Music

[TreacherousT]

Has anyone messed around with shooting with music? I am thinking about trying it for a while and was wondering if anyone has had any bad or good experiences with it?

Thanks :D

[Harald]

Last Norwegian indoor championship they tried to lively up the crowd with music. OK for the younger shooters but the older ones didn't like it.
Was not there myself but think I would not appreciate it but not let it bother me neither.... :D :D :D

[Flame]

ditto :D

[Marcus]

I have had good and bad experiences

Good: Listening to my iPod while shooting at the club. Love shooting to My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and Sneaker Pimps. Helps me keep my mind from wandering too far.

Bad: The music at the Nationals between ends. Simply horrible. (yes i know in the best intentions, just so far off my tastes that it started to cause my brain to rebel. )

[coach]

If I'm having a really good day I often find myself singing a song to myself. Which is probably best because if I sang out loud it would probably annoy the rest of the group as I have a really bad singing voice :lol:

[clever_guy]

Sure it breaks the monotony of shooting long sessions sometimes, it just can't be so loud at distract you/break your concentration. For some reason I find that UB40's white boy reggae is like shooting to a metronome

[Juggs]

well it has been proven that fast tempos can raise the heart beat and impair driving ability. ( by up to 50+ bpm)

so i doubt most modern music would be of any benefit to an a archer

[TreacherousT]

What about listening to slow music, does that lower your heartrate and help you to relax?

[CMB50]

no...it just makes you want to kill yourself.

[ec]

from sport psych artcle

Dr Debbie Crews from Arizona State University wanted to find out what happens to brain activity as golfers endure an increasingly stressful game of golf.

She got 10 amateur golfers and asked them to hit twenty 2.5 metre straight putts on a flat green to see how many they could make. Then pressure was added to the equation: the golfers were asked to hit 20 more putts, but were told that they were being filmed for a current affairs program and would be seen by a national television audience. Then their stress was bumped up even further: the golfers were told that they would receive $300 if they matched or beat their first score, but would lose $100 if they did not. Crews then measured their self-reported anxiety, heart rate and brain activity as revealed by an electroencephalograph.


Right brain left brain

All players showed a similar increase in brain activity as the situation became more stressful. However, the five who did best and won the $300 showed an interesting trend in brain activity - their brain activity was evenly distributed throughout both sides of the brain. Whereas in those who failed, the left side of their brain was doing most of the work.

This suggests that involving the more creative right side of the brain is crucial in getting a good result when coping with stress. "Imagery and target awareness are created in the right brain," Dr. Crews told Golf Magazine. "When the left brain is dominant, the golfer becomes self-aware: 'What am I doing?' 'How is my stroke?' 'Am I aligned correctly?' and so on. That kind of thinking usually leads to trouble."

There are several mental cues, says Crews, which are useful for engaging both hemispheres of the brain to enhance performance. These include visualising your target, recalling a favourite song, imagining the feeling of "yes" (as in, "Yes I can!"), and picturing a sense of being finished.

[Eberbachl]

Interesting stuff, thanks ec :wink:

[Marcus]

Best post I've read in a long time

[Zoe]

Could this explain the Malynn mini-skirt?? "I'm not a transvestite, I'm just trying to get in touch with my right hemisphere" :-?

[adam(aka the punisher)]

I suppose it would depend on what you were listening to and the person. If I was listening to Snoop Dog rapping with Dre ain't nutting but G thing baby. I reckon I could get right into the mood for a shoot. But if I was listening to 2 pac rapping hit em up. Bit to fast and reved up for me. :bday: will try this weekend

[Flehrad]

I actually shot better with the music between the rounds at the Nats this year....

I think it just depends on your training environment as well. For the last 5 years, our club had a gym with music loud and clear all the time we were shooting, so it's something that makes it more of a comfort thing, where as a dead silence is very un-nerving, especially if you're not used to competitions.

Our new training grounds is very silent, so it will be interesting to see if it makes much difference.

[grantwomack]

I listen to classical music or audio books between ends at tournaments. Rock music makes my mind too stressed and silence makes me think about where I am in terms of my score, what I need to shoot and how I could improve to get a better score. Keeping the balance is good.

I definitely agree with Marcus about the music between ends at the Nats! Should be done away with immediately! :agrue:

But talk to Shirt. He relies heavily on his music when shooting a tournament. And I think he finally found a balance that works for him...

