Traditional Archery - Snap Shooting - Not for everyone but works for what I do

[@NUSensei]

Interesting discussion. I started learning archery as an instinctive shooter and my coach never taught me how to aim; he always just went by looking at the target. Now that I instruct the beginners, I don't make a point about aiming unless they're struggling, which I help by giving them a reference for using the point of the arrow. Most learners learn the basics of form in a short amount of time and actually slow themselves down by aiming too much, so I end up just telling them to forget about aiming and to "trust" themselves. Most of the time, subsequent shots group in the gold. It's a revelation. I also used to get hammered a lot in my practice videos for not holding the shot long enough, and I agree with where you're coming from. If I'm at a distance where I'm comfortable and confident, I'll let go as soon as I come on target. No further aiming needs to be done and I can get an acceptable grouping (for my skill and standard).

[@yugen]

I've been shooting on and off (mostly off) since I was a kid, i'm 38 now. I find that any time I think about any aspect of my shot, the shot goes out the window. It's almost the mind equivalent to body alignment, if one part of your mind is too focused on a particular subject, it throws the whole thing off. Obviously there are times when it's good to focus on one particular aspect of your shot, especially if you're not shooting well, but ultimately I feel like the less I think, the better I do.

[@graceomalley1037]

You are the best Archery instructor on ALL that I have found here so far! I am VERY new to this sport....... Yet, I learn so much from your vid's....... Thank you so much Jeff!

[@MockFilmReviews]

I was told at the range the moment I pulled back the first time that I was a traditional archer and the instructor said he couldn’t teach me anything. Me, I took it to heart and now am a very proficient shooter without a sight. Now I love it. What started with what I thought was an insult and turned myself into a decent quick shot. With a slight OCD this makes me block out the thought of missing. Thanks for making me feel as though I know what I’m doing Jeff.

[@JeffKavanagh]

There is so many different kinds of archery Adam. Some people are just closed minded.

[@MockFilmReviews]

You give great advice.

[@buellosaurusrex]

Another amazing bit of insight and wisdom, Jeff. Apparently the 8 dislikes have never seen you snuff two swinging candles with one arrow. You are one of the most incredible instinctive shooters since Howard Hill.Please keep on with your videos, you are an inspiration to a whole generation!

[@jamescooper2618]

I know a man who shoots skeet very much like you described. Just standing there holding his gun down by his leg. He just throws the gun up and shoots. He'll clean your clock every time on the skeet range! I agree with you on this video 100 percent Jeff. It's just the same way I do it!

[@stephangungl2776]

Good video, i agree completely. when i'm shooting i like to keep it simple, see target, draw bow, release. its what instinctive shooting is all about. many people ignore the fact that when you practice instinctive shooting you almost develop an "instinctive" front sight as your brain focuses on the target and causes the rest of the body to follow. i'm looking forward to the video you put out on this topic. just want to add that i only started archery about a year ago and your videos were the most informative and use full tools outside of practice, they honestly taught me how to shoot and how to shoot well. thank you for that. glad to see you back.

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Great subject . thanks I am a Bow Hunter and an instinctive snap shooter with a Hill swing draw for over 40 years no matter what bow design I'm using .

[@thearcheryapprentice8511]

Great vid Jeff! Looking forward on that video for your explanation on instinctive archery! Keep em coming, glad you're back!

[@jerrycox2058]

Totally agree. I grew up in the 60s shooting bb guns with no sights. I just focused on what I wanted to hit and shot it. I did the same thing with 22s squirrel hunting, in fact I took the sights off because I didn't use them. I did the same with pistols as well and then later with my bows. Shot a lot of moving targets (game if all sizes). We have an awesome brain if we learn to use it and trust it. when done correctly, over time you can shoot trick type shots quite easily because you just know how to do and just do it. well done Sir

[@haroldguterman1811]

great video sir i had the same issue while shooting trap they thought i was weird but that’s how i learned with my grandfather when he would throw with the hand trap and it carried over to traditional archery for me

[@raphaelbeinhauer9242]

Nice to see you doing videos again. I agree with what you said. That's the way I learned how to shoot and still do today. Your videos definitly helped my technique.

