With the ASA in London, Ky., bearing down on everyone, Jack Wallace has decided he wants to help people improve their game of shooting in the unknown classes. Recently, he contacted me and wondered if I might be willing to transfer his thoughts into a written piece that could be referenced by shooters for years to come to help them become more proficient at the "game" we play. While unsure if I could navigate the process and get it into a readable form that didn't take up too much time from the readers, I ensured him I would give it my best attempt. Here are the highlights of our recent conversation. I hope everyone is able to gain something from Jack's knowledge and go to the next level in their shooting. While he has helped many shooters, amateurs and pros alike, some stand above all others, including his wife Sharon, and the mystery Jack in the Box open pro shooter whom we will introduce later in this article. A while back, Levi Morgan, whom many consider to be the best 3D archer of all time, was on a Bowjunky podcast speaking about judging yardage. In the course of the conversation, Levi made reference to Jack Wallace, saying Jack is the best yardage judger he has ever shot with, even though his shot might get a little squirrely now and then. Coming from the greatest of the greats at the game, it would probably be in everyone's best interest to learn from the greatest of the greats yardage judger. Not only has Jack's methods for judging yardage withstood the test of time, his shooting often goes unnoticed when compared to the other legends. Jack is also a legend, and that should not be forgotten. He is one of only four Open Pros who have ever won the ASA Classic, ASA Shooter of the Year, the IBO World Championship, and the IBO National Triple Crown. Can you guess the other three who have accomplished it? They are none other than Jeff Hopkins, Levi Morgan and Danny McCarthy. Now, it's time to share some of Jack's secrets that helped him on his journey to amass all those titles and many more.
Jack's Early Years
Jack started shooting his bow in his backyard with his dad in 1982 at 7 years old. Living in Ohio, Jack and his dad practiced to become better bowhunters, and as they became Roger Staubachs in their own backyard, another archery game was being born. Field archery, as it was in so many places across the country, was experiencing a sharp decline in numbers, and 3D tournaments quickly became commonplace. Unlike field archery and indoor archery, which are both shot as "rounds" and based on perfection, 3D was a game in which two wrongs could make a right or two rights could end with a displeasurable result. In this new game, you might be shooting great but judging poorly or you might be judging great and shooting poorly, resulting in scores that seemed impossible for your level of shooting on that day: the glory that goes with playing this "game."
Jack fell in love with the game because of all of the nuances associated with it. He played sports growing up and knew he didn't have the athletic ability to be a professional athlete in one of the big four sports. However, he saw 3D archery as a discipline he could master if he put his mind to it, so he threw all of his eggs in that basket and decided he would come up with a program to chase his idols, Randy Ulmer and Shannon Caudle. If he mapped it out correctly, he thought he might have a chance of rubbing elbows with them and dancing with them on the big stage.
Turning Pro
In 1994, as Jack watched his idols at the ASA Classic, he made the decision to jump headfirst in the shark pool the next year. In 1995, Jack came out of the gate swinging and clawed his way through the year. He drew his bow day after day and month after month until he found that first year coming to an end. Although he fell short of his goal of being the Rookie of the Year and finished as the runner-up, he found the motivation to focus on the discipline he needed to get better and give the big dogs a fight for their lives. He would create a game plan and try to stick to it to ensure he could stay in the 10-ring and pick up the bonus rings he would need to win. The new approach would focus on two things: JUDGING YARDAGE and CREATING A GAME PLAN to be there at the end of each event.
The Turning Point
The 1996 season was upon Jack before he could bat an eye, and he was ready for it. Going into the season, Jack was in college, and neither he nor his family had the money to afford any targets. Instead, he and his father would shoot in the backyard at the target bag they owned and one deer target that could be found next to the bag.
At the first ASA tournament of 1996 in Gainesville, Fla., Jack found himself at the top of the Open Pro class, winning his first professional event. His taste for victory honed the discipline he would need to keep moving forward and stack up one of the most illustrious careers ever for any shooter who has competed in the Open Pro class, where he still competes today.
Not being able to tell the future, he headed to the next event in Georgia, and a fella named Jeff Hopkins won his first professional event. The first two events of the year were won by shooters who had never tasted victory in the Open Pro class. Jeff went on to run the table for many years and quickly became a dominating force, and Jack continued trying to master the game and figure out the best way to play it.
