Losing rhythm at a tournament

[The One]

At a tournament I shot last weekend, it seemed that nothing was really going right. While I have changed down a couple of pounds with new arrows, I thought I'd done enough practice to get used to them. On top of this the weather wasn't the best, my stabiliser extension self-destructed, and I found half-way through 90m, that my clicker had mysteriously moved in about a third of a cm, explaining why I was having trouble getting through it. All this being said, 90m was my best distance, and it fell apart from there.]

It seemed that every shot I did was different, and had no consistency in my string grip, bow grip, front arm pressure, back tension, etc.... And the more I tried to relax, the worse the shots went.

When you lose your rhythm during a tournament, what do you do to try and regain it? Do you simply try and relax, and let it come back to you, or do you actively try to focus on something to try and improve it?

Andrew

[Marcus]

I get this alot as I've been doing major changes in my form and style over the last 6 months. To get around it I have developed a series of fundamental steps that I must go through. If things go wrong I revert to these and it helps me regain the timing etc. These include
predraw (with a compound)
rotation of the release aid so my thumb is deeper
relaxation techniques
focus on processes at a basic level.

Not perfect yet, but is helping.

[The One]

Maybe I should revert to some of the shot plans I was using a while back. Still find that certain shot plans can work wonders one day, and then shoot like a one-limbed armadillo the next :( :lol: :(

[andy]

I had all this worked out when I shot recurve. I often went off track but I knew it would come back straight away so I didn't worry about it. Now though when i'm shooting bad with my compound it just keeps getting worse.

My problem at the moment is getting consistent thumb pressure on the trigger, sometimes it just rests lightly on it and it takes about 30 seconds to come through, when I set it properly though it goes off within a few seconds. I think it's a slight form of target panic, I can do it consistantly on a blank bale but not in a round.

[Jay Bowden]

one good cure to help you get back into the rythym is to put a 20cent coin in your left shoe then continue shooting.
Works well. :D

[CMB50]

what? :o

[Harald]

You don't have a cheaper way to do it?? I mean 20 cent.... :D :D :D

[Jay Bowden]

what? :o
Think about it?
or not :D

It will help take your mind away from what you are doing and let you natural rhythm take over. But don't tell yourself that or it won't work. Just trust it.