November 4 2012: What are you aiming at?

November 4 2012

We had a great Pumpkin shoot last week-cold and windy, but the pumpkins , ghosts, and zombies were pummelled!

Eye focus-what are you aiming at?

Seems so simple, doesn’t it? Just aim at the gold and release!

Then why don’t all the arrows land in that sweet spot in the center?

Yes there are many factors in form that need to be addressed, but learning the technique for aiming can add improved results. The goal is to hit the target…so, be sure you are aiming at a very specific point on the target-not the aperture, not toward a target area, but a very specific point. Aiming is not done until the archer reaches “hold”. Aiming before that, produces inconsistent results. Aiming requires just a few seconds- but does require the few seconds, and we teach the basic 1,2,3 timing from the beginning.

Look around at trees, flags, items moved by wind. Feel the wind on your skin at “set”. The decision to aim at the x, or slightly off, is made at this point, not at full draw. Consciously getting to hold, then allow  the time to focus through the aperture to the point you are aiming at (and if windy, that point may be a little left, right, above, below). For barebow shooters-although there is no focus through the aperture-the training is the same.

A common break in eye focus is watching the arrow in flight-a quick turn of the head results in a change of eye focus right at the last second, changing the aiming point. Eyes should remain on the target at the chosen aiming point –“laser pointed”; head remains steady, fingers are released by the last rotation of the scapula to the spine.

We will review some focus drills students can do at home and in practice, to gain a calm, relaxed “moment of stillness”, and avoid the natural incessant scanning of the eye.
Take a look at Brady Ellison and how his eye focus remains at the target after the release of the arrow.