[andy]

I always used to play much better basketball when I was listening to music i like (hip hop, r n b). What about you Marcus? Seemed to make me more lively. If i'm in a bad mood & I hear a track I like I find it hard to stay in that bad mood (no matter how hard I try).

Not sure if it helps my shooting or not but it does keep me occupied when im not shooting at a tournament.

[Marcus]

Never use to listen to music playing basketball. However I did play better when I was visualising the plays before they happened. (I think that's what ec is talking about). You know when you are standing in the paint and you think "if this bounces off the rim in a certain direction I'll tap it back in" and then you do, or "get me the ball here and I'll drain that 3 pointer" etc.
Now just need to work out the best way to do that with archery.


I always used to play much better basketball when I was listening to music i like (hip hop, r n b). What about you Marcus? Seemed to make me more lively. If i'm in a bad mood & I hear a track I like I find it hard to stay in that bad mood (no matter how hard I try).

Not sure if it helps my shooting or not but it does keep me occupied when im not shooting at a tournament.

[Eberbachl]

Hmmmm, I think this is a very interesting topic.

I haven't tried shooting to music, but will take my walkman to the club and give it a try.

As far as visualisation goes. It's a hard one I thnk. What do you visualise?

Holding rock steady?

The perfect suprise release?

Good follow through?

The bow leaving your hand? (sometimes I visualise the way the bow leaves my hand and jumps out towards the target. I think this helps).

The arrow drilling the X?

I'm not sure what would be best.

One thing that springs to mind is that sometimes when I have visualised the arrow drilling the X, then I think.......

......"but what if it doesn't? :o"

Of course that isn't a healthy state of mind to be in, so I don't tend to visualise where the arrow will hit.

I think that visualising perfect form, or the shot going off well does help, and as such the arrow will tend to go where it's intended.

......just some thoughts :D What do others think?

[Axilla]

Visualisation:

Holding steady

Arrow in 10

Follow through

Busy visualising these three so release is usually surprise.

What is not usually a surprise is the the arrow doesn't strike in the ten.

[clever_guy]

Eberbachl;

"What do you visualise?"

Your entire shot sequence, in detail, but with a "perfect" shot. You have to match the feel of a good shot with the visualization in your mind. Breaking it into pieces is probably a waste of time. I think we covered this in the visualization thread...

-CG

[Eberbachl]

I think we covered this in the visualization thread...

OK CG, so let's never talk about it again :wink:

I know it's been discussed before.

I noted a few points because it relates to the topic at hand, and the usage of left/right sides of brain that was previously mentioned.

:D

[ec]

before you think i know what i'm talking about - i just cropped & pasted; if you want the whole article pm me with an email address.

[Eberbachl]

Thanks ec,

I'd be interested to read it.

3daaa@dva.asn.au

Cheers,

:wink:

Luke.

[clever_guy]

"OK CG, so let's never talk about it again"

Agreed...I will consider this a binding legal contract...

;) :P :P

-CG

[Eberbachl]

CG: :P

[Steve B]

for those that like the youth of britian and cats check this out ( you might to have better than dial up though I think)

http://www.youthofbritain.com/chillout/

nice stuff and good advice as well :D

[Flame]

:D

[CW]

:wink:

[robbo]

( you might to have better than dial up though I think)




That leaves me out. :-?

[Flame]

( you might to have better than dial up though I think)




That leaves me out. :-?

One day Robbo :D

[robbo]

:(

[derekm]

Can we now go into a critique of the cat's motorcycling technique? :fadein:
Poor countersteering action,
not moving position on the saddle, and above all FAR TOO TENSE :)

[M.Ross]

In between ends at tournaments I find that music helps considerably. It lets me not think about score and how well or bad im shooting. Or If Im in a slump, music really helps.

hope I could help
miles

[kae]

Once shot at a fun shoot, they let the archers choose the music (big mistake), although that was bad enough, some silly bugger put a mic too close to the speaker and a high pitched scream flowed over the field, whilst most were at full draw.

wasn't much fun. broke an ace, boss leg at 20yds :(

[Patchy]

Thats the thing thougfh you need to get used to distraction and tune out to the world that what I do :D

[Bia]

What about listening to slow music, does that lower your heartrate and help you to relax?

Actually, it relaxes me so much, that I can

[Dr Fire]

last weekend i was alone shooting at 70m, a nice sunny afternoon, i put my ipod whith quite loud volume to ensure that i couldnt be able to hear the clicker, i was listening pink floyd, and i tried some electronic music like underworld, and i find that it was excellent, i get more sensible at the clicker and the rythm i've got was excellent, very realxing, having fun shooting really nice, without thinking about my form.

