The last few weeks I haven't been shooting worth a darn, and I didn't understand what the problem was.  I know how to shoot and just a couple of weeks ago I was shooting the best I've ever shot and I hadn't changed anything about the way I was shooting.  This past weekend I was shooting at Plum Creek Archery and having a really hard time. I started explaining to Dan that every time I try to shoot, it's like I was having an anxiety attack and I couldn't control when I released.  I couldn't get the pin over the gold ring without having already released.  It doesn't matter how hard I try, or what I tell myself I'm going to do the next time I shoot, I am continuing to have the same problem.  That's when Dan said, " It sounds like you've got target panic." I immediately went over to the computer and looked up the definition of target panic.

In archery, target panic is defined as a psychological condition that forces the archer into a premature hold or release of the arrow. 

Before this past weekend I had never heard of target panic, but that's exactly what's been going on.  And the more research I do, the more I realize just how common target panic is.  It's kind of a relief to see how many others have dealt with it, but then of course there are the stories where people are never able to recover from it.  However frustrated this does make me, I promise that that will not be my story.

Have you ever had an experience where you're trying to explain something to someone and they just don't get it? Or try teaching someone how to do something but they just don't listen?  And all you want to do is put your hands around their neck and strangle them because it's so simple and they just don't get it!? Well that's exactly how I feel when I shoot, except I'm the person I want to strangle.  I know what I'm trying to do, I just can't get myself to do it.

I've asked lots of people what I can do to fix it, and everyone's been giving me relatively the same advice.  They say that it can't be fixed overnight and that there's no "wonder pill" to make it go away.  (Personally, I think someone should invent a wonder pill, because I'm sure people would pay some pretty good money for it!) I've been told to start close and shoot at a blank bale, some even say to do it with my eyes closed so I can get the feel for a what a shot is supposed to feel like.  Then put a target up and work my way back to a further distance.  And although I know it's great advice, I have a tournament tomorrow night that I have to shoot at a target from 20 yards!

Basically I've tried everyone's advice, and I think it will work in the long haul.  Unfortunately, because I'm shooting at the Iowa State Indoor tournament tomorrow I've been doing most of my practice from 20 yards and it hasn't been going near as well as I'd like.  I'm especially nervous that when I am in front of a crowd and have to shoot in public that I'm going to completely suck.  However, I've been telling myself that this tournament is me being one step closer to improving, no matter what my score is. 

I'll be shooting tomorrow night at 7pm with not only members of the Iowa State Archery Club, but my brother Ben and my dad Bruce are coming with me too! I'm extremely nervous and extremely excited all at the same time.  Feel free to wish me luck, because I need all the luck I can get!