We have ALL heard it stated that "PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT" and in order to achieve perfection, we are required to be dedicated and have our mental thoughts set for improving. I can recall one of my junior high basketball coaches instructing me on free throw shooting that IF I wanted to get better, I needed to remember that PRACTICE DOES NOT MAKE PERFECT but... ONLY PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
What my coach will teaching me was IF I was practicing but NOT practicing correctly, I was NOT going to reap the benefits of improving my shooting percentage. In other words, if I was practicing shooting with less than perfect form or perfect fundamentals, I was practicing TOTALLY WRONG. He watched my shot execution and literally "picked me apart" but once I started doing things properly, my free throw shooting percentage increased considerably.
Now, over fifty years later, I still hear the coach's words as I practice for my fishing tournaments or practice shooting my bow or practice shooting my firearms, when I practice, I will only exercise PERFECT PRACTICE situations because I am still striving for perfection.
I try to "break down" all facets of my shooting form insuring proper stance, proper control of my breathing, proper aiming and shot execution. I am a FIRM believer that IF I practice "half-heartedly," my accuracy will suffer. If the shot does NOT "feel right," I will NOT attempt it.
I know it might sound like perfect practicing is NOT as much fun as just practicing but I guess that depends on what YOU expect to accomplish. Me, I expect 110% perfection EVERY TIME I execute the shot. I DO NOT want to risk a bad shot resulting in a wounded or crippled animal. I DEMAND my shot be lethal and the animal to expire QUICKLY and HUMANELY.
I have been with countless archers that were preparing for deer season and their equipment was NO WAYS near "ready for hunting" but they talked about how they were anticipating opening day. I sure hope they spend more time in front of their targets preparing BUT.. if they are going to be practicing using "bad habits," they might as well start throwing rocks at the deer.
I had one individual that was so "over-bowed," he could barely get the bowstring drawn back. Within three targets, he was "snap-shooting" from being fatigued. He really needed to get a lighter poundage bow. The sad thing here was he wanted to continue shooting but he was developing bad shooting fundamentals and his accuracy was suffering. He thought because one of his friends shot a heavy weighted bow, he also needed to do the same.
Another young man could hardly hit the target due to erratic arrow flight. I mentioned to him he needed to check his "nocking point" on the string because I believed it had possibly slipped causing his arrows to flop up and down in flight. I saw him again a week later and the arrows were STILL flip-flopping. Again, another classic case of IMPROPER PRACTICE. It would only take a few seconds to attach a bow square to his string and check the nock point setting.
Some of my "practice buddies" and I often like to have friendly practice competitions. This is merely to add a slight amount of "pressure" to make us shoot better or we might have to "buy the cokes" for the other shooters. We NEVER shoot for money. We even result to "shirt tail cutting" at times just to make it more fun. We will NOT harass the shooter during the shot execution.
If I am practicing and I feel the slightest amount of fatigue, I stop IMMEDIATELY. I DO NOT want to start "rushing my shots" or making bad judgment decisions. I also try to make each shot the "money-shot" because most often, you do not get a couple practice shots before the deer arrives so your FIRST SHOT needs to be your BEST SHOT!! The ONLY way to insure your chances of PERFECTION is to remember what my coach ALWAYS told me..."PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.." DON'T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE....
Bud Fields
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