As 1996 wore on, Jack found himself in a tie with his idol, Randy Ulmer, for ASA Shooter of the Year. The tie continued through a few shots, until Jack's final arrow found the 12-ring and the ASA presented a $50,000 check to a 21-year-old kid from Ohio. He had worked his plan thoroughly and he stayed disciplined with the yardage judging to earn the title of being the best ASA professional shooter for the year. He's grateful for all of the opportunities archery has given him, and he's thankful to have represented many of the best companies in archery. The shoot-off against Randy Ulmer is what Jack explained as his "big break" in archery. Over the years, he has realized that the equipment people choose to use is not nearly as important as judging distance. Judging distance is part of 3D archery, one of the only disciplines in the archery world that can be considered an actual game.
Jack's Rules to Judging Yardage
You must be able to determine the depth to the target. Some people do this by using the ground; some people do it by target recognition at different distances. There are many ways to do it, so you have to figure out what method you're going to use to determine depth.
Some things to keep in mind while doing this. It is true that the targets never change. However, southern Alabama foliage, big oaks in Illinois, the hills of Kentucky, and the Black Forest mixed with plantation pines in Cullman all present different challenges. In theory, being able to recognize the target or correlate it to something else in your mind will be the best way to determine the depth of each target.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE. YARDAGE BEFORE YOU GUESS IT! -- We can't answer a math problem without knowing what the symbols and formulas mean. The same holds true with estimating yardage. You need to know it before you guess it. How do you do this?
When Jack had a target bag and one single target, he and his dad set one brick in the grass at every 5-yard interval out to 40 yards. They would study the bricks and learn to let the mind's eye see (or feel) the distance between the bricks as the distance increased. Then, after shooting groups of arrows, they would take turns pulling arrows. When his dad pulled arrows, Jack would study his father's figure (a human) at the 40-yard bale. Then, on the next end, Jack would pull arrows while is father stayed at the shooting line. After pulling the arrows, Jack would turn and study his father's figure. He quickly allowed his minds eye to recognize 40 yards.
So how does this work? No matter the situation, Jack's mind's eye learned to associate his father's figure at a certain distance. It doesn't matter whether it's a coyote or an elk target, Jack pictures his father standing next to the bag. On each stake, Jack still sees his dad standing there. You have to find something your mind's eye can recognize and put into action.
Having worked with many people over the years, there are a variety of things people have used to have the same effect. One of his friends pictures his dog, another student was familiar with 4-wheeler tires, so he used them. Then again, another guy who was a drywaller used 5-gallon buckets. Five-gallon buckets can be used to perfect your skills if you go to any of the local outlets that might have colored buckets. You can buy three or four different colored buckets and put them at key distances to get used to them. Your orange bucket could be 40 yards, your white bucket could be 45 yards, and your blue bucket could be 50 yards. Learn to know what each bucket looks like at each distance.
KNOWING HOW FAR THE TARGET IS NOT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE EQUATION
By using something that is easy to recognize in the mind, you will be able to break down a cap of where the target is located. You know it's between the 40-yard orange bucket and the 45-yard white bucket. Then, you determine which bucket it is closer to and set your sight accordingly. You must know the rise and fall of your bow to allow yourself to stay in the 10-ring.
There are many theories and plans that people use in the unknown 3D game. Jack encourages people to use what they feel works the best for them. He warns against using the ground game, simply because in IBO tournaments the ground is taken out of play regularly. While you can learn to judge in 5-yard increments, he advises against getting stuck in that rut due to the simple fact that as the yardage increases, your mistakes can get larger and larger if you messed up one of the first guesses.
EVERY SHOOTER SHOULD HAVE A BASE YARDAGE
Every shooter should learn a yardage that they can look at something and know automatically that it is "their" base yardage. Jack recommends 30 yards because that will be closer to your average numbers in most adult classes. If you can start at 30 yards and know that distance, you will have a head start because your overall number to guess will be narrowed into a 20-yard window if you're shooting in a 50-yard max class.
PERCEPTION
Targets in tunnels may look different than targets in a field. Targets in tunnels may look different than targets in open hardwoods. Black targets may appear farther away, and white targets in beaming sunlight may appear much closer. It's crucial to not assume things when looking at targets. We all know that when we ASSUME, it can make an ASS out of U and ME. Don't assume if you can see the scoring rings on a target, the target is a certain distance. Who knows, the lines in the mold could've been cut deeper, making the lines appear better, or the lighting might be better than normal.
