a tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the reSeveral years ago, before I conquered my target panic for good, I shot in a medieval themed archery tournament in my hometown. Although I had been suffering from target panic for much of the previous year, I felt that I had gotten a handle on the problem in the weeks leading up to the tournament. So I arrived at the tournament site with a good deal of confidence in my shooting ability.

I was grouped with six or seven other traditional shooters, and after introductions, we were off. I felt good and shot accurately through the first three targets, but soon after, my performance deteriorated. I can remember standing in front of the fourth target preparing to draw my bow and for the first time sensing that all eyes were on me. I know that having others watch you while shooting in a tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the res

s year, I felt that I had gotten a handle on the problem in the weeks leading up to the tournament. So I arrived at the tournament site with a good deal of confidence in my shooting ability.

I was grouped with six or seven other traditional shooters, and after introductions, we were off. I felt good and shot accurately through the first three targets, but soon after, my performance deteriorated. I can remember standing in front of the fourth target preparing to draw my bow and for the first time sensing that all eyes were on me. I know that having others watch you while shooting in a tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the re

was grouped with six or seven other traditional shooters, and after introductions, we were off. I felt good and shot accurately through the first three targets, but soon after, my performance deteriorated. I can remember standing in front of the fourth target preparing to draw my bow and for the first time sensing that all eyes were on me. I know that having others watch you while shooting in a tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the reorated. I can remember standing in front of the fourth target preparing to draw my bow and for the first time sensing that all eyes were on me. I know that having others watch you while shooting in a tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the rea tournament is quite normal, but the second the realization that everyone was watching hit me, my target panic returned with a vengeance. In a compensatory move, I snap shot my way through the rest of the round. Needless to say I shot poorly and finished the tournament thoroughly humiliated.

This story underscores how maddening target panic can be. The overwhelming urge to loosen your arrow early or to freeze in fear of releasing before coming fully on target, is so powerful that it can return with the slightest provocation. It seems that once you’ve had target panic, it will always remain beneath the surface waiting to rise up at the most inopportune time. Pressure situations like shooting in front of others and while bowhunting seem to exacerbate and jump start the problem.

Therefore, any real cure for target panic needs to be powerful enough to overcome even the most stressful of shooting situations. I recently heard a story about a world famous archer who swi