It has been a while since an update, so here we go!

I officially declare Indoor Training season open!!!!

I am totally changing my swing this year. This is something that I have needed to do since I injured my thumb before the world indoor trials a couple years ago, but I have been in denial. :)

So now I am ready to go. I will be cleaning up my form, Changing my shot execution, and shooting more than ever to get ready for indoor season. I tried my new swing sort of cold turkey at the smackdown at wildwood and shot a couple great scores with tight groups, so I am on the right track, but I still have to think about it too much.

I will be working to memorize my new swing for the next month or so.

I love The Spiral Cams!

It took a little work and shooting, but I love the spiral cams! I am switching all of my bows over to them now. The hard wall and the stiff pull is a little hard to shoot at first, but it appears to be ultra consistent, and easy to shoot well with. My field scores have been bumping up in large chunks lately, so I am very happy with what I have working right now.

I can't wait to give them a shot with my indoor rigs!

See ya'll at the Nationals!

second time out with the Spiral Cams

I put my Spiral Cam bow back together after its sudden dissasembly the other day. I then sent an email to one of my friends at Hoyt and told him that the sprials were kicking my A$$. He clued me in to the fact that hardly anyone shoots the same weight on the spirals that they do on the cam and a half.

So... I turned the bow down a full turn and a half and didn't tune it or anything. I just eyeballed everything into place and shot 3 practice ends at 70M to get it sighted in. The bow held well but I was still having trouble with my dot fit at 70M. Just for kicks I got out my dot pack and and applied a circle with a dot inside. It seemed to work and my groups got more controled, centered, and predictable.

I ended up with a 350 and with the exception of a couple of wild ones. My groups plotted to be smaller than the 10 at 70M. WooHoo! I backed up to 9oM just to check the new aiming reticle and it looked good. I shot a group that even Deitmar Trillus would be proud of. :) (I will be emailing you a pic of that soon little buddy) hehe!

I have been watching the scores at the world cup and those guys are ripping it up! Go Martin Damsbo and Clint Freeman! It looks like they had a close one today.

Today was a little better...

I finally got to shoot my spiral cam UltraElite today. I started off very solid and was grouping very tight at 60 yards. However, when you are out of shape as I am, those spiral cams are a lot of work! I shot several ends at 70M to get an idea of how well it is shooting. I guess by that time I had gotten tired holding the low let off. My beautiful groups at sixty yards became lackluster spatter at 70 M. I will keep working with this one, because I think it has great potential to shoot well for me. It was holding like a rock until I got tired.

I pulled out my old trusty cam and a half UltraElite and shot a quick 36 arrow 70M round. I feel like I grouped well with a couple bad shots. My last two ends were not so hot. I was rushing because it was beginning to get too dark to see.

I'm Back! Well.... On my way back. :)

I set up my spiral cam bow and got out my X10s and blew the dust off of everything. Then promptly went to the range and broke the bow on the first shot. It lashed me almost to death, snapped and arrow in 3 pieces, and I lost my last small hole peep. DRAT! And I spent months trying to get the bow set up and ready to shoot in the tiny gaps of time that I have had since my son was born. After getting over apoplectic fit over my broken control cable, I investigated further to find out that I had the control cable off the track. It let me pull it back but the cam cut the cable when it mistracked on the let down.

Note to self...

Don't be a dummy and check your cables when you take it out of the press.

I was so disappointed I was ready to jump through myself. I went to the car and pulled out my backup and shot a score with it cold turkey. I also have been using TargetPlot. It is a great program for diagnosing scores and getting sighted in. I love it. You can get a test copy at www.targetplot.com

Here is my targets. I had Target Plot post my actual hits and score and my "potential score". The actual hits are in black and the potential hits are in red. It calculates your potential score by centering your pattern over the center of the ten.

I ended up with a 342 and considering the bow was not set up at all, I haven't shot in a couple months, and the weather was less than perfect, I am satisfied with it. I feel like with a little more practice I can get my actual and potential score closer together.

I have made up my mind that I will shoot the right shoots and jump through the proper hoops to be eligible for the USAT and the World Cup events. Those things look like a blast. I will shoot 70M for the rest of the summer and get my X10s set up perfect.

Ok, time for some shooting.

