Excellent point, Greg! I'm into my 3rd year of Archery. For the first 2 years I thought I could purchase my way into better scores... Not so! It didn't matter a whole lot if I was shooting Easton, Gold Tip, Carbon Express or Amazon specials at $30 a dozen. In fact, some days I could shoot better with the el-cheapo arrows than with name brand arrows. Since then I have been focusing more on my shot cycle. Repeatable, comfortable and consistent shot cycle makes more difference than anything one can purchase. Now that my shot cycle is becoming more consistent, the quality or arrows is making a HUGE difference. All I can say to beginners is, if you're willing to invest the time and patience into developing a consistent shot cycle, invest into good equipment. If not, Amazon has some packages for under $100 that include bow, arrows, tab, arm guard and a target face. You'll shoot just about as good with that as you would with a Hoyt bow and Easton arrows... There is a saying, "Practice makes perfect." Wrong! Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect. Good shot cycle is perfect practice.
Great video Greg, I am grateful for your contributions to this sport! The shot cycle drastically improved my archery... giving me the confidence to hunt with my bow. Prior to that, my shots were a lot like Forrest Gump... you never know what your going to get! ;-)
I am into my 4th year of archery and finely have settled into a good shoot cycle at least 10,000 arrows make a hell of a difference and concentration to every little detail of your cycle .I'm still learning .that what makes it fun.No sights no stabilizers no compound bows but it feel great to shoot a 250 out of a possible 300 with no crutches. G Kerr
When I began shooting a compound 40+ years ago, I had the opportunity to live near a large bow company with a pro shop, I had the opportunity to be instructed at that time by the Vegas indoor world Championship Archer, he gave me this exact same advise..I'm now trying desperately to achieve some level of success with Traditional Archery to be able to hunt and possibly compete in small 3D competition, I have SO FAR TOO GO! I love it, but I'm like a fish out of water in this Traditional Archery..you tube is my only available coaching advise..This is SO ADDICTING!!!
Thanks Greg, I agree. This summer I experienced the dreaded 'Taget Panic' syndrome. I did not think it was a thing untill it happened to me. Slowing down & focusing on my 'Shot Cycle' was the key to getting back to good shooting. Thanks for the three tips; comfortable, repeatable, consistent.
Thanks Greg. I've been practicing 3 to 5 days a week for the past 10 months. My groups improved slightly in the beginning, but I feel I've been spinning my tires not seeing any real improvements. Last fall I was obsessed with tuning so I've come to realize there is obviously something I'm doing wrong. After watching your 11 step series, I have decided to pay more deliberate attention to my shot cycle. I have already noticed an improvement with reaching my anchor and achieving full draw, something that has plagued me for some time.
Rich M Very good info , You are right on, on the shot cycle . The more you do it the same way the better your groups are no question about it.I've noticed if I don't quite anchor to the same point every time it changes the accuracy of the shot . I just got into the trad archery , and absolutely love shooting my long bow , it's a blast. Thanks for a great informative video ,keep them coming !
great topic greg. I agree and feel also that too much concern in the beginning is on actually hitting what we're aiming for. As form progresses, when you gain consistency, allowing the arrow to impact where it will is going to produce group patterns that will indicate what changes need be made. I spent too much time on trying to hit a mark to know whether or not I was consistent or even tuned to do so initially. I made gut feel adjustments with little consistent result. the presence of a good shot sequence is number one and I'd say tuning is the next. if you group consistently, you know your form is right, regardless of impact location. you're ready to tune then. loved the video man.
I fully agree. I did the same. I shot trying to hit the target. Once I took the time to work on my shot cycle, guess what? I started to hit the target!
Hallo Greg ....really great video ....I am also an archery enthusiast like you ....and you are absolutely right with the "feeling" of the right shot cycle.
right now... for me... it's my bow weight. I'm a older guy. trying to shoot first 45 then 42 then 40 now I'm wanting some limbs in the mid to upper 30's maybe 38 or 35. Just seems I move around too much at full draw. I should be able to do 40's just fine, but it's not happening. I shoot with a style kinda like D. Martin... but, I have no consistency that adds up to great scores yet. So, I'm still struggling... lol.... aren't we all. Good video
I like you shot sewuence, except that, after anchor there should be expansion; that is to say, there should be a tightening of the shoulder blades in order to come through the clicker in a controlled manner. 🤗🤗
it took me ...i think ..a very long time to realize that ...perhaps more than 20 years ... but then ...a new door, anew dimension is open ...it is like a flow..to feel and not to think ....When i looked at the style of Fred Bear for example ... the first impression could be ....snap shooting ....hard to repeat..doesn't look like consistency ...but then after years I realized that I was wrong in my interpretation ... Fred Bears shot cycle was perhaps that you are talking about ...there were no thoughts...only the "right feeling" and the target....the one spot ...For me as an "archery afficionado" it is like surfing the perfect wave. Thank you a lot for your great videos ....with kind regards Hannes
An old posting but still most important, it wouldn't hurt to repost and or update these, not that they even require it. I've been shooting for awhile now, and I am still working on slowing down my sequence to get my consistent accuracy, I can tell when I don't.
