Ok...Ok... I've learned my lesson

Mike Leiter came up to me in Vegas and wondered if I was ever going to post on my blog anymore. Well, I am back and I have some stuff to talk about.

First of all I am a little upset at the NFAA. I hear that the NFAA directors, during their annual meeting in Vegas, ruled that 23 size shafts were the largest allowed. I thought this would be a good idea. Getting in line with FITA rules, or at least a little closer would go a long way to standardizing archery for the world. Well... The rule was rescinded at the eleventh hour after a meeting called by Bruce Cull. Now I don't know any details first hand, and I won't presume to explain what happened, but something did happen which prompted the meeting and the subsequent hacking of the ruling. I have also heard that the rules passage went through the process virtually uncontested and passed with an overwhelming majority.

Now let me start by saying I don't care what size arrows we are allowed to shoot. Everyone will shoot the largest the rules allow, So the playing field is always level. The idea that smaller shafts save target butts is a little lame to me too. because the best pros drill one hole regardless of the shaft size anyway.

What bothers me is the fact that some outside interest has sway over our governing body. The directors made a rule that they thought was for the betterment of the sport. By the way... I am all for placing limitations on equipment to preserve the intent of the game (ie. Golf, Motor sports, etc.) This rule was thought to be a mistake by someone and Bruce thought it best to convince the Directors that it would be best to rethink the ruling.

OK, so here is what I think should be done. Number one, no outside party should have sway over a ruling - ever. If the NFAA can't accept donations from outside sponsors and then continue to govern themselves they way they feel is best for the sport, they shouldn't accept money from pressuring parties. In this case it seems the die is cast. Number two - Keep the rule but implement the rule with a longer lead time to allow proshops to rid themselves of stock and manufacturers to retool for the new ruling. So - Hear me NFAA... Keep the rule but don't enforce it until 2010.

:climbing down off soapbox:

Now about my abysmal performance in Vegas this year. I shot a miserable 895 with a ridiculously low X count. This weekend highlighted what has been wrong with my archery for some time now. I have been running under the basic assumption that once you figure out shot execution, it is yours forever. I was totally wrong on that one. It seems that we just borrow it for a while. If you let it get rusty or don't maintain it. It runs away from you. I think my shot has had one foot out the door for about two years. I have shot mediocre for about 3 years with enough of the little shining moments to keep me believing that everything is OK. Well - somethings rotten in Denmark. My shot groove totally left me high and dry. I probably shot 5 well executed shots all weekend. On the last day I shot with Jorge Jimenez The El Salvadorian World Cup King. I would have loved to have had a normal shooting day that day in hopes to ward off any embarrassment, but is wasn't to be. I struggled all day and Jorge could see it. I had one good end and as I turned off the line he nodded and mentioned that this end looked right. :) I was totally embarrassed. I was also so angry at myself for having to watch the "good shooters" from the other side of the room. Being accustomed to standing on or near the top butt for so many seasons really makes it sting when you find yourself all the way over on the other side. I was in good company. I was shooting with my buddy GillingHammer, Chris White, and Stevie Stark. They were also pissed to be so far away from the action.

I was glad to see Dave win. I think it has been ten years since he beat me in the shoot-off in the old sands building for his first win. I think it was '98... oh well it was somewhere in there. I have been trumped at the last moment in Vegas so many times now it all runs together. :)

So the good news is I have a plan..........

Here's the problem.

My aim is stable, but my shot execution is patchy. It is smooth one time and it rough the next. It almost feels like I am timid on the trigger or I am varying my grip on the release handle causing an issue with the right pressures. My release technique has been the same and stable for 15 years, but lately it seems harder and harder to catch the groove and do it with consistency. I think this is all stemming from my thumb injury in 2005. That dead patch on my thumb is right on where I hold the barrel. I have been tinkering with my swing ever since. I did win the world championship that year, but had to shoot off for it because I shot a crappy x-count. I should have cleaned it. Anyway... I digress.

Instead of continuing to tinker with the old thumb button and continuing to limp along... I have decided to take drastic measures. I switched to a Hinge Tuesday. Not only that... the hinge didn't have a rope knot so I am having... :gasp: to shoot a D-Loop. I hate D-Loops partially because I have to use the Hyphen when typing the word, but also because of the extra pressure exerted on the release mechanism, the nock tuning hassles, and the little tuning anomalies that are caused when it pinches or causes rise in the shaft. Theres more, but I don't want to bore you anymore with all of why I hate D-Loops. I also tried Tuesday to shoot a truespot lens. That was the most angering thing I have ever done. I actually got so frustrated on one end that I kinda hucked my release. yes... I did.. I hucked it. I took a second to calm down then did the walk of shame down range to go pick it up. Next I pulled out my good ol' dot lens. Too much changing in one day. Today (wed) I hopped a plane with my son G5 and jetted off to Atlanta. We left mom at home so she could have a break for a while before baby 2 is born. And I will shoot the NAA Nationals on my old home turf. I haven't shot a tournament in GA in 15 or so years. It felt great to get down in my old basement and fling a few at 19 yards. :)

Today my shot was waaaay better and the timing actually matches my aiming curve. OH! I almost forgot. I am shooting the hinge with the click! some of you who have talked with me about the click are dying right now. I have been the most adamant hater of click releases mainly because I never see anyone use the click correctly. Well I am no saint for sure and I am still trying to figure it out, but it is giving me an added layer of security that I need right now. Today I shot a 594 FITA I don't have my 120 breakdown and I am too lazy to go downstairs and look at the scoring stippling and figure it out. You'll have to wait until next time.

So what am I working on tomorrow?

I have to figure out how to raise my comfort level with the release. My back half is way too hard and tense. I have to develop a better face anchor to slow the sight down and work on the flow. It feels nice now, and I am getting arrows off with a consistency that I haven't seen in a great while. So, a little more water under the bridge and lets see how this shakes out.

If anyone is reading this... Feel free to comment so I know you are out there. :) or am I just talking to myself? ;)