How do you get through the clicker!

Robin the Hood

New member
Oh God help us...:meditate:
'Of course my son'..:muted:

Once again this subject is up. One of the difficulties that arises from the clicker is that when it's used, it is immediately entered as a part of the first rule of drawing....ie. Let's get through that clicker.
It should be only used as a check-point not as a part of the drawing motion, and this is why difficulty enters the equation and it feels like another hurdle.
If it were treated as a checker rather than an indicator I think it would be easier to use...:meditate:

Paul
 

its my party and

Active member
Ironman
Now you see having read all! All I may add clicker threads before posting. That hiding place will have to be good Martin! I realised that there is no definitive description out there of how to get through the clicker. I don't struggle through the clicker but that exercise done the other day proved that I have a good use for one. As I've said in my journal over the last few months I've only been shooting 18 months and as an archer I believe development of my technique by my own 'feel' method will take over 3 years and as said by others possibly 5 years. I don't struggle through the clicker at the moment but this was a new magical feeling, smooth no elaboration and the feel and execution was different to my usual shot. I've since done it again using the old eyes wide shut technique on a blank boss. And yes having now found 'it' I will develop it into my shot routine. But in doing it my training will include not using the clicker as well.
I think the clicker is close to your heart Martin don't deny yourself there are all sorts of nice colours available to the modern archer! hehe
Still If anyone has a definitive world uniting method please share! 1500 heads are better than one. Although admittedly the background noise goes up if a nice female walks past!
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
I realised that there is no definitive description out there of how to get through the clicker.
Is it worth considering then, a list of things to avoid, or a list of good practices?
 

hooktonboy

The American
Ironman
American Shoot
I realised that there is no definitive description out there of how to get through the clicker.
Is it worth considering then, a list of things to avoid, or a list of good practices?
As ever that's an excellent idea, Geoff.

I have to say I found some of Rick McKinney's advice about the clicker pretty helpful (as you would, I guess). One of the points he makes is about "floating" the head, as opposed to getting too much tension into the neck muscles. At the early beginner stage we tend to fix on the concept of anchor as something absolutely immoveable, whereas Mr McK talks about something much more relaxed I think. Can be a hard habit to break too. I certainly pull through much more cleanly if I avoid too much neck tension (and it hurts a lot less!)

Another thing he talks about is not so much equal push/pull, but directing your concentration to the bit you find hardest - so you might be concentrating on the bow arm, or the back depending on your form issues? Not sure I've got this quite right but it makes interesting reading.

And.... personally the open sight ring helps as I tend to over-aim otherwise.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Hooktonboy,
Over aiming would go on my list of things to avoid. Over aiming with the bow arm, that is. Visually aiming for longer, all the way till the arrow lands, would go on my list of good practices.
Drawing, only as far as the "click" would also be one to avoid, that can so often bring about a stop in the draw and a mini collapse that often goes unnoticed.
Intending to draw past the clicker is better I feel, and letting the fingers come off the string at the "click".Makes for a smoother follow through.
Confident drawing; not hesitant drawing.
 

Zippo

New member
Push and pull eh? Slightly off topic, but do you by any chance get a few arrows going 12 o'clock to 2 o'clock high? (right handed archer).
If I do, what does it mean? Then again, my arrows go all around the target, so might not be the case you're referring to.
 

Shirt

Well-known member
Personally, I've always found prayer a great help in encouraging the thing to go click. :meditate:
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
It was suggested earlier in this thread that perhaps we need a whole section of the forum given over to the CLICKER.
Being such a wide subject could I suggest that there are sub-sections within that section.
First ; prayers said when struggling through the clicker.
Second; blasphemous statements made after the clicker has gone.
Third;comments made by onlookers after the clicker has gone, badly.
Fourth;excuses made for the clicker going off when it wasn't supposed to.
Fifth; reasons why clickers should be banned.
Sixth; reasons why clickers should be compulsory
Seventh ; reasons why I don't use a clicker
Eighth; reasons why I do use a clicker
Ninth; reasons why I don't know how to use a clicker despite all the posts
Tenth; how to use a clicker
Eleventh; another way to use a clicker
Twelfth; 100 ways to use a clicker
Sorry about the outburst. I am normally serious about all clicker threads. I've seen so many unhappy faces caused by its misuse.
I couldn't help myself after reading Shirt's and Hooktonboy's posts. So it's not my fault.
 

hooktonboy

The American
Ironman
American Shoot
I couldn't help myself after reading Shirt's and Hooktonboy's posts. So it's not my fault.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::thumbsup:

I really like that Geoff.

I think perhaps levity is the answer to all our problems! An archer I know says that just before completing the shot you should stop thinking about it - and think about something that makes you feel good. Her story is that she is thinking "chocolate cake"...... and as she is a lady I have to believe her absolutely.

So, is anybody else prepared to admit to what they might think of?:muted:
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
HeeHee Now that is a good idea!
Thou shalt not click a tin lid in thy neighbours hearing.
Thou shalt not take the name of thy clicker in vain.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's clicker control.
Nor his clicker: not his long rod.............Huuuuuughghghgh this could be going downhill somewhat.
Methinks I should stop right now!
Or NOw!
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Hooktonboy, strange you should say that.Recently I have been working on pulling that last bit to activate my Loesch release. I have tried several different approaches. One is to smile at the appropriate time; not so daft as it sounds(even if I look daft at the time)
I have also tried thinking of things that are relaxing or pleasant (and still be the sort of things you could tell your MUM) e.g."I like shooting arrows this way."
What I find so far is that it takes the mind off what could be a misguided focus. It does work to some degree. The difficulty is not knowing how much of my shooting problem is fitness or form, as opposed to nervousness.
It's times like these when I would really appreciate having a coach/ mentor / friend to join in the struggle rather than going it alone.
 