You are right ( as usually) Greg, to do the same all the time is difficult, without any changes. Since I started 5 years ago, I have improve a lot, and that must be that I do the same more often then I did in the beginning. When I start to think, then I shoot worse, the best is not to think, just do it. I can feel when I do right, but its not happens every time. The first 2 years my arrows where all over, one year more I got 2 good shot, and one bad shot with 3 arrows. Last year Im able to do 3 good arrows, lets say 3 nines, or one 10 and 2 nines, but still I do alot of eights and sevens, so I think yoy are right, to get the correct shot cycle is not done over a coffe break, it takes a lot of practice, I think 10 000 arrows is not an under estimate, some of us maybe need more then that. Today I dont look when I grab the bow, I just feel it, if its right, same with the release( can still do a bit wrong), but its getting better and better, and practice is the main key I think. I also not aiming with the arrow, I focus on the target, and I have a feeling that my brain taking care of the gap, especially on different ranges and distances. I do ofcourse secondly look on the gap, but my focus is on the target. But to find the correct shot cycle, must be the utimate.
Hi Greg, I have been reviewing the shot cycle videos. Thank you for you efforts and information. All of them are great. I have one suggestion to make it easier to find a specific step video. Add the topic of the shot cycle to the title listing . I find myself loading multiple videos trying to find the certain shot cycle video regarding brace. Take care. Rick Mansberger
Love your vids, but the most important thing in any activity is to have fun, end enjoy the people your with, the rest will come later. Just my thought. Thanks
Great video as usual Greg. The one thing I kept thinking as a beginner was that what you are saying makes perfect sense, the only problem I am having is feeling confide t I'm not doing something wrong that will develop into a really bad habit. I have watched all of your videos and others but I still cannot figure out what I am doing different most of the time when I make a bad shot. one thing I will say is outside of selecting the correct spine and length of arrow I haven't done any other tuning and the only tuning I have been able to do with my bow is to move the knock up a bit which closed my gap about 4-5" at 20yds. I know you are working on addressing each of these components so I will be patient but that is where I'm at currently. Thank you for the videos they are very helpful. -Wise
It takes a long time to get to the point where you can "feel" it and also know what you did wrong. Great point about the confidence. Try this next time, If you make a great shot, stop and think about what you did and how it felt. Then try to repeat it. Knowing is the first step.
Good video, I was worried my weird way of setting up/ Anchoring was a problem. I anchor with my thumb against cheek-jaw and draw the bow mostly back before rising up.
you never mentioned any aiming in the shot cycle I think that's fine but in my short cycle and maybe this will help other people I try to aim as I draw and so when I hit full draw if everything's lined up I'm far more likely to hit consistently if I hit full draw on my tip is not in the right place it's much more difficult for me to get on target
Mainly because so many people do not "Aim". I aim during the whole process. In the set up i see where I want my point, I then transfer my focus to where I want it to hit. As I draw, I can see if the arrow is where it need to be using my peripheral vision.
Thank you for the info Greg. I know my stance is almost perfect but that comes from competitive rifle shooting, I actually marked the ground after I got my stance and every time once I am set, I look down and my feet are in the exact same spot every time. Just muscle memory which is awesome because it's one less thing to have to focus on. I have to give you thanks as well, after watching a few of your vids, my shots are now almost always in a vertical line so i'm not getting a whole bunch of left to right movement, and that is thanks to practicing some of the techniques you have talked about. Now I just need to focus on getting that up and down action good. right now I think the hardest part for me is follow-through. This comes from rifle shooting where the only thing I move is my trigger finger. I'm really struggling with bringing my draw hand back as I release, I just want to release and stay static. I know it's a mental thing that I will have to overcome and I doubt if you or anyone else has ideas on how to do that other than practice. But I'll get there thanks to awesome people like you who impart their knowledge for the rest of us.
