The Evolution of Target Archery

  A few weeks ago, before I was called to Florida, I had a long talk with Ed Despart. We discussed a variety of things, but we both agreed that the number of people who shoot at a high level is amazing. Twenty years ago, there were a lot of guys who could shoot well, but it seemed like many of these individuals came from the same geographical locations across the country.

  Amazingly, the scores that win now aren't any different than the scores that won back then, but the number of archers shooting them has increased dramatically. So why did a lot of good/great shooters come from the same geographical locations back then?

  Well, that was a time period before the internet was overloaded with information about shooting. Websites weren't available to filter through the information and learn the answers to your questions. YouTube didn't exist, so there weren't any video tutorials out there to pick apart and decide what information you could use to improve your game. There was no way to keep up on what was going on at big tournaments unless you knew someone who went to them. Then, it would take you a week or two to catch up on the "new" news as it filtered back to the ranges around the country.

  I have always felt fortunate to live near Albany, N.Y., where many great archers have lived over the years. I've done most of my "local" shooting throughout New York and New England. In my travels, I've also been lucky enough to toe the line or share a stake with some of the best shooters in the world, whether it was in the late '90s or last year. I've been surrounded my professional target archers and professional 3D archers.

  The amount of knowledge in an area directly leads to the quality of competition. If you find yourself in the same ranges and at the same tournaments as the good guys, you have an opportunity to watch, listen and learn. A lot of the data about shooting and tuning is talked about every day, week and month when you're around these guys. As with anything in life, if you're a good listener, you can become better at almost anything.

  Twenty years ago, I was surrounded by guys who were ahead of the curve when it came to shooting and tuning. I quickly learned that  being able to execute a "surprise" shot would increase my odds of being successful. I would go home and try many of things I heard others talking about. Eventually, I found my own way of doing things. I learned that the biggest secret was being consistent with the way I executed my shot. Although there were many thoughts on good form and bad form, the secret was to do things exactly the same every time I drew my bow and settled into my anchor. I might not have done it the right way, but I figured out how to repeat the process. I also learned how to give the shot 100% of my concentration.

  I never achieved the heights of many of the guys from my area, but I think I did okay when I look back on it. I'm not sure if I would have done better if I had access to all of the knowledge that is currently on the internet, but I know my learning curve would have been much shorter. It probably would've allowed me to save hours, days, months and years of experimenting to understand what worked and what didn't.

  When you take a look around and think about how you got to where you are, whether it's still flinging arrows in the backyard or traveling across the country to compete in national events, you should never forget your journey and the people who helped along the way.

  After I got out of college and started competing, I came in contact with a lot of the greats in my region and had the pleasure of shooting with many of them. I learned from all of them, even if I didn't shoot with them. When I started traveling to shoot in 3D tournaments, the legend in my area was Roger Thibault. Everybody wanted to beat Roger. He set the bar for all others in New England. After I began finding myself in peer groups with him every year in the New England Triple Crown, I realized that his confidence helped him more than anything. He had a better mental game than anyone I had shot with up to that point. I knew I had to work on that part of my shooting and made it a priority.

  Over the next 10 years, I learned from Bob Rowe, Steph Hamner, Ryan Rowe, Dave Cousins, Eric Griggs, Scott Tozier and many others. Then, as I began competing in target archery events, I watched Jim Despart, Dave Badgely, Doug Williams, Kenny Young, Doug Monteleone, and John Vozzy. Although these are just a few of the guys, there were many more whom I could write about. These guys gave me incentive to get better.

  I know I probably didn't accomplish anything in writing this, but I did get to think about some of the old days when shooting was the same -- but different. The whole secret to shooting well depends on the ability to shoot a surprise shot and having a solid mental game. The rest will take care of itself. I hope this short piece makes people think of all the people in their region who pushed them to become better. Although I included a few western New Yorkers, I'm glad I lived close to many great shooters. How about all of you? Have you noticed that certain regions/pockets hold a lot of good shooters?

NFAA Mid-Atlantic Sectionals

  It seems like indoor season is rapidly coming to a close. Although I'd really like to go to the NFAA Indoor Nationals, it doesn't appear that I'm going to be able to make it. I know I should probably just pack up and hit the road to try my hand at it this year, but too many other things are going on right now that are distracting me. I would love to go.

