What is Target Panic and How Do You Fix it?

Target Panic. The scourge of the archery world. Many archers are afraid to even mention it by name, just in case it’s contagious. However, it’s a very real issue and is something that most archers are going to have to deal with at some point. I started experiencing it after a dozen or so years of shooting a bow and it’s been something I’ve wrestled with off and on ever since. If you find yourself with this problem, don’t lose hope. There are a few things you can do to get back on track. 

What is it?

Target panic is a psychological issue common to many archers. It typically manifests itself in one’s inability to put their pin on the target (in my case, I end up holding too high) or flinching as the shot breaks. Sometimes archers are unable to come to full draw.

Many archers, myself included, seem to deal with target panic in waves. Some seasons you’re dialed in and have no issues and others your shot is a complete mess. In the past, I’ve tried to shoot through the pain in an attempt to force my shot back on track by firing tons more arrows. For me, that’s only made things much worse.

Why do you get it?

There is some disagreement as to why you get target panic. Some people argue that it is developed out of a fear of missing. This fear causes the shooter anxiety which results in them subconsciously holding off target to avoid the risk of failing. Others argue that it’s actually developed as you anticipate the explosion of the shot before your loose an arrow. It’s a learned response between the mental and the physical – your body is bracing for the shot before it even happens.

It’s difficult to say which is correct. As I’ve worked to become a better archer, I’ve become more obsessed with hitting the exact spot at which I’m aiming. Maybe fear of not making the perfect shot is what has done me in. On the other hand, I started developing target panic at around the same time I started spending a lot more time shooting my bow. Perhaps the increased time at the range led to my subconscious starting to anticipate the shot.

That being said, it’s hard to say exactly which explanation is correct or even if they’re not both responsible for developing this issue.

How do you overcome it?

So how do you get rid of this archery plague? I’ve heard of a bunch of people claiming to have fixed the problem by simply switching to a different type of release. In fact, I was one of these people. However, after a while, it comes back. I suspect it’s because being uncomfortable with the release causes the shooter to focus on that aspect of shooting, rather than aiming. This allows you to shoot well for a while, until your comfortable and go back to your old ways.

Blank or blind bail shooting is a good way to start to break the target panic habit. This entails shooting at close range, at a large target without a specific point of aim (no bulls eye). It takes aiming out of the question and allows you to dedicate all of your mental effort to your form. This works for many people, though I’ve found that my problems do come back once I start to introduce an aiming point again.  

Simply deciding not to shoot has probably been the best way I’ve found for getting out of this rut. It’s easy: draw your bow back, get your pin on the target as if you were about to shoot, hold, and then let down. Decide not to shoot. As I’ve started to incorporate this simple exercise into my every-day shooting routine, I’ve seen my issues with target panic fade away. When I forget and go a few weeks without doing it, my issues come back.

 So far, I haven’t found a once-and-for-all fix to target panic. For my, its been something I’ve had to continually fight against. How about you? Have you dealt with target panic? What have you found to work best? Try these methods out and see which one works best for you!