THE DECISION TO SHOOT
When a person decides how far the target is from the stake, there are still many things that need to be done to ensure the arrow stays in the 10-ring. Where are you going to aim? How large is your average group at the distance your sight is set?
Your eyes will always attract to a spot on a 3D target. It could be a nock; it could be a shot-out spot; it could be a shadow. Once your eyes attract to a spot, you need to determine where the scoring ring is. Where you're looking is usually where you will be staring, and where you're staring will sometimes be where you end up aiming.
This is where setting your sight and knowing where you're going to aim become vitally important to staying in the 10-ring or hitting a bonus ring. Knowing your average-size group is important because you can't hope for that one perfect shot. Instead, you need to make sure every arrow you fire will stay in the 10-ring so you're not going backward. To be able to shoot a 12, you must be able to shoot a 10 first.
Many people will aim directly at the 12, even though 1/3 of the arrows they shoot in a group at that distance will not be in the 12. This is where setting your sight is crucial. You need to know your tendencies, and if you're not comfortable shooting at an upper or lower, you need to make sure you set your sight accordingly. As Jack's good friend Danny McCarthy says, "Make sure you give it enough to get there."
DO JACK'S METHODS WORK FOR EVERYONE, AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
In 2014, a young boy, a girl and the dad contacted Jack for lessons. When Jack asked the boy what he wanted out of the lessons, the boy said he wanted to win the ASA Classic. After getting to the first target, a black bear, on Jack's range, the boy went through his routine and Jack made him vocally announced his steps. Watching the kid step to the stake, Jack heard, "30 yards," and the kid began setting his sight. Meanwhile, Jack knew the target was all of 34 yards. The kid executed a perfect shot, and the arrow landed in the 5. He was a solid 4 yards short.
Baffled, Jack asked the young man if that's how he does it every time, and the kid responded, "Yes. I set my sight and shoot right at the 12."
After that target, Jack asked him to try it his way, the way that was just explained above, and the kid shot eight 12s and three 10s on the next 11 targets. The boy was amazed, and his dad was beaming with happiness and pride. Later that year, he would go on to podium at the Classic. Then, he continued working with these methods and ended up winning his way out of Open C, Open B, Open A and Semi-pro, eventually winning Rookie of the Year in the Open Pro Class. Today, that young man is still shooting in the Open Pro class and giving the man who gave him a plan a run for his money. Discipline and sticking to the plan are what allowed Sam Smith, the Jack in the Box, to appear in shootdown rounds in the ASA Pro-Ams. Jack could't be more proud of Sam and his dedication to sticking to the plans laid out for him to be successful. Everyone milestone Sam achieves, Jack is transported back to his younger years and celebrates Sam's success. Sam might not be a world-class target archer, but he has become very proficient at playing the "game" of unknown 3D. He has become a "gamer" and one to watch.
The plan given to Sam can be used on upper and lower 12s and is based on how far the target could be and could it be 1 yard farther than the guess or even a 1/2 of a yard farther. The safe bet is to add another yard. It's essentially important to never fire a shot wondering if you're going to hit high or low. If you're shooting at a low 12, make sure you're never going to miss low, and the reverse holds true for the upper. No matter what you do, the sight has to be set so you stay in double-digit scoring. This will always give you a chance to succeed. You don't have to be one of the greatest shots on the planet to play the unknown "game." It's a game, and the winners are the guys who played it the best on that given day. Unknown 3D is not a game in which you cannot miss. It's a game that you devise a plan to find a way to get more points than your competitor, and, yes, many days you get there when two wrongs make a right, as Tim Gillingham says. Just learn how to play the game.
UNDERSTANDING THE GAME
There are two days of scoring in every tournament, and there are 40 targets to determine who gets into the shootdown round. Everyone has things they're great at, but everyone also has limitations. Don't play every target like you think your competitors are playing it. It's a game, and your decision-making is what will ultimately decide the result. In Monopoly, if you buy up Park Place, Boardwalk and the Railroad Crossings, then run out of money, you might find yourself in trouble if you end up in jail without a Get out of Jail Free pass and no money to pay the other players if you land on their properties. Unknown 3D archery is the same. Play smart, and stay a step ahead of everyone else by sticking to your plan.