  I didn't do much shooting this week. I went to the club on Tuesday night to shoot in the 450 league. I took Monday as a rest day since I had shot two days in a row at the state championship last weekend. Once again, I felt like I shot better than the score I posed in league. I shot a 446 with 30Xs. I just can't seem to stack up good scores this year. My shot feels really good, but the the bow feels a little erratic this year. I haven't been able to put a finger on it, and I've been taking the majority of the blame. I've recently begun to wonder if I should look deeper into the results and start going over the equipment with a fine-toothed comb. The bow just doesn't seem to be forgiving enough to save me on sub-par shots, and I don't feel like I'm making very many bad shots this year. It has been a mental battle for the majority of the year, but I keep returning because I feel like my shooting can carry me through anything.

  Years ago, the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals were a combined total of two 300 rounds, and I shot some really good scores when it was done in that format. I think I liked it better when it was done that way. It really showed who had it together for two consecutive rounds on one of the most grueling targets to shoot in indoor archery. There's nothing more taxing on your patience than shooting a 5-spot round. It requires 100% of your concentration, and it doesn't lend any leniency to marginal shots when you have to shoot five arrows every round for 12 ends.

  On Friday night, I started off making good shots. The pin was drifting around a little bit, but the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I dropped one X in the first end and one on my last arrow of the sixth end before we had to change target position.

  I started on the top, so I had to move my target to the bottom. When I moved the target, I felt good about being on the bottom. Over the years, I've tended to shoot better on the bottom. When I drew my bow to shoot the first arrow of the seventh end, the entire sight picture changed. I had a difficult time getting back on track and quickly missed two Xs in that end. I didn't fare much better during the next end, dropping two more. I battled through the end of the round to regain my composure and felt good about getting back on track. When the round came to a close, I was not happy about my second-half performance. I let a few small distractions get the best of me, and the distractions caused me to lose focus. My shooting was stellar for the first half, and I'll take that away from the night. I executed every shot with great form and follow through, and the arrows found their way to the center. It felt awesome to shoot powerful shots and watch the arrows bury into the X.

  In the second half I learned that I could still battle through distracting stuff. I searched through some past memories and realized I needed a recovery strategy to get back on track. Between ends, I sat in a chair and thought about the buck I killed in Illinois last fall. I saw myself drawing the bow back and debating on whether or not to thread the arrow through a crack between two trees. Finally, I chose to make the shot, and it struck perfectly. I watched the deer bound down the hill, wobble around and disappear after coming out of creek bed. I had made a perfect shot through a tight window.

  After thinking about that great day, my mind became free and easy again, and I rolled the next 20 consecutive Xs, which isn't the easiest thing to do with a pin and short bars when age starts creeping up on you. I know it was a lot easier at 31 than 51. Now, it's a little harder to see where the pin is on the target, but I still do my best. Being able to use my recovery program worked really well during this round, and I was thankful to draw it out of my bag of tricks. I definitely needed it.

                                                          The Second Round

  I got to the range about 40 minutes before the scheduled start time for the round on Sunday. I was surprised to see the range full of people. I didn't think that many people were signed up, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the nice crowd. We had a wide variety of people shooting, too.

  When I stepped to the line for the first practice end, I realized I was going to have to find a way around a shaky sight picture. The sight didn't sit still for the 10 practice arrows, and I knew I would have to trust my shot. Many years ago, Tim Strickland taught me that motion is correction while shooting. As long as I do my part and keep pulling, the sight should make its way back to the center of the bullseye before the shot fires. I trusted this and did the best I could do.

  I chose to start on the bottom, figuring a change from Friday might serve me well. Once again, like Friday, I started off slowly. I made five good shots, but one of them hit barely under the X. I recovered quickly and shot some good rounds. I survived the first half and dropped three Xs. Considering how much my sight was moving, I considered that a success. I concentrated incredibly hard to make sure I didn't make any sub-par shots, and I felt like I succeeded.

  When I moved my target from the bottom to the top at the halfway point, I felt good about finishing the game. I made five good shots the first end, and all of the arrows found their way into the X. I stayed strong throughout the rest of the game and barely missed three. The misses were no larger than a sheet of paper. Two of the arrows were barely out the top at 12 o'clock and the other one missed at 6 o'clock. I got a little strong on two of them, and the other one probably hit where the pin was sitting.

