3 Tricks for Instinctive Archers on how to Shoot Better

Short video of some simple concepts that will help you get better at Instinctive Archery.

[@NDFlyFisher]

“It’s just a word.” Excellent!

[@dmouse522]

Good tips. The good shots always have that warm, fuzzy feeling. I've been chasing those feelings for YEARS! :)

[@RonKelmell]

Years 1-3, developed form and strength, Years 4-now, correcting bad habits, Now.....having fun and slowly improving. Archery is more than shooting arrows. Patience, perseverance, mental control, personal satisfaction, are no small elements acquired that can be acquired.

[@sprk11]

your comments on set distances. I set up three markers then set my targets randomly along the path then randomly shooting the different targets shooting each target randomly. I found looking at the clearity of the details of each target a better judge of distance that size. The other suggestion for instinctive archers in terms of 3D competition is to work on the 15 to 18 yard shots as most of the targets will be set around that mark on a course.

[@anthonyforfare7223]

Nicely done 👍😁🏹🎯 God Bless you and your family 🙏😇❤️🇺🇸

[@kenphillips6234]

I had not heard #2 before, I'll work on bringing that into my form.

[@OCALION1]

SOS UN GRANDEE !!! YO ESTOY EMPEZANDO Y NO LE PEGO A NADAA !!!!

[@kennylainhart7148]

Thanks 👍👍👍👍 ,good information!!

[@run4hills]

It is fantastic that you are still making videos. I learned to shoot from you!😊

[@tripplebeards3427]

Just got a new one! Salvation Army find for $20 yesterday. A Ben Pearson BP-H90 7388 45 pound draw. Looks like new ! Got a new one to play with!

[@stephenmayne4886]

Thanks Greg, for sharing this information.

[@chriswalneck594]

I'd love those for our camp!

[@jk5658]

I also mix it up with the distance, 10 yards then a 15 or twenty and back to ten. I shoot split finger mainly with my Bear "bare" bows. Thanks for posting I call these form sessions.

[@longdrawarcher4857]

Same exact way I shoot, if I try to aim I end up shooting like crap and it’s just not fun.

[@etiennelawrence2589]

Always nice to see your vids Greg, and great tips as always (and great shooting too)!

[@kurtmeister8308]

Great Video! Thank you for your channel

[@leroymorris6036]

Yey for left handers, thanks...

[@rontaylor4235]

Thanks Greg great advice. Cheers Ron

[@jeffjackson5331]

Cool tips

[@davidwsmith316]

Thanks for the content, Greg! 😊 I hope that you are doing well! Are you going to continue to make new content? The most recent I've seen are 6 months ago. I have not seen all of your other videos YET! 😊 I have watched many of them! You are one of my favorite Archery coaches on KZbin! I will go look at your website too! Thanks, David

[@TradArchery101]

I have not had time to make any, between work and competing in 3D Shoot down here. I have some I’m about to start work on. Hopefully in the next few weeks.

[@davidwsmith316]

@@TradArchery101 Great! Thanks for your reply. There are still plenty of your videos I can watch and re-watch. I was just curious.

[@daleweller5193]

It doesn’t matter what you do,form is everything.

[@glenndavies5766]

How would you define site picture?

[@TradArchery101]

What you see when looking at the target while at full draw.

[@karls5474]

In regards to distance, would the size of your target influence your estimation of distance? A larger target may be perceived as closer at say 20 yards than a much smaller target.

[@TradArchery101]

It only affects me when it is the same animal. They make a buck that is much bigger than a “normal” deer, so you think it is closer.

[@SUFUHASHIM]

hi how often do you upload vids

[@TradArchery101]

No as much as normal. Focusing on shooting in competitions. Will have more videos soon.

[@juanduque7983]

Your bows have shelving, would these tips translate to trad bow?

[@TradArchery101]

Trad is an open definition and it only matters when you compete. Each group has a different definition of what is or is not Trad.

[@richmighty1752]

I’m a little dumb. I don’t know what instinctive means as it pertains to archery.

[@TradArchery101]

It is a very generic term for a method of aiming. When you use this method, you focus on a spot. You do not "see" your arrow. You consciously do not know where to put your arrow, you just trust your "Instincts". Hence the term "Instinctive".

[@bcreed9348]

Sure you're not gap shooting with 3 fingers under and looking down the arrow? Howard Hill shot instinctively with split finger at unknown distances by learning the arc of his arrows.

[@TradArchery101]

Yes and I have a booklet from Howard Hill, in which he says he does NOT shoot instinctive. He used what we call today Split vVision.

[@bcreed9348]

@@TradArchery101 got me there. I read Hunting the Hard Way years ago and he did mention his "split vision" technique in the book. I saw Byron Ferguson shoot at a show in the late '80's. He shot split finger instinctive. "Become the Arrow" illustrates his style. He practiced his form with his eyes closed shooting at a bag suspended very close. I guess I'm just old school. I shoot split finger focusing on the spot. I never see my arrow or tip when at full draw. I just love to shoot that way. To me, 3 fingers under and face walking etc bled into archery from the compound techniques. People wanted an easier way to "aim" like they could with a compound. Instinctive archery is not aiming. Did Brett Farvre and Joe Montana "aim" their passes? No. They learned to throw with years of practice (and talent.) I guess I'm a T-Rex. Thanks for posting your video.

