Competition stress??

[MIBIGHNTR]

Any tips for dealing with the stress of shooting in large competitions and wanting to do well??

I have no problem shooting in local shoots and competitions, and do fine with State level shoots for 3-D, but last weekend I shot in the MI State Vegas style FITA 3-spot tournament and crumpled under the stress!!!

I normally shoot in the low to mid 580's BHFS but turned in a dismal 563!

I just fell apart the first half and couldn't recover. There are no 14's to gun for.........:haha: My second half was OK with a 290. I just think I let the goal of wanting to do well get inside my head and it was all over after that??

Any tips at all would be appreciated...

Thanks!

Mark

[heaterht]

Well, nerves are a big part of the game. Only way you can succeed is to just deal w/ them. Of course the more of the big shoots you attend the better it gets, you get used to it. However, the nerves really never go away. That's where a good, solid, shot routine comes into play. Visualization also helps focus. Lanny Basham's "With Winning In Mind" goes over all thse topics in detail. If you stick to you shot routine and visualize then you basically don't allow you mind to think about how nervous you really are.
Dan

[ba3darcher]

Mark-

Sometimes I beleive an individual will put to much pressure on themselves to perform well. It has been my expierence that some nervousness is ok in a big shoot, but learning to control the nerves is what seperates the average shooter from the good shooters. Dont let your expectations to control how you shoot, a little confusing but what I am trying to say is go into the tournament with some goals that you believe you can accomplish and have fun. Even if you dont accomplish your goal(s) it is something you can learn from for the next tournament and dont get down on yourself. Always think positive, remember the good shots. Good luck

[Elkski]

Well I was hoping my elite bows would help me with my competition shooting . but at major shoots this year I continue to get all kinds of problems popping up. Basically target panic.
Makes one really appreciate the top shooters. and Just watch the vegas shoot off .. Awesome inhuman acts.

[TANC]

The best way to get over competition nerves is to shoot in more competitions. That and Valium works well.

Just kidding on the Valium.

A solid routine helps. If you have one, and focus on it every shot, the nerves shouldn't bother you. I learned a long time ago that nerves can be a positive when you learn how to deal with them. That experience came from 35 years of competitive golf. Noone can control what you do but you anyway, so why get nervous. Tell yourself that over and over. When I was in that zone playing golf, and even in archery, I don't even know what the other guys are doing. And don't care. And I don't even know what I did 5 shots ago. It's just the one shot in front of me I'm focusing on. Add em up when you get done and be surprised. That's the best way to shoot. The best results I ever had was when I got done and figured it up and thought "man, I had no idea I was doing that well".

[Daniel Boone]

Lannybassham.com

He has some good stuff in audio tapes and books about mental management on shooting sports.

Might help.
DB

[LakeinX2]

What helps me, is getting at a national type shoot, sitting at the practice range and just absorbing everything for 30 min to an hour, then start shooting and watching all the various styles of other archers and that takes the edge out of my system, plus talking to as many people helps to take your mind off of it! Plus on a side note I have 5 kids of my own and all the neighbor kids hootin and hollering my retrievers fetching things up, so if you can ignore that you can shoot any where!!!!lol

[jschulz]

This is how I deal with it. When I shoot our local indoor league, I shoot beside Darrin Christenberry. Talk about PREASURE!!! After shooting beside a pro, the rest is a breeze.

[Takeum]

Believe it or not, Bananas help... My son used to eat Bananas before every audition when he was trying out for state competitions in Music,,,

[3darcher]

what i do is is just think that it is me shooting in the shop or in the back yard haveing fun cause if u stress about it u get grey hairs