  When I finished, I looked at the scorecard when it was handed to me and saw that I had shot a 300 with 54xs. I'm not sure how that will do since the Mid-Atlantic Sectional comprises so many states -- New York to Virginia -- but I think it will be alright for Senior Bowhunter Freestyle. I'm not liking the fact that I'm in the senior class, but Father Time is undefeated, so I'll keep rolling around on this uneven road. Last year, I ended with a 300 57xs and found myself in a 3-way tie for first, losing out on first by one inside/out X. Although I wasn't happy with the score, I was satisfied with my shooting. Scores haven't been showing up on the paper this year according to how I'm evaluating my shooting. But I also have to realize that I haven't been able to shoot very much at all this winter due to the shoulder rehab. It's still a little bothersome while shooting, and I just haven't been able to put as many arrows through my bow to get the same results as last year. That very well could be the reason why the scores aren't where I would like them to be.



                                                    My Take on the Sectionals

  As you can see above, I pounded that one particular X, as I always do in almost every game I shoot. Very rarely do I ever miss my first arrow on a Vegas target or a 5-spot. I tend to center punch the first target in every tournament or league. It's because I'm calm, confident and in control.

  I had a very difficult time concentrating this weekend. My mind wasn't on shooting, and that is never a good thing. I always try to do my best when I draw the bow and make the most out of what plays out in front of me. I think I succeeded this weekend with that. It's difficult to concentrate when your parents are 1,200 miles away and your dad finds himself in the hospital with unexplainable things going wrong. Your mind will do funny things when that happens. As many of you have seen, Dad is in the hospital, and the doctors are trying to get to the bottom of what is going on. Hopefully, they can consult with his doctors up here and figure out a plan to help him out. He shot lights out at the ASA Pro-Am last weekend in Alabama and everything seemed good until this dilemma took hold.

  I felt anxious while shooting the Mid-Atlantics. I think I might have been trying too hard. I haven't found myself doing that in a long time, and the nerves came out of nowhere. I always feel nerves, but the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals always seem to drive them into overdrive. I've never been able to figure out was causes it. I'll beat it next year. I'm sure of it.

  I was able to shoot next to Jacob on the second day. It's always fun to rub elbows with one of the best professional shooters in the world, especially when said shooter acts just like he's one of us Joes. It's a pleasure to have him around. He's always willing to help anyone who asks him questions, and he was put to work this weekend helping a few people. Jacob put up a pretty good score in the Men's Professional division, so now he and I will have to wait to see how things shake out.  We also watched live scoring of the NAA rounds as the last couple of locations finished up. We learned that he finished in the top 8, and he will be shooting in the head-to-head matches in Louisville in a few weeks for the title of National Champion. When we finished shooting the round, I shot his bow to see how I liked it. Amazingly, our bows are set up very similar as far as peep height and holding weight. I hit behind the pin with his bow and shot a few Xs, and he hit behind the pin on my bow and shot some tiny dust spots on the target. We think we might shoot the same bow in the team shoots this year, figuring we can each carry the bow for half the course. It will give us the ability to rest up. It's not often you can take someone's bow and shoot it accurately and have it be close enough in draw length to make it work without putting much work into it. It was a cool experiment that we had fun with.

  I think the coolest thing that happened this weekend was when I saw two people shoot their first 300 ever. On Saturday, a shooter from the Clifton Park league shot his first 300, and on Sunday, Logan Stevenson shot his first 300. I was excited for both of these shooters. Although it was a long time ago, I still remember my first one like it was yesterday. After shooting it, I went on a memorable run, one that sometimes still surprises me today when I look back on it.

  I realized another thing this weekend that I think sometimes gets overlooked. When most people can shoot in the low to mid-50s for an X count, the ones they're missing are most likely due to mental mistakes. Sometimes the difference between 55 and 60 is nothing more than the width of a dime. Although it can be easy for some people to shoot these scores in practice and leagues, I've realized it is an entirely different beast in a tournament when there is perceived pressure. Shooting without any self-induced pressure is pretty easy. If you can design a way to induce pressure, you will be a step ahead.