[@michaelhaworth8317]

Awesome. This how my son has been shooting from the very beginning, and I have always tried to change his form, need to let him watch this and all your other videos. Very glad to be watching your videos again.

[@mikelebarron1977]

Probably the best definition Iv heard! I’m also a snap shooter and also picked it up from bird hunting with my dad!

[@davidware8496]

I would love to see a video of Jeff and clay hays shooting together. Two great archers with completely different styles.

[@extrasmack]

Hi Jeff, it sounds very similar to my own way though I'm nowhere as accomplished as yourself. Interesting that you bring up the shotgun comparison. Brings to mind similar memories. I recall as a kid when we would all get together and plink cans with bb and pellet guns that I always shot best when I would turn my back or side to the target then spin around towards it to shoot. If I stood stock still and tried too hard to get it right I'd miss more often than hit. Eventually I made myself stop doing it that way and learned to shoot the "right" way using the sights and breathing how I was instructed by friends and family members with more experience. Luckily no one ever instructed me on "proper" archery and there was no internet so I never re-learned it any different way. Always just did it how it felt right and it works for me. Being over bowed as a kid and using bows that were adult sized and thus too long for me also gave me an unorthodox anchor, thumb to earlobe and index tip on cheekbone. It just worked for me. I never realized I was doing it so differently til hearing about all the nuances and observing others forms online. Archery is so vast and varied that one never stops learning something new and the internet is great for that. Not everything works well together but we can always borrow what works for us and discard what doesn't. Good luck on what you are working out of and into your form and shot sequence. Have tons of fun doing it and if you can please video some of it. We all want to watch you as you do it and hear your explanations. All the best to you and yours, Paul

[@battlearcheryltd3579]

This is brilliant. 6 years of doing snap shooting and I only found out what it's called!?! lol. Great explanation. Totally agree it's not for everyone. We add the technique in our Aerial Archery session to help improve their aim instead of holding fast aiming too high and then readjusting their shot after the foam target has launched passed them. It is a very interesting topic, thank you for sharing (BTW, we use safe arrows with massive foam ends in case you're wondering)

[@richmerlo2769]

That is so true , I remember grouse hunting one day many years ago , a bird flushed from directlly behind me and I turned and shot just looking at the bird and dropped it , so that's exactly how I shoot my longbow as well. Good video , thanks for sharing the stories .

[@kevinoutside1927]

I love that story! My brain doesn't really work like that, even when I'm shooting instinctive I find I'm looking for reference points in the sight picture. However, I love hearing about how your target acquisition and shot cycle works. Thanks for the video!

[@JeffKavanagh]

That is the thing, everyone's brain will work differently and that is fine. What I do might not work for others and the opposite is true. That doesn't mean that either way is wrong or right. It's up to the individual to figure out what works for them. It's all fun!

[@Bowstringdotcom]

Fantastic description of the 'instinct' of archery.

[@bowman321123]

Jeff, a good explanation of instinctive/snap shooting. focus on where the arrow is to go, not the arrow. Thanks. by the way, I like your 4x4 quiver.

[@curtmax6294]

Really looking forward to your next vid on instinctive shooting. I've been playing around with my custom Jack Kempf bow for a few months now, and always look to your videos for some pointers. Shoot straight, my friend.

[@TrikeSquadron]

Great video and loved the comparison you made with the shotgun skeet shooting story. Instinctive aim and snap shooting are related closely when done well, I think this is a great explaintion of a topic that is very difficult to define for people new to archery and archers who have learned aiming techniques and/or shooting with a sighting mechanism. Really looking forward to your upcoming videos!

[@garthbyron5215]

Great to see you! Hope to get shooting again after pinched nerve. I have learned a great deal about Archery from you, Jeff! Thanks

[@ronbarr7228]

Great to see you making more archery video's again. Jaris (remember, grandson) is constantly on my case about my snap shooting and I'm glad he is, but, for the life of me, I can't seem to get past it. I've slowed down my draw sequence and started counting to 4 once at full draw. Apparently, I can't count past 2. New math!!!!! Keep those video's coming. Greatly appreciate your effort.