Snarkhunter

New member
Ironman
Geoff. What about writing the 'Twelve Commandments' of the clicker... :mind-blow

Paul
How about:
  1. You shall not have any other draw length indicators before me.
  2. You shall not make your clicker a false idol, but recognize its true place in your shot cycle
  3. You shall not take the clicker?s name in vain however hard it is to pull through.
  4. Remember your follow through and do not hesitate in anticipation of the clicker.
  5. Honour your coaches or other wise and experienced archers who can guide you.
  6. You shall not murder if the clicker goes off unexpectedly or otherwise misbehaves and totally screws up your shot.
  7. You shall not adulterate you shot cycle because of tiredness or frustration.
  8. You shall not steal another?s technique without understanding it.
  9. You shall not bear false witness against your clicker and blame it for your own shortcomings.
  10. You shall not covet another archer?s clicker, or bow or other archery kit, nor the way he or she drops arrows into the 10 ring at 90m.
:fight:
 

Barry C

New member
I think this is an interesting thread too. It is something I gave a lot of thought to and when I ask people I get a lot of different answers depending on what system the archer was taught in. Most are familiar with the expansion method given in Total archery where the click happens by relaxing the chest and squeezing the back. There is the push method described in Frangilli's book, where the bow arm pushes the bow out to the target which is the same that an ex Japanese Olympian and coach taught to me but they are not quite the same. There is the pulling method but also variations of it. People can pull with continuous motion with which the string decelerates up to the click, and also some eastern European Olympic archers who shoot with the thumb behind the neck have said that the string should accelerate after anchor has been located. And these are only the ways I have found I'm sure there are many more. There are many ways to come through the clicker which have all produced consistently high scores in their time. Of course for balance a push and pull is needed and I agree with McKinneys book in this area, that one is automatic and one is conscious though the technique and what moves can be different between a pusher, puller, a push puller and expander. It can be said to pull it until it clicks but there are many ways to do it.

I think mental imagery is very useful in this area and giving your brain a task to achieve can help the body perform the action needed. Imagary that has helped me use the clicker in various ways over the years are relaxing the chest for expanding, reaching the the target with the bottom of the arm for pushing and thinking about the draw elbow tip for pulling. I'm sure others can add their own helpful thoughts on this.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
"One of the difficulties that arises from the clicker is that when it's used, it is immediately entered as a part of the first rule of drawing....ie. Let's get through that clicker."
Paul, it seems we think the same way.
This may sound daft, but I sometimes think archers would get on better with their clickers if they didn't know they had one. Imagine the archer being told, " You just shoot as normal, but if you hear a click, just let the string off your fingers."
We once introduced the clicker to a group of archers having coaching that followed their beginners course. Some did not have a clicker to fit to their bows on the first day. I told them to shoot as normal, but to continue the aim and draw until I clicked my fingers. It worked a treat!
I think the reason was, they had no reason to draw to any fixed point. There was no expectations that they would have to REACH a pre determined draw length. If they drew to their normal references and aimed and continued to draw; as opposed to stopping or collapsing; they heard a click and off went the arrow.
Yes, I know it was a fake in a way because they were not the producers of the clicks. The point I'm trying to make is that they had no need to get hesitant as the clicker drew close. It was agreed that I would make the click before they had over drawn. It was also agreed that if they collapsed I would tell them and they would abort the shot and start again.
If their draw length varied, it did not matter; I was only reacting to them reaching references and aiming and continuing to draw and aim. It removed from the equation one of the problems experienced by those new to clickers; that of it going too soon or too late.
The fact that they had a click, so long as they stuck to their plan, gave them the chance to relax and enjoy the success. Because they were relaxed, they learnt what they were supposed to learn rather than learning to get tense.
( I know that proper coaching would avoid the tension in the first place, but I'm talking of archers who were not getting ideal coaching. Their form had already started to drift into bad habits. They had coaching once a week and most had no opportunity to shoot between sessions. We did what we could in the limited time available.)
A week later, when they had fitted their own clickers, they did what they had done in the previous session. They drew to their references, aimed, continued to draw and off went the clickers. Because of the work they had done the week before, they were quite prepared to draw much further than they actually needed to. To them, the clicker seemed to be going earlier than normal, but not so early that they were unsettled. Most agreed that it was easier with their own clicker than with my clicking fingers.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Snarkhunter, That is a very clever list of commandments. I have to admire your insight and obvious experience. Brilliant post!
I shall covet your skill with words. And burn in Hades for it, no doubt.
 

Mistake

New member
Ironman
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::thumbsup:

I really like that Geoff.

I think perhaps levity is the answer to all our problems! An archer I know says that just before completing the shot you should stop thinking about it - and think about something that makes you feel good. Her story is that she is thinking "chocolate cake"...... and as she is a lady I have to believe her absolutely.

So, is anybody else prepared to admit to what they might think of?:muted:
When i'm shooting and a slip into "the zone" i normally have a piece of music that i've been listening to on the way down, but have found that really difficult recently because my mp3 has been a bit iffy.. (moral of the story... if you want to beat me then steal my mp3 about a week beforehnd) and find that i'm not really thinking about the clicker at all, and react to it on an almost sub-counsious level (i shot a portsmouth a while ago and can only 'remember' the clicker going a few times consiously)
 
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