 

NYFAB/NFAA State Championship & Classic

  I headed to the annual NYFAB/NFAA state championship in Oneonta, N.Y., this weekend to try my hand at a few days of shooting. I wanted to see if I could withstand a couple of days of feeling pressure. I figured I would be able to see how my shoulder reacted after the first day, which would allow me to start making a decision about going to the NFAA Indoor Nationals in Louisville.

  I didn't do much shooting in the week leading up to the state championship on Saturday. I shot in our league at the club on Tuesday night and ended the night with a 449 30x round. I felt good about the round. The only arrow I missed hit directly behind the pin. The pin was drifting to the right when the shot fired, and the arrow landed just outside the 10-ring. I made great shots throughout the game. After assessing the night, I decided to practice on Thursday and call it good.

  When I went to the range on Thursday, I struggled mightily. I couldn't hold the bow, and I sprayed arrows all over the target. I worked on my expansion and focused on that part of my shot. Toward the end of my practice, I tried a different back bar to see how the bow would react. I went from a 10' bar to a 12' bar, and the sight picture settled down considerably. Although I didn't have many shots behind it, I decided then and there that I would use that bar on Saturday.

                                                  The NY State Championship


   I've shot in this tournament for many years. I've experienced a few wins along the way and a few heartbreaking moments, moments that could crush a lesser man. I've always taken whatever happens on the chin and plowed forward. I've learned that sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield.

  Jeff Wagoner, Chris Hall and I got to Oneonta a few hours before we were scheduled to shoot. While driving through downtown, I pointed out a few of my old haunts. It sure doesn't seem like it has been 30 years since I graduated from SUNY Oneonta. I spent some of the  best years of my life there, and that is where I began participating in target archery. I joined the Oneonta Bowmen Club, and later that spring, I participated in my first 3D tournament. My life would never be the same after joining that club. I became addicted to slinging arrows. Although I never became great at it, I have found some success here and there along the way. I've made great friends with people from all over the country, too. Archery became my life.

  When I shot my practice arrows on the practice range at the Boys and Girls Club, I worked the kinks out and felt good about going downstairs to begin my round. The bow held solid during practice, and my shot was breaking in the right time frame from one end to the next.

  During the first of the two official practice ends, I focused on making good shots and didn't pay much attention to the pin. By the time the practice ends had finished, I had only shot two 10s. I shot a couple of big 9s as well as a few that were licking the jar. I was ready to go. My shots were crisp, and I could focus on aiming when scoring began.

  I rolled through the first three ends without any issues. My shot timing was a little longer than I wanted it to be, but the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I knew I needed to speed the shot up a little bit. Over the last few weeks, my pin has found a way to sit still in the center. I've had minimal movement and this has slowed down my shot. Instead of getting active, I have found myself watching the pin sit steady. It has been awesome. It reminds me of the old days when the arrows would fire one after another as the pin sat still.

  Going into the fourth end, I encountered a hiccup. I'm not sure what happened, but I lost my concentration for a minute or two and paid the price. Although I barely missed the 10-ring, I missed cleanly. I couldn't reel them back in. I took it on the chin, addressed the lack of concentration and moved on.

  As the round progressed through the second game, my shots felt good. Unfortunately, I barely missed a few. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have missed them if I had been shooting with a lens and long bars. I think the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I guess that happens when your eyes get older.

  Going into the last game, I knew I had to bear down and make solid shots. On the first shot of the 11th end, I made a shot that I will never forget. It was more poetic than Shakespeare. If I had to write in a book what a perfect shot feels like, I could've easily gained my information from that shot. I think the shot might have been the best shot I've ever made in my life. It made me smile and pat myself on the back. Although it was a small victory, it was a victory that built confidence.

  I powered my way through the rest of the round, barely missing one more 10-ring. When the dust had settled, I had dropped five points and three of them had hit in the same exact hole. I had a winning performance on Saturday, and some days when you have a winning performance, you actually win. Although the score wasn't a winning score on most days, it did the trick today. Old eyes and old bones sometimes have a hard time with a bowhunter setup. I guess I held my own with it today. Take a look at the target and remember that the two big 9s were both during the practice end. This shows you that the difference between a perfect game on the scorecard and a so/so game is sometimes a matter of millimeters. Too many people get caught up with the score and the outcome instead of how they actually shot.