[@JeffKavanagh]

Hey Ron nice to hear from you. I am changing my entire shot sequence around now trying to get rid of some old bad habits. Trying to copy more what Lucy is doing. lol I have been getting some shooting in again finally. I actually brought a block target into the house so I can shoot in warmth. I look forward for us getting together again. I thought I'd mention to you that Lucy will be at Windsor University next fall so I am sure we will be down that way. Cheers and say hi to Jaris for me.

[@andrewlaw8121]

Great video Jeff! I'm always in awe of your instinctive shooting abilities

[@lubossoltes321]

I have to say you have a beautiful shot sequence. Now I am a newbie with a bow (only got it a few months ago), but at some point in time I'd like to get where you are with the fluidity of draw-anchor-release. At the moment I am thinking about it too much and it shows in my consistency (or rather lack of it). Looking forward to more videos.

[@bushcraftnorthof6012]

So true! I shoot shotgun, airgun, bow and slingshot instinctively. I find the less I think, the better I shoot. There's a reason we have binocular vision. I never considered myself a snapshot until watching this. As a kid even, I'd drop squirrels with the slingshot while they were midair, between trees. My buddies thought it was something. Nice Jeep, too, by the way. looking forward to the next video!

[@paullambert1485]

Jeff i know what your talking about i have a eye trigger finger coordination when i'm hunting no matter what gun shot gun or rifle when my eye engages the target i pull the trigger that's the same thing i do shooting my bow. I practice on targets to get the feel of the gun or bow and i'm not real good at target shooting .I think One of the main things in snap shooting is trust in your self , using both eyes helps a lot .When i go to the range with my scoped guns i use both eyes .and i shoot right and left hand . its a little more difficult shooting my right hand bow with both eyes because i'm left eye dominant. because I'm right handed. that's why i shoot right and left handed . some may say its careless to snap shoot but everyone has there own way of shooting.People need to realize that traditional archery is not compound archery and buy the way i do shoot both. Good video's Jeff keepum coming

[@ger6773]

great explanation of snap shooting, glad you're back I enjoy your videos.

[@houseofdyer]

Interesting video, Jeff. I've never been a "sight" shooter myself, in bows or shotguns. And I was JUST thinking to myself that maybe I should look into some sights for my Bear Tartar. Never used 'em, but I thought it help me aim a bit. But then your story made me remember what a dismal failure I had when I tried to aim down the barrel shooting trap with a shotgun. Went back to my normal form, and shot great. I think I'll hold off on the sights for now :)

[@3DArchery]

I don't get it. How can anyone say it does not work when you can hit two moving targets at the same time? In a way I'm glad it is not just me that they attack.

[@Diggs5012]

3D Archery yes sir...different folks with different shot strokes. Keep up the good work Jeff and Greg in the archery info and demos! Greg looking ready to strike that indoor 3oo next go? Progress is why we do it!!

[@joe2598]

Some people aren’t normal if they are not criticizing. I shoot instinctive split vision, and release very fast. Just now going to shooting targets out of the air it’s challenging. Good shooting, Jeff

[@averagejoe8213]

I'm looking forward to the video on instinctive shooting. Thanks again for all you time.

[@ArminHirmer]

great explanation Jeff

[@williamjarman7466]

I thought that you were more of just a pure Instinctive shooter my idea of snap shooting is when people purposely over bow them self and then short draw the bow on purpose they have reasons they do those things I don't find it personally effective but there are people who shoot that way that are really good. They never actually hit full anchor. both you and Fred Bear hit full anchor before releasing the arrow. Ryan Gill is an example of what I would call a snap shooter he is on KZbin as well . to me you're just a fast shooter. either way it's just semantics but whatever you do it works and I also think other people can learn from the way you do it. I would like to train the way you shoot if I was going to do some Wing shooting but I mainly just shoot Target Bare bow. I'm an archery Hunter as well but I use my compound for hunting because in Arizona the shots are usually longer than 20 yards.

[@vcash1112]

Great video !👍 It would b cool to see you shoot in different locations, or a hunting video.

[@AndiSchlitterCardog]

Hey Jeff, dies ist ein sehr guter Beitrag. 🙋🏻‍♂️👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🐾🐾🏹🏹🎯🎯

[@tomcurran1538]

Same with me. I do the Orvis/British style of shot gunning. I can't shoot American Skeet with the mounted gun. I do a modified International Skeet method. I had lots of PA pheasant and Vermont grouse (pa-tridge) hunting, so instinctive-snap bow shooting comes natural to me.

