Be sure to check and change your nocks!

I have been having a heck of a time with my groups lately and I changed my nocks. My friend Jimmy Butts went from shooting crazy high x counts to missing 5 10s out of 60 arrows. We both changed our nocks and the issue that we spent a couple days on just went away. So, I declare today national scrap your nocks day. I plan to change all of my nocks often from now on. I think this may help my consistency especially when I get out on the road.

First shots with the new XT3500 Limbs

I have been tinkering with my setups trying to get more out of them and the guys at Hoyt have been a huge help. I just got a box in today with a new set of 3500 limbs and a set of Cam1/2 cams to match. I was hoping on some of the new C2 cams, but they are not ready in my size yet.

anyway... I set up the bow and used factory strings, eyeballed the rest and nock,
and just ripped off a round. I had to stop about half way through and retime the bow after the strings settled in, but It shot great.

the XT3500 limbs are well worth it. I feel like they are more forgiving and the bow seems to aim more stable that before.

Time to start a new practice average.

119
119
119
118
117
-----
592 (300 27X - 300 25X)

avrg 118.4

Oh Crud! I almost forgot the baby picture :)

His Royal Highness

George D. Ryals V

:)

"Swing Thoughts"

I can't say that I use swing thoughts in the sense that you imply. I read a lot of golf books so I know exactly what you are talking about. I had heard Tiger talk about swing thoughts before and often wondered exactly what that was... I did a little more reading and ran across this.

"Rehearse the shot with a purpose, then execute it

Before my most recent swing changes I didn't realize the importance of practice swings. They help reinforce swing keys and promote good swing thoughts. Rehearsal swings have helped me with one of my main goals this year: to commit to every swing. Before, I would make a cursory practice swing without that full commitment, and it was mostly a wasted motion. I see the same thing among my amateur playing partners. I also see players make practice swings that don't fit the intended shot. That's a real waste of time and energy......

......If I've made a purposeful rehearsal, fully committed to the shot and executed it to the best of my ability, it's easier to accept the outcome."

Putt to a picture on big breakers

I had only one putting coach in my life, and that was my dad. His concept of putting was simple: Putt to the picture. Whenever I had trouble with my stroke, he would reinforce the early lessons, and I'd regain confidence in my mechanics immediately. That mental technique remains with me in the heat of competition, especially on breaking putts, where visualizing the break and putting to a spot at the apex of the break are critical. I get a picture in my head and stroke the ball toward what I see in the picture while keeping my head perfectly still. Alignment is crucial. A lot of amateurs set up for a putt as if it's straight, then push or pull it back toward the line. Set the face of the putter square to your intended line, then align your body to the putter."

snipped from: http://www.tigerwoods.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=338098&itype=6273

I think what Tiger is getting at here is a dual concept that is referred to in archery as well. mental rehearsal and Total commitment to the shot.

I use mental rehearsal religiously. I do it while driving, working, practicing, and any other time I can be mentally free long enough to shoot a perfect shot. My changes to my swing have really involved the feel of the shot, the actual manipulation of the release, and the memorization of those steps so I can streamline the shot process. I am a believer in the fact that the more natural your style or "swing" is the more consistent you can be under pressure.

While changing my swing I am working through the shot in a very tactile manner. I am using the Morin Trainer to carefully establish my hand feel on the release, my thumb grip on the barrel, and the proper relaxation technique that causes the hand deformation needed to activate the trigger through the pull.

I have almost settled on a feel. I am shooting hundreds of shots with the Morin trainer every day, all day. In the afternoon I go to ten yards with my bow and try out the feel. This give and take between the bow and the trainer is proving to be the perfect combination.

I have shot a dozen or so 600 Fita games from ten yards grooving in what I think is the perfect feel. Tonight I shot 2 120 matches from 20 and that was the first time in a month and a half that I shot from 20. I cleaned both of them and the last 6 shots were pure heaven. I wanted to shoot more, but I was tired and had to head home. I also didn't want to over do it and loose all the head way that I have gotten.

Getting back to swing thoughts.....

The mental rehearsal part is seeing, feeling, and tasting the perfect shot mentally and then doing it. I think of it as a plan of action. In golf you would decide what type of draw or spin you will put on the ball, make up your mind on the technique you will use to attain that goal, and then take a practice swing using the technique and feel that you intend to make the shot with. Then commit to that shot and flow through it with determination and direct every ounce of your positive energy through it.

Shooting a shot in archery is almost the same thing. Here is how I do it. I feel the draw of the bow, align the peep, watch the perfect sight float, and right in time - with the perfect rhythm, kaploop! the perfect shot. Then I put my release on the string and then just recreate it.

Another part of "swing thoughts" for me is the committment to the shot. I have problems with this during 3D or in a very tense shootoff. Negative self talk, doubt, or mental fatigue can cause you to "drop the ball" and the most crucial moment. Sometimes even a negative self image like "i have never cleaned the second day at vegas" can cause you to not be fully committed even on an underlying level.

My swing changes are adressing each of the points that I am weak in and I am totally returning to the basics. I am also dabbling a little in some form changes as well.

Untill next time....

Changed the settings

I was just told that you couldn't comment on blog items unless you are a member. I have chaged that, so post away!

Working on the new swing.

I have been working on shot execution issues for months now and I am zeroing in on a good consistent feel. Feel in the shot is such a fleeting thing, it is hard to grab a hold on it and internalize it forever. I follow golf to some degree and over the years I have watched Tiger Woods change his swing. I didn't understan why the sports announcers made a big deal out of what he was undertaking until now. It is a BIG DEAL to forget 20 year old habits and implant new ones. I have not had too much trouble eradicating the old swing. That sort of happened on its own when I lost feeling in my trigger thumb. Now I have to figure out a good consistent feel to build on.