[Scott74]

After a few years of shooting semi-serious, I've come to the point in my archery where I'm working on my "mental game". The goal I had for this year was to be able to totally block everything else out during my shot and totally concentrate on the X. I think I've grown mentally as an archer since last year and really am beginning to understand what it feels like to totally immerse oneself in the shot. Yet I know theres still a ways to go.

My question is, do you ever get so immersed into your shot (routine), that your body will, without warning, twitch? Almost the same feeling when your just dosing off to sleep and your body jumps a little. This isnt the same feeling as "flinching". Im well experienced with that feeling and would be the first to admit it if I thought it was that. Just wondering if anyone else experiences this and if you do, how to you combat it?

[primal]

Here is an excellent article on "flow", "in the groove", "got my game on" whatever you want to call it.
although its from a parkour website, it has an excellent and solid understanding of mental game. There is a video at the bottom thats worth watching as well.
http://parkourpedia....flow-phenomenon

onto your question however.

I cant say that when i am immersed in my shot routine that i twitch, I find that i can sometimes get lost.

To explain..... When I am close to being in the groove, or reaching flow, I can either become over aroused, and start getting a bit edgy and spraying (happens to lots of newbies as they approach pb's or are shooting better then they expect, and then they crash) or i become less aroused, read complacent, and I don't do everything I should each shot and get a weird shots out right and left.

The key I find is to become interested in your game, like you were aside it watching someone, use positive self talk, like, "nice shot" or "solid 10/x", re-enforce the positives like you were commenting on someone else's shooting and trying to encourage them. If it's a bad shot let it go, don't comment, don't say oops, don't make noises. Try instead to stay focused on that flow. A good understanding of your shot process, visualization exercises and self hypnosis (which is just basically positive statements to lift self belief, whilst you are relaxed, in the bath is a great place) will all help your mental game immensely.

Its quite tricky to learn how to get in the groove on demand, some of the greats do it unintentionally, they just do it natural, whilst others have learnt to do it from reading books and sports psychologists.

If you find that you are becoming under aroused or loosing that edge you should find ways to lift your focus, and if you are getting edgy or over aroused, ways to focus and calm down a little, its a knifes edge to start, but with practice the ability to get in the groove widens.

[Scott74]

Extremely helpful response..Thankyou

[Marcus]

Sounds like you are slightly anticipating the break of the shot. Just relax and concentrate and keep your shot process moving and your timing quick.

[jim p]

You may be getting too relaxed and almost going to sleep. Try shooting when you are well rested and see if you still have the problem.