  Some days are made or broken by the people on your bale. I felt extremely lucky on Saturday to have been surrounded by good people. I got to shoot next to Dan Hann, and it's always good to have a calming influence nearby. Dan allowed me to shoot my game, and he offered good company throughout the round. It's always a good day when you're surrounded by good shooters who drive you to stay on top of your game. It's always fun to go back and forth with everyone on the bale and have fun doing it.


                                                   Sunday: The NY State Classic

  Jeff, Chris and I went back to Oneonta on Sunday for the NY State Classic, a 5-spot 300 round. Since I've shot less than five 5-spot rounds all year, I didn't know how the strength in my shoulders would hold up after shooting on Saturday and having physical therapy on Friday. I figured I'd give it my best shot.

  In the beginning of the round, I struggled a little bit with my hold. The actual hold wasn't bad, but I didn't have the ability to hold as long as normal. This set my timing off a little bit and caused a little bit of monkey chatter in my mind. I tried to kick the monkeys into the bleachers and ignore them, but they talked to me throughout the round. At one point, I was thinking about my father at the ASA shoot in Foley, Alabama, while I was at full draw. After all, he was sitting in 5th place after the first day, and I wanted to know how he had finished because I knew he was done. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me for the day, so I had no idea what was going on. A few ends later, I found myself wondering how Jacob was doing in Fiskdale, Mass, then I wondered how Mike Price's son, Louis, was doing in Lancaster. With my mind wandering like that, I definitely knew I was off track. I worked hard to get the train straightened out and didn't succeed until the last two ends.

  When I got to the last two ends, I realized that I wasn't pulling with my back. Instead, I was pulling with my arm. That had caused a lot of tension throughout the round, and I knew I had to get aggressive for the last 10 arrows. The last 10 shots were my best shots of the day. Every one of them broke perfectly, and every arrow found its way into the X. It still amazes me how long it takes us Joes to discover what is causing our issues during a round. Why did it take me 50 arrows to figure out what small issue was affecting my consistency? I guess that's why I love playing the game. The difference between Joes and pros is that the pros figure these things out much faster than we do. I respect and appreciate the way they shoot their bows. Being a Joe is pretty damn hard most days, harder than many people think it is.

  When I finished the 5-spot round and the scores were added, I ended with a 300 and 53xs. I wasn't too terribly happy, but I won the battle for the day. My shooting was really good for the weekend, even though the scorecard didn't show it. Many people don't handle pressure well. They can shoot good scores in their leagues or in practice, but the scores fall dramatically during tournaments, especially tournaments with "state championship" attached to them. Sometimes scores also don't reflect how good or bad a person shot. This weekend, I shot far better than the scores I ended up with. That's just the nature of the beast some weeks. I guess a win is a win, no matter how you get it. Here's the target for the day. This is a prime example of scoring as good as you're holding. With tired arms and shoulders, I shot as well as I held today. If I had tightened up the hold, I would have walked away with 59xs. I consider that a good day. You have to be realistic with things instead of beating yourself up.



                                                   Congratulations to Many of My Friends

  I come from a very competitive club, Hudson Falls Fish & Game Club. We have two leagues a week,  and everyone pushes everyone to become better. We all encourage each other and root for everyone to succeed. If one of us fails, we all feel bad. If one of us wins, we all feel great for that person. We've become a close-knit group of guys. This weekend, many of our club members had some great performances.

  When I started shooting indoor archery when I got out of college, Dave Russell was one of the first guys I ever met. Almost everyone used their fingers back then to shoot, but Dave never switched to a release, and he still uses his fingers today. After a 6-year absence, Dave made a return to the state championship and took home the title of State Champion and State Classic Champion. Congratulations, Dave. I've always admired your ability to shoot using a finger tab instead of a release.



