Hello,
I have been having problems over the past year shooting so much so, that I have dropped out the club scene during this outdoor season.
I get very nervous shooting in unfamilar surroundings and shooting at club matches that it hit me both in trying to shoot and in the head mentally.
I have never had an arrow come off the rest so many times than in two club matches last year and although clubmates and competitiors were brilliant I would always be the last person on the line, asked the person standing that is is okay to go but so aware of being there that I would panic, arrow falls off so restart and rush and panic sets in again that I didn't shoot as well as I would hope.
Tried a few times popping in during the indoor season and although I could shoot ok-ish it still didn't feel right and then the outdoor season started and I just couldn't get it or feel right. I was having advice on using the clicker during the indoor and the start of the outdoor season from Geoffretired and although his emails were brilliant I just didn't get it and therefore doom and gloom set in thus I couldn't be bothered to attend club practice and Sunday shoots. I would pop over with my son Chris but would chat and not shoot and then I lost my father which hit me far more than I ever imagined being so decided to hang up the bow for a while or if I am honest, for good.
I always if I can log on here everyday and found many threads and posts very funny or thought provoking.
I was in contact with Geoff every so often and he knows now but I always said I would do this or that and in fact didn't do anything and I think I was just fooling myself until a thread came up about coaching by Supressed.
I contacted Geoff and asked if it may be possible to meet up and he can have a look and advise me and I could then make a decision to stop or to start again.
Chris and I travelled to Poole and met up with Geoff and had a chat, a bite to eat and then started shooting.
Now you must remember that we have never met before and within a short space of time we were laughing and joking about and Geoff got us to shoot and then offered advice on this and that or do this instead of that and this happened over a course of 5 1/2 hours or so.
My release was pretty bad if I am honest as I'l flick the draw hand out to the side,away from the face and not across my neck but within a short space of time Geoff had me doing different things to help my release become as it should be and to stop me creeping.
When we left both Chris and I were buzzing and had had a fantastic time with Geoff and the desire to shoot was back with me and if I am honest that changed within 15 - 20 minutes at the very start with Geoff as I felt so relaxed and at ease in his company that it just got better and better as the session went on and was shooting with a clicker for the last couple of hours or so.
I think that Geoff is a fantastic coach who shows and explains what is needed/required whereas I had experienced in the past the do it like this approach but not much chat plus he is also a fantastic chap as well.
He alone has changed my feelings for this sport of ours and since we left him last week I have pinged over 200+ arrows at short distance and recently due the the weather have been exercising with a spare grip and elastic band for the last 3 days which is something I never thought I'd do.(off on a break from work)
.
I plan to see Geoff again sooner rather than later and I cannot thank him enough for what he had done for me in just one long session and I do now feel as if I am starting again.
I have been having problems over the past year shooting so much so, that I have dropped out the club scene during this outdoor season.
I get very nervous shooting in unfamilar surroundings and shooting at club matches that it hit me both in trying to shoot and in the head mentally.
I have never had an arrow come off the rest so many times than in two club matches last year and although clubmates and competitiors were brilliant I would always be the last person on the line, asked the person standing that is is okay to go but so aware of being there that I would panic, arrow falls off so restart and rush and panic sets in again that I didn't shoot as well as I would hope.
Tried a few times popping in during the indoor season and although I could shoot ok-ish it still didn't feel right and then the outdoor season started and I just couldn't get it or feel right. I was having advice on using the clicker during the indoor and the start of the outdoor season from Geoffretired and although his emails were brilliant I just didn't get it and therefore doom and gloom set in thus I couldn't be bothered to attend club practice and Sunday shoots. I would pop over with my son Chris but would chat and not shoot and then I lost my father which hit me far more than I ever imagined being so decided to hang up the bow for a while or if I am honest, for good.
I always if I can log on here everyday and found many threads and posts very funny or thought provoking.
I was in contact with Geoff every so often and he knows now but I always said I would do this or that and in fact didn't do anything and I think I was just fooling myself until a thread came up about coaching by Supressed.
I contacted Geoff and asked if it may be possible to meet up and he can have a look and advise me and I could then make a decision to stop or to start again.
Chris and I travelled to Poole and met up with Geoff and had a chat, a bite to eat and then started shooting.
Now you must remember that we have never met before and within a short space of time we were laughing and joking about and Geoff got us to shoot and then offered advice on this and that or do this instead of that and this happened over a course of 5 1/2 hours or so.
My release was pretty bad if I am honest as I'l flick the draw hand out to the side,away from the face and not across my neck but within a short space of time Geoff had me doing different things to help my release become as it should be and to stop me creeping.
When we left both Chris and I were buzzing and had had a fantastic time with Geoff and the desire to shoot was back with me and if I am honest that changed within 15 - 20 minutes at the very start with Geoff as I felt so relaxed and at ease in his company that it just got better and better as the session went on and was shooting with a clicker for the last couple of hours or so.
I think that Geoff is a fantastic coach who shows and explains what is needed/required whereas I had experienced in the past the do it like this approach but not much chat plus he is also a fantastic chap as well.
He alone has changed my feelings for this sport of ours and since we left him last week I have pinged over 200+ arrows at short distance and recently due the the weather have been exercising with a spare grip and elastic band for the last 3 days which is something I never thought I'd do.(off on a break from work)
.
I plan to see Geoff again sooner rather than later and I cannot thank him enough for what he had done for me in just one long session and I do now feel as if I am starting again.