[@mauricesmith4270]

I've been shooting for 62 years recurve and longbow I'm a snap shooter at sixty seven I still hit my mark either stump shooting or out hunting small game or deer it works for me enough said

[@t.curran8243]

Yes, grouse/partridge hunting and the English/Orvis method of shotgun shooting is related to snap shooting a bow. Same with ne at Skeet!

[@timothyroche6445]

I am also an instinctive shooter, I can’t shoot skeet with the gun up , at my side safety on

[@talexander7217]

I started shooting when I was about 13 using my dad's 50# recurve. I didn't have the strength back then to draw the bow and then aim. I think this is why I am a snap-shooter today.

[@ronaldskidmore5478]

Thanks Jeff another great video

[@RLBadKarma]

I shoot 3d a lot. As soon as I got my anchor, the shot is on its way. When I played baseball, I had no aiming system. I just threw the ball and trusted myself.

[@jarodstevens2710]

you're great !! Fred bear was and is an American ICON !!!! People are always gonna lump something into some garbage category so they can have an opinion, especially if they can't make it work for them . "HATERS" . You are an amazing shot and your children are amazing shots !!! God bless you and yours​ and God bless Bear Archery all made in the USA!!!!

[@clintstevens6831]

Thanks for the video. Really enjoy learning from your videos.

[@gblan]

100% on the money here. A soild, smooth, consistent shot cycle is all it takes really. The amount of time you hold the string before releasing it means little in terms of accuracy.

[@budgetairguns8257]

It's great your back doing the video's

[@mcmatrix58]

G'Day Jeff, Glad you're back!

[@leog6088]

for me, the biggest thing when i shoot is let everything take over. i dont even think or worry about how my body is. It is when i am in that state i hit the target. I also bring the bow a little bit above me and then bring it to anchor and then release.

[@willardreasoner1694]

I would like to see you take some shots at a target... like they do with the Indoor 20 yard targets. Indoor competition barebow... EXCEPT you shooting YOUR style snap shooting. :)

[@mastrbutcher]

Thanks for the video! Always useful info. Also, sweet logo !

[@michaelbolen2118]

Appreciate your postings. Some similarities with yours and Howard hills methods, both well suited to hunting, and similar to shooting a gun. He did advocate a bit of a point of reference awareness, without specifically aiming. I wonder if all instinctive shooters subconsciously do this.

[@JeffKavanagh]

Maybe at the beginning that is the way it happens. Subconsciously we see a "frame" of some sort. I won't say that's not what I do now even although I think it turns into a "feel" after a while. Kind of like having a good short game around the green in golf. It's a "feel" one develops and some never can.

[@Diggs5012]

Jeff Kavanagh good referring to working around the greens in golf short game. Focus and Free

[@SolidSnakeFPV]

You reference shotgun wing shooting a lot and it really helped me out when i first got started in traditional archery. Before i watched your videos all i had was oldschool Howard Hill and John Schulz videos which were great for me, but coming from small game hunting and super fast target acquisition and shots on primarily woodcock in thick swamps or rabbits in thick bush. My father and godfather always carried their side by sides opened and would in one swift motion close the gun and mount it and make perfect, smooth, fast shots...just like drawing a bow from the low ready position..You showcase that type of shooting on your channel, its very helpful for people transitioning into archery from the shotgun smallgame hunting world. Coming from a heavy gun background myself I always use the analogy of a shotgun for trad bows and rifles for compound bows.

[@alanbeaulier5783]

You are coming to the same anchor point every time so I wouldn't call it snap shooting but a very controlled fast way of shooting that is very accurate for you. Have fun and enjoy. Alan

[@michaelc5386]

LOL "ADHDDHDDH is gonna kick in..." -- I feel ya there brother.

[@jspeers1]

I’ve given up trying to explain this to target shooters, they operate in a controlled environment, bench, chair and sand bags. My world is the woods, fields and mountains. You can’t hold to form from horse back.

[@ChrisFrosin]

I asked Jim about this in the recent interview I did with him :) Cool video, thanks (as always)

[@daveengstrom9250]

Well, how ever you do it, you do it well.