  Logan Stevenson, Aron's son, put on a show for his first trip to the indoor state championship. He came, saw and conquered. Logan is in the youth class and is always willing to bet some money. He's always trying to take on Jason Clarke and Jacob Slusarz for a few bucks, and that is probably what drives the kid to succeed. Logan has been putting in his time recently and he got the job done. Great job, Logan. You better be good to your mom and dad and realize all of the things they do for you. Mom deserves an award for driving you and Zane to the shoot. It felt good to have my Type 1 diabetic buddy Zane shooting in the same tournament with me. We face a battle that nobody truly understands unless they deal with it. It's hard to hold steady many days due to our blood sugar. We battles peaks and valleys that wreak havoc on our ability to shoot archery. All of that goes unseen. I can guarantee you that it's something we have (and are learning) to live with. We make the most of the hand we have been dealt. Logan even has on his khaki dress pants. He's practicing for when he becomes an NFAA pro.



  Jeff Wagoner always comes to play when he goes to a tournament. His calm demeanor and willingness to accept what falls in his lap are the things that help him make his way into the victory circle time and time again in 3D and target archery. Once again, he pulled off a big win and took the title of Senior Freestyle Champion. Great job, Jeff. You give everyone something to shoot for when you're on the line.



  Jason Clarke has been around for a long time, and he has been coming to the state shoot for many years. He finally made his hay the last few years and brought home a State Championship title last year. This year, he decided he had to improve upon last year, and he made sure there would be no challengers. He laid it down and pounded out a 450 to take the title back to Granville, N.Y., once again. I've seen Jason battle a few ups and downs this year, so it felt especially good to watch him throw it down on Saturday. Archery is never easy, just ask Jason. We both get it. Sometimes people who shoot good make it look easy, but I'm sure all of them can tell you that it doesn't work that way. Anyone who makes it look easy puts in the time. These people work their asses off to be good at what they do. I'd like to extend my congratulations to Jason for having a great day.



  Karl Weber is always in the hunt and has been for the last 15 years. Whenever he goes to a tournament, you know he will be sniffing the top step of the podium. Karl also got it done this weekend and won the NY State Classic on Sunday. Great job, Karl. I've always loved watching Karl compete. He's a fierce competitor and never gives in. I've enjoyed watching him progress to the top and stay at the top.

  Although that wraps up our club members, a few of my other friends who have won time and time again and also taken their fair share of seconds and thirds can't be left out. John Vozzy is a threat to win no matter what tournament he attends. He secured the Senior Pro title in the State Championship. Great job, Vozz. It was fun to hang out after the shoot and enjoy the time watching people be awarded for their efforts.



  Looking back at when I first began traveling to tournaments, I can remember a few guys from the Albany area whom I strived to be like. One of those guys was Dave Townsend. I also always admired Donny Graham and Donny Howard. These guys won almost every tournament, and they succeeded at everything they did. I watched from afar and wondered how they did it. Along the way, I learned that I needed to shoot the correct way and take it from there. I'll be forever thankful for having these guys in my area to watch and learn from. That's what made it special to watch Dave Townsend accept his runner-up finish at the State Championship. Before the round, he told me about a few changes he had made. He went back to a much lighter setup and felt that it was shooting well. Well, I guess he was right about that. I shot on the bale next to him, and he made good shots and got good results. As with anything, any small changes can sometimes take a bit to get used to. As an outsider looking in, everything looked great. Thanks for being that guy 30 years ago who made a lot of us local guys want to learn more how to shoot better.



  Jon Scott never fails to impress. Jon showed up at the State Championship and State Classic and took both titles home. Unfortunately, we didn't get a photo of Jon on the podium. Great job, Jon. It looks like those 23s are pounding for you. Jon shot 52 inside out Xs on the 300 round.

  Jacob ended up finishing his NAA qualifying round in Fiskdale, Mass., with an 1189. He's currently sitting in 4th place and will have to wait for a few more locations to finish up. After they finish, he will find out if he qualified for the NAA Nationals finals in Louisville  in March. If he qualifies, it will be his second consecutive year in the top 8, which is a phenomenal accomplishment. Let's all pull for him and root him on if he makes the finals. Great shooting, Jacob, and way to represent our area. You make all of us proud, just as so many other greats, including Jim Despart, Doug Williams, John Vozzy and Dave Badgely, from the Albany area have over the years.