The baby is getting along great and my household is settling into the new routine without much trouble at all. Now it is time to cram and get ready for The STAN Open.

I got my hands on a half dozen X-10s and I will be documenting my tuning and setup procedure, so those interested can see how I do it.

Stay tuned...

G5 is here, happy and well.

Now that was the coolest thing I have ever experienced. I payed close attention to the doctors work. I was told that he was the best, but now I have seen the best in action! He was amazing and really showed me that birthing babies is an art form that requires finesse and careful care during the process. Sarah came through the experience just fine and due to the doctors care in delivery, she didn't experience any coplications.

We really lucked out to be birthing at the best hospital and with the best doc. Thanks for the referral Kim!

Houston!? Everything is Green for Launch

I am exited to report that Sarah's doc has taken her off of all meds and all bedrest restrictions. We are ready for launch! I guess time will tell. She has been having some tiny hints of progression but nothing solid yet. It is only 9:30pm so maybe tonight, maybe 3 weeks from now. Who knows.

If it rains, it pours.

ok, so here is where I am right now. I have a pregnant wife that is so uncomfortable she can't stand it and there is nothing I can do to make her more comfortable. I was just recovering from a severely twisted ankle that caused me to limp like quasimodo for 3 weeks. Just yesterday I ended up in the ER with a bulged disk pressing on my sciatic nerve. It was the most excruciating pain I have ever endured. I have been on my back in bed for the last two days, so there hasn't been any shooting. I am just praying I can get out of my crippled state before the baby comes. Sarah is really going to need me in fitter shape than this for sure.

The weather here is showing signs of breaking and I am really excited to get out the X10s. I have a test half dozed that I haven't touched yet and will go through the systematic process of divining the right cut of the back and working the bows tune around them. I have not had great luck with X10s in the past, but I know more now and hope to give it a good run this season. I have been taking tips from some of the pros that have them shooting great and hopefully I can put them to good use.

DUDE!!! They banned me!?

I guess I am banned from AT

So If you would like to get tips from me... You will need to visit my new home. www.archerylearningcenter.com

I need your help to make it a great place for archery.

Now that I have that out of the way... :)

Time for what I am up to shooting wise....

I have been experimenting with a truespot lens. I have not been able to shoot much at all. I am still taking care of Sarah and hoping she stays pregnant for two more weeks and we are in the clear.

It is a very interesting feel and I am shooting well with it. I decided to give it another go after Jessie Broadwater's success in Vegas and his overall success with his Xview lens from brite site, and Dietmar Trillus' records with his duplex lens.

here is a close approximation of what it looks like..... I will post more soon. I am hoping to try it with a couple more power options

Online archery needs something new! www.archerylearningcenter.com

Several years ago I was a large part of the creation of archerytalk.com. It has been a great service to the archery community and it has been a great place to get together and swap gear and have fun, but I feel that it has become so big and the focus has become fragmented to the point that it doesn't fill the purpose that it was originally intended.

I think it is time for a change.

I have started a new board with lots of cool features. I intend this place to be heavy on community and information exchange. I feel that education makes a big difference in the health of the archery community.

Please drop in and help me get this rolling in the right direction.
www.archerylearningcenter.com


The board is a work in progress and I am open to ideas and if any of you are good web guys, let me know. I could use the technical help.

The baby is FINE!!!!!

Sarah is out of the hospital and she had to do another week of strict bedrest at home, but everything went so well, the doctor has relaxed her restriction and she is able to move around the house again. The baby is developing right on track and we need 3 more weeks of oven time for term. Any more weeks closer to 40 weeks will just be gravy on top. :)

Thanks to everyone who send cards, PMs, and well wishes. It really makes me feel good to get such a response from my archery friends.

Who wants one of my old Hoyts

My new 2006 models are all tweaked out and ready to roll, so it is time to pass on my 2005 models http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2314991#post2314991

They are all tweaked and shooting great I shot them all last year in all the shoots and used them in Amsterdam at the Face2Face. Here is a pic of one of them winning the IFAA world indoor.

All is well so far......

Little Vee (George the 5th) is still where he needs to be and we are closing in on 5 weeks left to go. If we can make it to 36 weeks everything is perfect. Since I am not going to Vegas I will be spending my weekend on the baby room and trips to and from the Hospital.