[Jay.G]

Mmm yea i shot with music, relaxes you and sometimes i found listening to monty python's 'always look on the bright side of life' :lol: helps me to keep a positive attitude... But most time i just listen to gangster rap.

[StevenB]

....... gangster rap.


shouldn't that be 'gangsta' rap?

[Archangel]

....... gangster rap.


shouldn't that be 'gangsta' rap?
Yeah, it'd help you "bust a cap" in the target, right?

[StevenB]

....... gangster rap.


shouldn't that be 'gangsta' rap?
Yeah, it'd help you "bust a cap" in the target, right?


if he's not busy pimpin'

[Liam]

I like music while I'm shooting, I just have to be careful what music I listen to...

I was listening to my playlist on my mp3 player, when Fear Of the Dark by Iron maiden comes on, start shooting, I was at full draw when gets really hard and fast after going really slow, lets just say that after concentrating on aiming, I wasn't expecting it, and the arrow didn't go where it was supposed to.

[StevenB]

got one of those coke FM radios from a show bag, used that a few times to listen to 92.9FM in sydney while shooting

[RyanN]

Is that what I've been doing wrong? I've been listening to the voices in my head!! :o

Music helps me to chill out and focus on the little things in my technique.
Sometimes with headphones, other times just thinking about a favourite song..

I have found that like music, techniques are very personal and what works for one may not work for another. But it's a good idea to try.

[katzgrin]

And the official view from AA. Page 4 Safety Policy. "Headphones or ear coverings must not be worn while shooting or on the Field of Play". Personally, the nice soft sound of an arrow in the centre of a used target is very satisfying.

[Milkovitsch]

Really - it's not permitted?

I tried this during training, and found it works very well. I can understand the comments re slow music v. fast music etc, however I found that if I like the music it puts me in a good mood and as a result I shoot better.

I don't like the music between ends; invariably I don't enjoy their choice of music, which I find annoying, which makes me shoot bad. I don't think this should be done, I consider it an unfair advantage - perhaps the organisers and some archers have made an agreement on what should be played? Hey I'm serious.

Let them play my choice of music, and I guarantee the old folks will shoot really bad.

[Archangel]

Really - it's not permitted?
As much as anything it's that FITA don't want to see people in the finals at the Worlds/Olympics with earphones, but they don't have seperate gear rules for there, so it's banned everywhere. Not a major loss really - we don't really need to listen to music _all_ the time.

I don't like the music between ends; invariably I don't enjoy their choice of music, which I find annoying, which makes me shoot bad. I don't think this should be done, I consider it an unfair advantage - perhaps the organisers and some archers have made an agreement on what should be played? Hey I'm serious.

Let them play my choice of music, and I guarantee the old folks will shoot really bad.[/quote]
I doubt there'd be a sinister conspiracy going on, but it's quite likely that it could happen almost accidentally - frequently at least some of the organising committee of an event are archers, and if they're picking music they'll tend to pick what they like, which could irritate other archers slightly without them meaning it to.

Personally I think the music between ends thing should die a horrible death because it always sounds awful. In their effort to find music that doesn't offend anyone, it always ends up being dated or teeny-bopper - or worse, both!

[Milkovitsch]

I doubt there'd be a sinister conspiracy going on
I'm sure you're right. However, it is something that could be manipulated at some point.

One feels like a whinger complaining about the music between ends. After all, we're always making suggestions on how to improve things and the organisers try their best. I'm sure the idea was to add a little bit of fun, energy etc into the tournaments and they should be complimented for their efforts.

Should it be scrapped altogether? What do they do elsewhere?

[katzgrin]

Personally I think the music between ends thing should die a horrible death because it always sounds awful. In their effort to find music that doesn't offend anyone, it always ends up being dated or teeny-bopper - or worse, both!

Use noise cancelling headphones. Oh damn, you can't wear headphones. :(

[Archangel]

Personally I think the music between ends thing should die a horrible death because it always sounds awful. In their effort to find music that doesn't offend anyone, it always ends up being dated or teeny-bopper - or worse, both!

Use noise cancelling headphones. Oh damn, you can't wear headphones. :(
It's not so much that it bothers me as it just sounds dumb. If (hypothetically...) there were any spectators, they probably wouldn't be impressed :-)