  And last but not least, I have to give a shout-out to my dad. Twenty years ago we headed to Gainesville, Fla., to shoot in the first ASA of the year. He and I drove to Florida and back for the weekend. After the first day that year, he sat in the top three. He didn't have as good of a day the second day and fell a few places. Well, this weekend he tried his hand again at the first ASA of the year in Foley, Alabama. After the first day, he was sitting in fifth place. This time, he held his own and finished tied for 4th. Great job, Dad. I wish I could have been there to see it. Maybe we will be able to team up on one of the upcoming events.

Back at It: Two Tournaments in One Weekend

  Sometimes that contest can lead to a tremendous amount of aggravation, and it sticks with you for a few hours, days or weeks. I've experienced the highs and lows just like everyone else, and some days seem to get under my skin more than others.

  I've been going to therapy for my shoulder for a few weeks now. My physical therapist, Kris, came up with a plan to strengthen the area around my injury. I've had some good days and bad days the last few weeks, and I take them as they come. In this time period, I have also found myself behind my bow once again.

  I decided to take my CBE Vertix sight off the bow and put one of my old CBE 3DXLs on it. The Vertix seemed to be too heavy, and I didn't want to continue fighting it. I haven't been able to get the bow to hold this year like it did last year, and the sight is the only difference in the setup.

  I practiced minimally during the week, but I did get the sight sighted in on Friday night. During the process, I found that my backup release seemed to give me a better sight picture while aiming. I felt like the Todd from 20 years ago when my aiming dot never left the X. I was amazed at how well the fiber pin sat in the middle of the X. I felt like the years when it was incredibly easy to shoot high scores and never miss. When I left the range at 10 p.m. on Friday, I couldn't wait to see if the same sight picture would be with me the next day at the annual Guan Ho Ha Vegas tournament.

  I arrived at the venue about an hour early and caught up with a few of my friends and acquaintances
 whom I haven't seen a lot lately. It felt good to share some great conversation before starting our round. It also felt good to relax before jumping into the deep end. Guan Ho Ha has been one of those tournaments that creates a lot of nerves for me every now and then. I never know what to expect until the first scoring end.

  Well, this year I felt good when the clock started ticking. When I drew the first arrow and settled into my aiming process, the pin sat like a rock in the middle of the 10 ring. After finishing the first end, I felt really good about the way the bow was aiming. The incredible sight picture showed up the next end, too. Through six arrows, I had dropped a few points. Since I hadn't experienced such an incredibly still sight picture in so long, I began watching it in amazement instead of participating in my shot. Although I thought I was actively involved, my shot timing was not consistent from arrow to arrow.

  When I got into the seventh end, I decided to go back to the release I had been using all year. Although I could hold the bow like a rock with the other one, I was dropping points. After switching releases, I got back on track and missed one low, barely out of the 10, the rest of the way. As long as I've been at this game, I made a rookie mistake on Saturday: I shot a release that I haven't shot all year. I should've started with the one I've shot all along. If I had done that, I would've scored really well.

  Looking back at the Guan Ho Ha tournament, I shot some of my best shots of the year. In the 11th end, I made a shot that I consider one of the best of my life. Everything from start to finish was picture perfect, and I say the nock of the arrow a fraction of a second before the arrow buried itself in the X. It was an unbelievable feeling and gave me a sensation of floating while and invisible person took scissors out and cut the bowstring to release the arrow. I can still see it and feel it while I'm typing this tonight. I had a winning performance on Saturday. The score definitely didn't show a winning type score, but everything other than my choice of releases to start the round was what I expect out of myself every day I toe the line. Getting my bow to aim like the old days felt really good, too. I'm hoping that trend continues as I try to shoot a little more than I have for the last three to four weeks.

                                        New Hampshire State Championship

  I slept in and headed to New Hampshire for their state championship on Sunday to shoot on the 1 o'clock line. My buddy Chris Hall went with me for the second day in a row. He's getting some tournament experience and his drive is what I like to see. He's putting himself out there to get tournament experience. Tournament experience will always help a shooter. If you can put yourself in uncomfortable situations, you will learn how to deal with your nerves and anxiety.