I just got my newest UltraElite in and it is very cool looking. It was a Inferno model and it was more on the orange side than red. I dig it fo sho!

I just got in some Nealy's Custom Bowstrings to outfit it with and when things level out I will spend a little time tricking it out.

Oh and one more thing.... The new Hoyt shooter Jackets are HOT!!! I just got that in today too. Wooohooo!

NO VEGAS FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The baby has decided to threaten us with an early delivery. I am supposed to be on a plane right now, but I am sitting in a hospital next to my beautiful wife who is now on bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy. We are at 30 weeks and we need 6 more to be totally out of the woods. The doctors are doing everything they can. So far no labor or anything, so things are looking good. Cross your fingers for us.

For those of you going to Vegas......

Enjoy your surprise from STAN! I wish I could be there.

Smackdown!!!

So I have done some tinkering with my equipment trying to steady things up a tad, and I managed to get the draw length too short. I didn't have a chance to shoot it before the round started on saturday. I paid the price with a low qualifying score. :) I couldn't keep them off of the left side of the spot.

Write this down....

Having shots flick out to the left though your aim is good?

Lengthen the draw length just a tad at a time until it goes away....

So just after my dismal qualifying round I bumped out my draw with Jbird supervising and advising me on the visual fit. Normally I like to slowly eek it out while I shoot to dial it in, but drastic times require drastic measures.

Well it worked. I had a great round of shootoffs. I went through 6 or so people and it was Xrings aplenty! I felt the good nerves and the furious rush of competition. I will never quit shooting as long as the rush stays for me.

Finally Al Avery put me out. I shot a bad end and he shot a great one.

Lesson #2 Never relax during a shootoff. Gut them in like you are second place even when you think you have it.

I had a great time watching Al almost pass out when they told him he won. I have never seen someone shake so bad yet pound the X. Al really nailed them. GREAT SHOOTING AL!!

Trois DIX!!!!

Well.... If I had heard that more than not, I would have scored better. If I ever hear the words Dix... Nuf, Nuf (ten, nine, nine) again it will be too soon. :)

The shoot was Fantastic and it was very well organized and the show was well worth the trouble to get there. I had a fantastic time hanging out with Jean-Regis, Pascal, and Antoine. The road trip from Niece to Antibes, then to Cannes, and finally through Arles to Nimes was very picturesque.

A note to anyone ordering off of a French menu.... Andouillette IS NOT Andouille sausage (cajun) it is Pork tripe in a gut casing. VERY NASTY. :) I did have a fillet de boef the size of a motorcycle battery that was fantastic! All in all the food was great, but bring your interpreter or phrase book along with you to be sure what you are ordering. You could end up with a traditional dish that tastes like bad breath.... :)

Now about my shooting....

I know the bow and arrow combination is good because it was grouping. (just not in the X) I had a terrible time setting my zero because I have something changing in my form and I am not quite sure what it is. I will be tracking that down this week. It is not enough to make me miss a big ten, but I can manage to drop some serious Xs.

My shot execution became ragged and misplaced because I became angry and was very frustrated. I let my emotions get a little out of control and it showed in my shooting. I know better and knew I was doing it, but the frustration got the best of me.

I am starting off at square one tonight and I will find my swing. I am going to my 2613s for Vegas and will be tuning those in as well. Once I am done tweaking and am satisfied with my tune and the big arrows, its to ten yards I go to find my swing again.

getting tired in Heathrow Airport

Here is a pic my slave driver boss snapped of me.

I had to get my archery talk on.... during our layover

Off to Nimes....

I am minutes from starting the long trip over to Nimes. I've got loads of arrows in my case. I hear that their tagets eat arrows for lunch. I will be experimenting with vanes this trip. My buddy at Easton says that they are more accurate on heavier shafts than feathers. I have always said "nothing but feathers indoors" but I am not above testing a new paridigm against my old ones. Because I have been traveling so much, I don't have time to test this stuff prior to a shoot, so I have to just hot test them in competition. I guess that is a better test anyway. :)

Cya in Nimes! come by the STAN booth and say Hi.

Wait a minute......

Does "solidly built american"

Mean "Fat"? :)