose this just as easy" After that I thought only of shooting like I always shoot.(every week)and thats what I did. It was enough to win.

My theory is that you can only shoot as good as you can at any moment,If someone shoots better and they win. Good on them, there's always next time.

[2Dogs]

Yeah that feeling when the heart races a bit.....is soon killed off when you shoot the 3. :D

I just try to 100% concentrate on my aim, and let the release do it's thing. I know that if I'm aiming in the middle of the gold, and I get a nice quick shot, then 90% of the time it hits it.

I usually give my concious mind something to do at full draw (little tricks :wink: )and just let if happen.

Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't.

When I come to full draw I fully expect the arrow I'm shooting to hit the 10/spot/kill. And if it doesn't I get pissed!.... the laws of probability tell me not all will that, but it doesn't stop me believing that it will.

[MerlinApexDylan]

'To shoot 10's, thats like me.' 8)

[Marcus]

Man how often have I shot similar to this, in fact on Saturday I shot at 90m
10,10,10,7 10, 4

The 7 was just too lazy to let down, the 3 was caught by the wind. I put it down to being just happy with the 4 10's.

Earlier this year I was shooting 70m. I shot the first shot in the 10 and thought 'just shoot emwel and the rest will follow. Next 4 shots felt good, and I looked through the scope, 5 10's.
**** I thought, never had a 60 at 70m before (only distance, done it at 90m)
rested for a second, draw and just got it away pronto. It was a 10.

I'm usually OK withthe 6th arrow, it's almost always the 5th that gets me. After the 5th I have convinced myself I can do it.

I think the key is to do as Jay said, just accept where they land and if it's a 60, so be it.

[baldmountain]

I was chatting with Jim Despart about my progress as an archer and how I'd gotten my first 300, etc. His strongest advice was that there are no 60 arrow rounds. Just 60 one arrow rounds. Each arrow is a separate entity and should be treated individually. Don't worry about the other arrows. Good, or bad. They are gone and there isn't anything you can do about them.

Having said that, I will get excited about an end that is going really well and throw one out in the 3 ring. :(

The times I have kept that 3 out of my game, I've done it by focusing on the target and ignoring the arrows. They don't exist. All that exists is the X.

[Marcus]

Bald,
Shoot alot of Vegas rounds, once you do that for a while the NFAA 300 round becomes super easy. ;)

[baldmountain]

I have been. And your right, NFAA 300 rounds are a lot easier.

What I really want to do is get outside and shoot some field rounds. But it's winter here so no field archery for a few months. (Spent the weekend digging a foot of snow off my 100 meter driveway. I HATE snow! )

Bald,
Shoot alot of Vegas rounds, once you do that for a while the NFAA 300 round becomes super easy. ;)

[Richard_Stock]

My coach alwys says shoot one arrow at a time. That is why I love to shoot three spot indoors because I always have a new target to focus on.

[MerlinApexDylan]

You also have to train your subconcious to realise it's like you to shoot 10's so that you don't break down after shooting 5 10's on the way to your first 60. Just stop and say to yourself. It's like me to shoot 60's, it's like me to shoot 10's.
Dylan