Using the Open Pro class for an example, you do some research and learn that 24 up will most likely get you in the shootdown round near - or in - the lead. You don't need to shoot 24 up on Day 1. You don't even need to shoot 6 up in the first five targets. You're going to be on the range for about 3 1/2 hours, so take your time getting to where you want to go. In the first 1:45 you're on the range, try to get to 6 up, so you will be halfway to where you need to be. Then, in the next 1:45 you'll need to pick up 6 more points someplace. There's no sense in coming out of the gate and gunning at every 12. It's much smarter to look at the hand that you've been dealt and play it accordingly. Follow the plan, set the sight to stay in the 10-ring, and take the 12s that come along with your ability to play the game better than others who are going for broke and trying to buy up all the Park Places and Boardwalks in the game then run out of money because the reward didn't have tie to match the risks.
It's important to know your equipment and the rise and fall of the arrow at the average distance the targets are set on your courses. Using a caribou as an example, you can look at the target and identify there is no possible way the target is over 45 yards. However, it could be 41 yards. You're really unsure. How do you stay in the 10-ring when you have a 4-yard brain lapse? Well, the caribou has a very large 10-ring, so you can hold 41 on top of the 10 because you know there's no possible way it's under 41. If it's 41, you'll still catch a 10, but if it's 45, the arrow will fall and you'll still catch the bottom of the 10-ring. Know the rise and fall of your bow at certain yardages and figure out where to aim on every target to keep you in the 10-ring.
KNOW YOUR MONEY TARGETS
The money target is the particular target that is going to make YOU lose or win the event. We all have them. You need to know your tendencies and write them down.
Record where you are
Write down:
1.) Number of Target, Number of Arrow, Target. Ex.) No. 1, Arrow #7, Razorback hog
2.) After shooting, check the distance and record it (this will allow your mind's eye to record it and see it for what it actually was)
3.) Beside the yardage write the amount you missed it by (you do not want to write what you shot it for. That reinforces something incorrectly into your mind's eye)
4.) Write down your score. Ex.) 12......If it hits anywhere else, draw a circle representing a 10-ring and put a small dot where it hit.
5.) In the end, this would be what should be in your notes...... Ex.) No.1, Arrow #7, Razorback Hog, 39, -1, 12-ring
These simple things in your notebook or in the notes field on your phone will allow you to learn target recognition with different targets, common mistakes you make with aiming, yardage tendencies with different targets, and it will also allow you to cull arrows due to having your arrows numbered and seeing if any of them have an issue that stands out with their point of impact. If you reman disciplined to the plan Jack has laid out, you will see improvement in your 3D game within two weeks, and the sky becomes the limit . After all, look at what that young kid from Ohio who idolized the one and only Randy Ulmer has gone on to achieve on the 3D tour over the last 30 years.
Jack is sharing all of these things to make people understand that the unknown 3D game isn't nearly as difficult to master as many believe it to be. Like any game, it takes time to figure out. You're not going to be the best Cornhole player in the state if you never attempt to learn more about the game. Unknown 3D is the same. Too many people don't treat it like the game it was designed to be. While scores are important in the end, it's a game that can be enjoyed because you can play it differently than your opponents and you're able to see who had the best strategy at the end of the day. It's not based on shooting a "round" in which perfection is required. The only thing you have to perfect is how to outsmart your competitors and outlast them until it's over. Instead of striving for perfection, you are striving to use your weaknesses to your advantage to stay in the 10-ring and pick up the number of bonus rings you will need to land near the top at the end. Just remember, Sam Smith came into the arena to win -- by setting his sight and shooting at the 12s. I can guarantee you that method hasn't worked well for many people over the years. Jack's ability to help him and give back and help shooters in the next generation, as well as shooters from his own era, has given many people a new look at how to play this silly game.
What's the take on all of this? Unknown 3D is a game that you don't have to be the best at every single skill that comes with it. Rather, you have to have a solid mind and figure out a plan for yourself that will prevent you from losing points on your scorecard. The tips Jack gives in this article can be game changers. Go out, get at it and stay disciplined. You might get to be the next Joker on the Cracker Jack box and jump out of the laundry bin next year. Jack is always available to answer questions, but more importantly. he also makes his living in archery. If you're wandering around on an unknown back road ad thank you have the discipline to master the game, I highly encourage you to book a lesson with Jack. It will be the best money you've ever spent if you want to excel in the unknown arena, or even the known arena as far as how to attack aiming at the rings.
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