9. A week out from Ballarat

 06/02 - Evening practice group 4 has always given me a bit of grief so I knocked out 37 arrows, odd number due to losing a feather as one shot passed through the top of the bag and I couldn't be bothered going and getting another arrow. 

Threw 15 arrows at group ones and 10 walking back through group 2 and 3 distances - 62 shots tonight total and a good mix too I reckon.

Tonight I focused on my shot sequence, slowed it down and made a conscious effort to relax through the draw. 

I've never really done a lot of training in short periods of time. Outdoor shooting there is always a break while waiting as the group shoots and walking on after 1 to 3 arrows. Indoors is five shots and a five minute or so break so you just don't get fatigued. 

By shooting five or six shots in a row, picking them up and doing it again straight away I felt I was tensing up through my neck and shoulders and making myself tired quickly and in turn effecting my form. 

Being mindful and relaxing through the first three stages in my shot sequence, it gave me a split second longer to get my aim and breathing right before release and felt much better and more sustainable.

08/02 - 55 arrows group 5 only. Very apparent that my shooting is generally in areas protected by wind. The outdoors range is pretty heavily vegetated and indoors has no wind at all. I missed the butt maybe a third of the time and I reckon the wind had something to do with it. My practice range faces north, the wind was blowing from the south southeast to south southwest and swinging between the two. Made for some over shots, note to self to keep the grass short behind the butt.

09/02 - Indoor Competition, IFAA Field @ marked distances. Six targets, 4 arrows each, scoring was 20, 18, 16 with a max score of 500 (including a 20 bonus for everyone so the handicap will work), I shot terribly for a woeful score of 208.


12/02 - Outdoor shoot - 56 arrows. After working on my gaps in all groups and distances and shooting so badly at indoor when the distances were marked, I thought it is probably best to simplify it, silence the voice in my head throwing distances and where my arrow tip needs to be at me. 
Said to myself to practice like a competition, trust my judgement where the distances vary for each shot and keep the gap info in the back of my head as it is definitely helpful at some distances.
Not my best three arrow round but I got in the swing of it and was very happy with my one arrow afternoon. 
Highlight was the classic shot off to the left and had it not skimmed off a tree it would have been lucky to hit the left side of the butt at all, it shimmied into the 20 instead and I was very happy that there were two others there to see it.


FL14 Tally:

This period  -  117 arrows @ home
                    -  56 arrows @ outdoor shoot
                    -  24 arrows @ indoor shoot
    
2023 Total Arrows - 531
Casualties - 0 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

18. Donald, Dunolly, Stawell, action packed mid season break

Image
I didn't end up practicing during the week leading into Donald, I rested the elbow instead. Indoors was on a break due to school holidays, crappy weather and motivation was low. 07/ 07 - By Friday I was keen to get going. I had packed the car, gathered all my supplies on Thursday afternoon and packed the car with all but the last few daily items. I punched the destination into the phone, whacked on the audio book and I was off for the three plus a bit hrs. I spend a little bit of time in the car with work and I use that time to listen to stuff, I try to educate myself or at least look at how I can improve my life, the lives of those around me, my health and other things that are a conversation for another time. I also, like most people, have a playlist of songs from events and times in my life that evoke nostalgia, which isn't what it used to be btw, and some awesome tunes to pump me up, level me out, turn me around and put my left foot in. I save that list for these kinds of t...
Read more

8. Ballarat 2 Day - two weeks out

Image
Tues 24/1 - 55 arrows. Group 1 for 30 arrows, walk back 25 arrows. I shot again Monday 30/1, only 10 arrows and lost the piece of leather from the rest, along with two fletches. Ended up cutting the feathers back an inch and dolloped some glue on the leading edge, also glued back on the leather. Tomorrow is the day! Wed 01/02 - 48 arrows. Group 3 for 30 arrows, walk back 18 arrows. Thur 02/02 - Club Indoor shoot returns. 3D targets first up in the rotation and we have one of each target group 1 through 5 with five arrows at each. The scoring is 20,18,16 with a max score of 500. I shot a 348. In the indoor shed A grade is to the right of the witches hat which is usually separated by Badminton nets. The coloured Olympic style targets on the left are B grade with distances set for the kids' abilities.  We feel this encourages them to gradually improve while still being able to see better results at set distances over the course of the night and over a few weeks and then we make t...
Read more

17. Bendigo ABA - Donald Invitational lead up

Image
 04/06 - A beautiful sunny Sunday and everyone that usually hits the outdoor range has other plans. I had some chores, mowing mainly and it  can take a lot of time, so the next decision was easily made.  The beautiful sunny afternoon was calling and I did not want to waste it so I mowed half the lawn and making sure I got the important part, went and got the longbow out and hit the home range.  The rest of the mowing can wait until tomorrow.  - 66 arrows. 05/06 - Home range 30 arrows, Due to the additional mowing, work, school pick up etc I ran out of daylight but managed a few ends. 08/06 - Indoor range 3D shoot - 50 arrows 09/06 - Home range - 66 arrows. I'm enjoying the walk back shooting, usually 6 arrows a run as I find that any more and I get a bit tired. After warming up, which usually takes two ends, I thought I'd go off each marker plus one at 5m and 48m.  This is something I do once every time I practice, the rest of the time the distances ar...
Read more