[@TheDayne]

I completely stopped with snap shooting. I did it for about 2 years and what happened was, that I was shooting faster and faster and my draw length was getting shorter and shorter. Instead of becoming more consistent with training, I became less consistent. I am now shooting for a year with about 1.5 sec of holding the anchor before release and since that, my shooting has become WAY more consitent than it was. I personally can not recommend snap shooting, especially not if you are competing in 3D and Indoor Target shots like me.

[@JeffKavanagh]

I say exactly the same thing. I DO NOT recommend it to anyone, it is just what I do and it works for what I do. If my primary interests in archery were target shooting and /or 3D I would change everything I do to accommodate it. I would learn how to gap shoot, string walk, etc,.instead. Also my definition of snap shooting is not about rushing a shot.

[@RAkers-tu1ey]

Yes, I have been chastised for shooting trap "gun low", which is entirely natural for me, and a crucial part of my swing. I know I will never be an Olympic champ, but I still shoot high 80's to low 90's at 21 yards. good enough for me.

[@williamjarman7466]

always appreciate your videos by the way

[@mikhailfong6234]

Instinctive shooting is using your subconscious. Can it be learned? Is there a way to master it? A lot of questions out there. If I am to coach somebody, what should I do? Just let them shoot without aiming? Instinctive, I guess in my opinion, depends on what you shoot at from the beginning...most hunters are instinctive but if one is introduced to shooting via target archery....I guess gap or string-walking are the pre-dominant. Anyway, I guess not everyone possess the subconscious instinctive shooting skills.

[@ewoudalbach1503]

nice video Jeff ! You confuse me a bit, Instinctive shooting, snap shooting. ( me2 ) Looking forward on that video for your explanation on instinctive archery!

[@christiana-l7882]

Luke Tabor snapshoots and hes the best longbow shot i have ever seen, and he has medals to prove it

[@lcjjr.6714]

Great video! I shoot shotgun and bow the exact same way!

[@todlew3238]

Awesome. That's natural for me too

[@kaizen5023]

Similar background, i used to shoot pistol competitions so I loose as soon as i'm on target.

[@tonythompson4951]

Thanks again Jeff really interesting

[@craigallen1168]

thank you for sharing much appreciated

[@dynamite479]

Been shooting longbow now for 3 years. I noticed about 6 months ago I stopped holding anchor. I tried to force myself to hold anchor for at least a second. I cant do it. It confuses me and throws me off. I’ve inadvertently adapted the snap shooting technique. However I do release at full draw. Maybe not at the exact location everytime. I’ve found as long as my alignment is always the same, it doesnt matter if I release at 28 inches or 28.5.

[@serrandocomirmaoslopesoficial]

JÁ ASSISTE TODOS SEUS VÍDEOS VC FAZ VÍDEOS MUITO BONS QUE PENA QUE TEM MUITO TEMPO QUE VC NÃO POSTA NADA

[@ClintonsK]

Great utility quiver 👍🏼

[@ericpeterson4489]

Great Video! Thank you!

[@stephenshortall5557]

Jeff is one of my favorite people 👍

[@EmanueleZadro]

hi Jeff , always a lot of things thanks for your experience and raccomandations. could you explain how and where you anchor? cheers

[@JeffKavanagh]

Middle finger to the corner of my mouth, and index finger at my cheek bone.

[@thomaskallenbach8373]

Thank you, Jeff

[@romeroyurukevich8082]

I watched someone said "instinctive shooting is gap shooting subconsciously" do you agree with this statement?

[@maciejkucewicz4795]

Jeff, how does changing bow/arrow affect your performance? I shoot instinctive myself, but I am accurate only with one set. When I get heavier arrows or stronger bow - I need about 10-20 arrows until I get used to it. How do you overcome this?

[@JeffKavanagh]

It can take me a few arrows to adjust but it's pretty easy. I have 17 or 18 different bows from weights from 70# to 35#.

[@missionman4539]

Excellent!!!!!!!

[@Drewsel]

I don't watch your videos nearly as often as I should. Sorry, Jeff.

[@jasondunlap986]

Is you bear take down the 50th anniversary edition? I'm trying to find what one has a more refined grip. Thanks

[@LooseCannonBuchanan]

Jeff if you were to buy a bow other than Bear, what would you buy? I find their brand is pretty expensive...any specific thoughts on PSE bows?