DeWayne Martin, quite possibly the best traditional archer on the competition circuit does not move his hand. It is not a law, do what feels comfortable for you.
you know I was thinking about that as I finished writing this and have decided that i'm not going to worry about it so much. If I develop a dynamic follow through great, if not, fine. I shot 20 ends today, just working on my form and again practicing the steps you taught us, and my groupings have gotten so much tighter. I mean I am hitting my own arrows quite often now or they are within 1 or 2 inches from each other which is better than the shotgunning I did when I first picked my bow up. So thank you again for all the time and effort you put into these vids. They really do help and people really do practice what you preach :)
Hey mate, I am new to tridiagonal bows, I agree with the shot cycle but I try all different kinds of stance because I am a hunter and I never know what I will have to do to make the shot work for me
Trying is fine. But it is better to learn from a set position, get your cycle down in that in that position and then adapt it to other positions and not the other way around.
There are a lot of differing opinions on that. Olympic archers say full lungs because that supports bone structure. Not really sure, I just control mine and don’t let it control me.
What good is practice without a purpose or a focus? I know many people who "practice" by just simply shooting, that is not practice, that is just shooting.
It's comfortable and repeatable, but not consistent. Problem: it's the shooter. It's consistent and repeatable, but not comfortable. Problem: it's the bow. It's consistent and comfortable but not repeatable. Problem: it's the arrow. It's neither consistent, repeatable and comfortable. Problem: crappy shooter and bow. Now you know your problem, go fix it. Bigger problem, you can't fix the shooter, just remedy their errors. Less error, shoot more with correct technique, and minimize bad habit form.
its actually from Bruce Lee. "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."- BRUCE LEE
Excellent point, Greg! I'm into my 3rd year of Archery. For the first 2 years I thought I could purchase my way into better scores... Not so! It didn't matter a whole lot if I was shooting Easton, Gold Tip, Carbon Express or Amazon specials at $30 a dozen. In fact, some days I could shoot better with the el-cheapo arrows than with name brand arrows. Since then I have been focusing more on my shot cycle. Repeatable, comfortable and consistent shot cycle makes more difference than anything one can purchase. Now that my shot cycle is becoming more consistent, the quality or arrows is making a HUGE difference. All I can say to beginners is, if you're willing to invest the time and patience into developing a consistent shot cycle, invest into good equipment. If not, Amazon has some packages for under $100 that include bow, arrows, tab, arm guard and a target face. You'll shoot just about as good with that as you would with a Hoyt bow and Easton arrows... There is a saying, "Practice makes perfect." Wrong! Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect. Good shot cycle is perfect practice.
Great video Greg, I am grateful for your contributions to this sport! The shot cycle drastically improved my archery... giving me the confidence to hunt with my bow. Prior to that, my shots were a lot like Forrest Gump... you never know what your going to get! ;-)
I am into my 4th year of archery and finely have settled into a good shoot cycle at least 10,000 arrows make a hell of a difference and concentration to every little detail of your cycle .I'm still learning .that what makes it fun.No sights no stabilizers no compound bows but it feel great to shoot a 250 out of a possible 300 with no crutches. G Kerr
Thank you. Right now I had a "lightbulb moment over my head." My shot cycle was never the same, not at all.....
You are really a gifted teacher. Absolutely enjoying - and learning - from your videos. Thank you.
Great video. I'm going to do what you said and see how it goes for me. Thanks
When I began shooting a compound 40+ years ago, I had the opportunity to live near a large bow company with a pro shop, I had the opportunity to be instructed at that time by the Vegas indoor world Championship Archer, he gave me this exact same advise..I'm now trying desperately to achieve some level of success with Traditional Archery to be able to hunt and possibly compete in small 3D competition, I have SO FAR TOO GO! I love it, but I'm like a fish out of water in this Traditional Archery..you tube is my only available coaching advise..This is SO ADDICTING!!!
Thanks Greg, I agree. This summer I experienced the dreaded 'Taget Panic' syndrome. I did not think it was a thing untill it happened to me. Slowing down & focusing on my 'Shot Cycle' was the key to getting back to good shooting. Thanks for the three tips; comfortable, repeatable, consistent.
Thanks Greg. I've been practicing 3 to 5 days a week for the past 10 months. My groups improved slightly in the beginning, but I feel I've been spinning my tires not seeing any real improvements. Last fall I was obsessed with tuning so I've come to realize there is obviously something I'm doing wrong. After watching your 11 step series, I have decided to pay more deliberate attention to my shot cycle. I have already noticed an improvement with reaching my anchor and achieving full draw, something that has plagued me for some time.