[@TradArchery101]

In Byron Ferguson’s video he also states he uses a version of Split vision. I just met him in Alabama at the Howard Hill Classic and we talked about how he aims and he confirmed he uses a version of split vision. Aiming did not come from compounds. People were using aiming techniques long before the compound was made. I have a “How to book” from Ben Pearson, made in 1952 where he describes different ways to aim. Aiming is just another tool. No reason to look down on it.

[@bcreed9348]

Whatever. Yes compounds did accelerate use of aiming in so called trad archery. Before only target archers used sights or faux sight ie gap. You have fun with your way, I prefer instinctive with consistent form without knowing distances-especially on aerial targets 😉

[@paulandrulis4672]

"form is king" is like saying "can't hit a nail with a hammer unless using the same form every time". What you are saying is that instinctive shooting is useless for hunting, warfare, shooting from horseback, or every other form that it has been used effectively for were "form" is almost impossible -- besides target. Target shooting is about the only time where the same exact "shooting form" can be predictably held every time. Native Americans, especially the Choctaw and Comanche practiced instinctive shooting. In war, they shot from horseback, running, or crouching/kneeling while on the ground. Often, their targets were moving as well. They were known to be capable of shooting insects or small bird out of the air using instinctive shooting. For the purists, instinctive shooting consists of a lack of "aiming time", I.E. draw then release in one smooth motion. You are training your brain to "aim" in real-time. You are not "instinctive shooting" as you claim. You are longbow aiming, circa pre-firearms. Not having a peep sight and pins is not "instinctive shooting."

[@TradArchery101]

No, I'm not saying it is useless, that is you being defensive. "Native Americans, especially the Choctaw and Comanche practiced instinctive shooting." - No, they were taught. They did not just hand them a bow and arrows. They taught them. What did they teach them? Form. 2000 Years ago the Romans taught Archery, Same for many cultures. They even wrote manuscripts on it. "Purist" - Now there is an elitist word if there ever was one. "Not having a peep sight and pins is not "instinctive shooting." _ Funny, been shooting how my father taught me in the 70's and his father taught him in the 40's and his father taught him. Yeah, what do we know!

[@paulandrulis4672]

@@TradArchery101 Your BS reply not withstanding, what I said still stands. Yes, they were taught, (duh) and YES, as I said it required practice.... lots of practice. As to your last question, nice cop out. I have been shooting since I was ten and have a beard that is solid gray. Sing the BS to someone in the market to buy. Try shooting in a tree stand some time, where you can't hold the bow vertical. Same is true of crouching or other canted bow style shooting that require instinctive shooting. . Instinctive shooting isn't rocket science, but it is an art. Maybe you have issues with what native Americans could do. That sounds like a personal problem to me.

[@TradArchery101]

And what did you practice? Oh that’s right your form!!!! Thank you for once again making my point. Having a grey beard is not an indicator of skill or knowledge, just age. I have grey hair too and have been shooting since the early 70’s. So you can’t hold the bow vertical in a tree stand? Interesting. I wonder how I managed to do that in one! If there is anyone with issues, it is not me. I enjoy all forms of archery. You are making assumptions about me with zero knowledge of me or my skill level. Willing to wager serious money that I’m a better shot with a bow than you.

[@paulandrulis4672]

@@TradArchery101 No, actually. You miss the point. You aren't "practicing your form", you are practicing putting arrows into the target at a desired point. I didn't use the hammer analogy in vain, as the principles are exactly the same. When someone picks up a hammer for the first time, they generally can't even hit a nail with any applied force. They won't get good at driving nails until they develop what is called "muscle memory", which is attained ONLY through driving tons of nails. Muscle memory is another synonym for instinctive action, IE instinctive shooting is an equivalent. The person that has driven enough nails doesn't need more than a glimpse of the nail head to acquire the target, can fire the hammer and sink even a sixteen penny with just one hit, and can drive an amazing number of nails accurately every hour, no matter the angle in relation to the nail or other considerations. They are doing it instinctively, not having to think about where or how to hit the nail, or any consideration of how they hold or swing the hammer. You can get that level with anything, bow, gun, knife, hammer, pool cue, whatever. However, it requires LOTS of arrows, bullets, knives, hammer swings, balls hit, etc to achieve said muscle memory, to where you know instinctively where the item is going to go.

[@TradArchery101]

And what helps big time in driving that nail? Good form. Deny it as much as you want, but it is still true.

[@notapplicable531]

Better a fire truck and not a police car or an ambulance.

[@TradArchery101]

Take it you do not live in Louisiana.

[@tiobi6633]

@@TradArchery101 Haha

[@notapplicable531]

@@TradArchery101 No, just a Canadian living in Korea. We mostly hear ambulances with maybe the occasional fire truck. I can't remember the last time I heard a police car using its siren.

[@TradArchery101]

Lived in Korea back in 1987 / 88. Enjoy it there!

[@notapplicable531]

@@TradArchery101 First came to Korea in 1996 and I will admit it was grim in some ways. It may have been better for U.S. service personnel stationed there. Thing about living anywhere: "if the positives out-weigh/out-number the negatives, it's do-able." It appears that's the case for you and Louisana. Your videos are so full of positivity about what you are doing there. Best and many hits.