[@Ozarkwonderer]

i know wat you mean here. the more i think about wat i need to do the more i miss. if i just do it im alot better

[@D51S]

When are you making that video on Instinctive shooting?

[@christiand6768]

What a nice Jeep! Is it a c5?

[@sovernsectwarren]

Tisk Tisk you should know better Jeff. It's impossible to be a great shot shooting split finger instinctive. Snap shooting is especially out of question. The only way to properly shoot the bow is to meticulously walk the string and line up the arrow directly with the target holding the bow vertical. Disregard the way the bow has been shot for the past couple of tens of thousands of years ;). Got to love this attitude seen from keyboard warriors online that it's impossible to be a good shot shooting instinctive, split finger, and especially not snap shooting. Most of the comments come from guys using space age looking bows. Amazing shooting Jeff and keep proving them wrong!

[@ErikFabian]

Hi Jeff. I get what you are saying. How do you deal with hunting for deer? I find a quick movement before the shot sends them running.

[@JeffKavanagh]

Because I snap shoot it doesn't mean that have to draw quickly. It just means that for my style, I don;t hold at anchor. I just realized I forgot to mention something. Many people equate snap shooting to target panic and that's not the case. I can pull back slowly and hold for as long as I want to. It just doesn't give me any more accuracy than I already would have.

[@Hawkquill]

I kind of get looking at the target and shooting and having you arm naturally adjust according to distance. But how dose it work on a moving target as you have to aim in front of the target according to the speed it's traveling. I have only shot moving game with shotgun not a bow.

[@catholichackstraditionalar305]

Does snap shooting make you a better instinctive shooter? If so, would it be best for a non instinctive shooter to just practice "wing" shooting in order to become a better instinctive shooter? Or, would just picking out spot on a target and snap shooting be best?

[@JeffKavanagh]

Snap shooting for the sake of snap shooting is not the answer. Speed takes time and is a result of your shot sequence becoming more fluid after lots of practice. There are things you can do to improve on that though. It all becomes about target acquisition. That is the key is in learning how to see the target and get on target quick enough and smoothly to get a shot off in a controlled manner. There is that saying, "slow is smooth and smooth is fast". That is so true. I see this with some of my friends who aren't very good with a shotgun. It's the same fundamentals for target acquisition and success.

[@hunterofstoneorbone]

I'm new to traditional archery and I'm struggling with being left eye dominant. I'm consistenly shooting groups 7 inches to the left of where I'm aiming. will this eventually get better or is there something else going on?

[@watrfwlnut]

time for a new glove Jeff

[@jaxonnovak8836]

Is that a bear archery 76er deluxe

[@shane_Dakota622]

I was wondering how far away do you normally practice shooting at?

[@JeffKavanagh]

From 10 to around 45 yards. Most of the time between 20 and 30 yards.

[@shane_Dakota622]

Thank you very much I have jus been getting into traditional archery, I am not very good even at 10 yards, I've been watching all your videos on it and it has seemed to help. Thank you again for responding to my question, please keep on uploading videos I enjoy them tremendously.

[@adamboswell8474]

lol I know the feeling I haven't be shooting long but before I knew ENY thing about archery and I got my first bow I shot better if I did not think to much and I relate it to boxing of all things lol Wich IV dun sense I was a kid if I sed throw 3 punches at me when I say when I couldn't slip 1 it's like being helpless but git me of gard sand throw 10 I bet you only git me 1 or 2 times

[@kyliemcdaniel]

what kind of string silencers are those?

[@JeffKavanagh]

They are just wool. Very easy to make and put on and adjust on the bow for tuning.

[@flyingsharky3606]

Do you ever think try other bows?

[@JeffKavanagh]

I have tried a few but not that many just because I couldn't afford to have a bow addiction that way. Where I live it's not like I can go somewhere easily to try other bows either. Traditional archery doesn't really exist up this way.

[@flyingsharky3606]

OK i understand, by the way you have good archery videos

[@adamlittleboxes4849]

the proof is in the pudding.

[@stephenkarwaski9675]

Touch Yer Face Let Er Go

[@dickhead2285]

You never made the video mate haha