Rich M
Very good info , You are right on, on the shot cycle . The more you do it the same way the better your groups are no question about it.I've noticed if I don't quite anchor to the same point every time it changes the accuracy of the shot . I just got into the trad archery , and absolutely love shooting my long bow , it's a blast. Thanks for a great informative video ,keep them coming !
great topic greg. I agree and feel also that too much concern in the beginning is on actually hitting what we're aiming for. As form progresses, when you gain consistency, allowing the arrow to impact where it will is going to produce group patterns that will indicate what changes need be made. I spent too much time on trying to hit a mark to know whether or not I was consistent or even tuned to do so initially. I made gut feel adjustments with little consistent result. the presence of a good shot sequence is number one and I'd say tuning is the next. if you group consistently, you know your form is right, regardless of impact location. you're ready to tune then. loved the video man.
I fully agree. I did the same. I shot trying to hit the target. Once I took the time to work on my shot cycle, guess what? I started to hit the target!
Hallo Greg ....really great video ....I am also an archery enthusiast like you ....and you are absolutely right with the "feeling" of the right shot cycle.
right now... for me... it's my bow weight. I'm a older guy. trying to shoot first 45 then 42 then 40 now I'm wanting some limbs in the mid to upper 30's maybe 38 or 35. Just seems I move around too much at full draw. I should be able to do 40's just fine, but it's not happening. I shoot with a style kinda like D. Martin... but, I have no consistency that adds up to great scores yet. So,
I'm still struggling... lol.... aren't we all. Good video
It's only now when I have shot alot of arrows and am comfortable shooting that my grouping has really improved.
I like you shot sewuence, except that, after anchor there should be expansion; that is to say, there should be a tightening of the shoulder blades in order to come through the clicker in a controlled manner. 🤗🤗
it took me ...i think ..a very long time to realize that ...perhaps more than 20 years ... but then ...a new door, anew dimension is open ...it is like a flow..to feel and not to think ....When i looked at the style of Fred Bear for example ... the first impression could be ....snap shooting ....hard to repeat..doesn't look like consistency ...but then after years I realized that I was wrong in my interpretation ... Fred Bears shot cycle was perhaps that you are talking about ...there were no thoughts...only the "right feeling" and the target....the one spot ...For me as an "archery afficionado" it is like surfing the perfect wave. Thank you a lot for your great videos ....with kind regards Hannes
thank you for another very informative video Greg. I know shot cycle is all over the place. I definitely need to work on it. thanks again!
Jeff Jackson aa
Awesome, this has tightened my groups in only 12 arrows shot.
Once again brilliant explanation, love your videos.
great video Greg. Totally waiting for the next ones... don't keep us waiting
Solid advice great job Greg.
An old posting but still most important, it wouldn't hurt to repost and or update these, not that they even require it. I've been shooting for awhile now, and I am still working on slowing down my sequence to get my consistent accuracy, I can tell when I don't.
You are right ( as usually) Greg, to do the same all the time is difficult, without any changes.
Since I started 5 years ago, I have improve a lot, and that must be that I do the same more often then I did in the beginning.
When I start to think, then I shoot worse, the best is not to think, just do it.
I can feel when I do right, but its not happens every time.
The first 2 years my arrows where all over, one year more I got 2 good shot, and one bad shot with 3 arrows.
Last year Im able to do 3 good arrows, lets say 3 nines, or one 10 and 2 nines, but still I do alot of eights and sevens, so I think yoy are right, to get the correct shot cycle is not done over a coffe break, it takes a lot of practice, I think 10 000 arrows is not an under estimate, some of us maybe need more then that.
Today I dont look when I grab the bow, I just feel it, if its right, same with the release( can still do a bit wrong), but its getting better and better, and practice is the main key I think.
I also not aiming with the arrow, I focus on the target, and I have a feeling that my brain taking care of the gap, especially on different ranges and distances.
I do ofcourse secondly look on the gap, but my focus is on the target.
But to find the correct shot cycle, must be the utimate.
Hi Greg, I have been reviewing the shot cycle videos. Thank you for you efforts and information. All of them are great.
I have one suggestion to make it easier to find a specific step video. Add the topic of the shot cycle to the title listing .
I find myself loading multiple videos trying to find the certain shot cycle video regarding brace.
Take care.
Rick Mansberger
I will do that on my day off, good suggestion, thanks.
Where’s your video about using a stretch band
Love your vids, but the most important thing in any activity is to have fun, end enjoy the people your with, the rest will come later. Just my thought. Thanks
In order to have fun, you need to hit the target.
Great video as usual Greg. The one thing I kept thinking as a beginner was that what you are saying makes perfect sense, the only problem I am having is feeling confide t I'm not doing something wrong that will develop into a really bad habit. I have watched all of your videos and others but I still cannot figure out what I am doing different most of the time when I make a bad shot. one thing I will say is outside of selecting the correct spine and length of arrow I haven't done any other tuning and the only tuning I have been able to do with my bow is to move the knock up a bit which closed my gap about 4-5" at 20yds. I know you are working on addressing each of these components so I will be patient but that is where I'm at currently. Thank you for the videos they are very helpful. -Wise
It takes a long time to get to the point where you can "feel" it and also know what you did wrong. Great point about the confidence. Try this next time, If you make a great shot, stop and think about what you did and how it felt. Then try to repeat it. Knowing is the first step.
Good advice. I'll try to do that. I always seem to be in a hurry to try again. I apologize for the typos. This phone hates me. 😩
I've found that the most important part of archery is once you find your good form is practicing it as well.
Really great video!
Good video, I was worried my weird way of setting up/ Anchoring was a problem. I anchor with my thumb against cheek-jaw and draw the bow mostly back before rising up.
I use that anchor too and i love it!
Archery 101 :O ; )
you never mentioned any aiming in the shot cycle I think that's fine but in my short cycle and maybe this will help other people I try to aim as I draw and so when I hit full draw if everything's lined up I'm far more likely to hit consistently if I hit full draw on my tip is not in the right place it's much more difficult for me to get on target
Mainly because so many people do not "Aim". I aim during the whole process. In the set up i see where I want my point, I then transfer my focus to where I want it to hit. As I draw, I can see if the arrow is where it need to be using my peripheral vision.
I agree.
Thank you for the info Greg. I know my stance is almost perfect but that comes from competitive rifle shooting, I actually marked the ground after I got my stance and every time once I am set, I look down and my feet are in the exact same spot every time. Just muscle memory which is awesome because it's one less thing to have to focus on. I have to give you thanks as well, after watching a few of your vids, my shots are now almost always in a vertical line so i'm not getting a whole bunch of left to right movement, and that is thanks to practicing some of the techniques you have talked about. Now I just need to focus on getting that up and down action good. right now I think the hardest part for me is follow-through. This comes from rifle shooting where the only thing I move is my trigger finger. I'm really struggling with bringing my draw hand back as I release, I just want to release and stay static. I know it's a mental thing that I will have to overcome and I doubt if you or anyone else has ideas on how to do that other than practice. But I'll get there thanks to awesome people like you who impart their knowledge for the rest of us.
DeWayne Martin, quite possibly the best traditional archer on the competition circuit does not move his hand. It is not a law, do what feels comfortable for you.
you know I was thinking about that as I finished writing this and have decided that i'm not going to worry about it so much. If I develop a dynamic follow through great, if not, fine. I shot 20 ends today, just working on my form and again practicing the steps you taught us, and my groupings have gotten so much tighter. I mean I am hitting my own arrows quite often now or they are within 1 or 2 inches from each other which is better than the shotgunning I did when I first picked my bow up. So thank you again for all the time and effort you put into these vids. They really do help and people really do practice what you preach :)
Thinking about missing... or believing it will always go where I look, the rest is just detail.
Hey mate, I am new to tridiagonal bows, I agree with the shot cycle but I try all different kinds of stance because I am a hunter and I never know what I will have to do to make the shot work for me
Trying is fine. But it is better to learn from a set position, get your cycle down in that in that position and then adapt it to other positions and not the other way around.
great video thanks
What about breathing? I know how important it is in other types of shooting.
There are a lot of differing opinions on that. Olympic archers say full lungs because that supports bone structure.
Not really sure, I just control mine and don’t let it control me.
Teach me about your practice cycle.
off topic but, are your Blue mountains in Ontario?
That is a name for a local park. We have the Catskill Mountains here. Go Figure
And here I am thinking the most important thing is to practice
What good is practice without a purpose or a focus? I know many people who "practice" by just simply shooting, that is not practice, that is just shooting.
I concur.
👍🏻🇨🇦
It's comfortable and repeatable, but not consistent. Problem: it's the shooter.
It's consistent and repeatable, but not comfortable. Problem: it's the bow.
It's consistent and comfortable but not repeatable. Problem: it's the arrow.
It's neither consistent, repeatable and comfortable. Problem: crappy shooter and bow.
Now you know your problem, go fix it. Bigger problem, you can't fix the shooter, just remedy their errors. Less error, shoot more with correct technique, and minimize bad habit form.
its actually from Bruce Lee.
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."- BRUCE LEE
My experience has been it's not the arrow it's the Indian.!