  During our practice ends, I knew I was going to be in trouble. Being an NFAA sanctioned shoot, I knew we would have to hang our targets on the top for half of the round and on the bottom for the other half. I'm not sure if there's a maximum height for NFAA, but the top line of targets was more than I could handle. I just couldn't hold still on the targets. It might have been because I'm not used to shooting at targets hung that high during the winter, or it could be because my arms were tired from shooting at Guan Ho Ha on Saturday. Just for a reference, they had boxes marked with white marker and shooters were supposed to hang their targets in the boxes. While standing with my back to the target, the ball on the top of my baseball hat lined up perfectly with the bottom of the X on the middle target of the 5-spot target. When pulling arrows, I had to reach above my head to pull them out. I found it a little bizarre. It's probably not a big deal to shooters who shoot their regularly, but it was a severe culture shock to me and Chris. Neither one of us could hold steady having to aim that high. By the time the sixth end came, I couldn't wait to move my target. I struggled through every end, and my arms let me down. I only had one clean 5X end of the six ends, dropping six Xs along the way. This put me below my total average, and I was only halfway done. I knew I would have to battle back to try to salvage the day. I've always been good about battling, and I knew things would be much different with my target on the bottom. The bottom targets were set at heights that I shoot every place I go. I knew I would be able to aim better.

  The first end on the bottom proved my point. I shot 5xs and 4 of them were inside out. My shooting pace sped up, and my pin locked in the middle. It became easy to shoot once again. I love when my fiber doesn't move out of the X. It seems to relax my mind and allow me to make good shots. I can handle if it's moving, but when it's moving from being in an awkward position, it makes it difficult to have good shot timing. When I was on the top, I felt like I was shooting uphill.

  As the round progressed, I felt better and better, and I finished the last end with five solid Xs. My shots were great, and I had salvaged the round. After switching targets from top to bottom, I dropped two Xs. The first one I dropped was the only bad shot I made during the second half. The pin drifted right, and the shot was a little weak. The other one I missed was out less than a fingernail width, and the arrow probably hit where the pin was sitting when the shot fired. When the dust settled, I ended with a 300 52Xs. I definitely wasn't happy on my ride home. I've shot four 300 rounds this year, and I shot 59Xs, 56Xs, 54Xs, and one night I shot 48Xs, but I don't really count that because it was the first round I shot after having an injection in each shoulder and not shooting for two weeks.

  My shots were great today, and the bow held steady once I got to a comfortable position on the target bale. Even with all of the excess movement on the top, I didn't miss many by very much. It was one of those rounds that could have easily been much better. It wasn't one where I got lucky to catch Xs. Although I didn't shoot hardly any inside outs, I didn't have any close ones that were going in the direction of being called out. That's always a plus.

  I didn't shoot a good score in either tournament this weekend, but I made great strides. Shooting well isn't about posting good scores. Sometimes you need to figure things out along the way, and the scores will follow. I feel like I'm on the edge of tearing off a few good ones in the coming weeks. I guess time will tell on that. I'll continue doing my therapy and trying to make my shoulder stronger. I'm not sure if that will help with my hold or make it worse. I do know that my hold couldn't have been any better than it was at Guan Ho Ha -- or the second half of the New Hampshire shoot.

Hudson Falls Smackdown

  My home club decided to try a few different things this year to draw some shooters to the facility. It appears things have gone smoothly so far, as we got a decent turnout for today's Smackdown. We need to make a few improvements for next year to fill the house, and I'm sure after we all meet and discuss things next year before the beginning of indoor season, we will be able to address any issues.

  I haven't updated this in a few weeks. I watched many of you in Lancaster while I sat home and wished I had gone to the event. I did shoot the first leg of the New Hampshire Grand Slam in Keene, NH a few weeks ago. That event went relatively well, all things considered. Before I went to that event, I changed my let-off to 75% from 70%. My aiming seemed better, but my shot wasn't the best. I didn't miss many, but the ones I missed were at 6 o'clock. I think I probably would've gotten most of them if I had more resistance during my shot to make the release fire earlier in my hold. 

  After coming home from that shoot, I hung the bow up and knew it would be a bit before I could shoot again. I went to the doctor's office on the Tuesday before Lancaster. He looked it over and gave me a rundown on things that he thinks may be leading to some of the discomfort I'm experiencing. He injected it with cortisone and told me to rest it for a week and a half to two weeks, then start physical therapy. I will go to therapy tomorrow and see what Kris gives me for exercises to do to get back on track. I'm sure we will figure it out and hopefully see some improvements over time.

  That brings us to today. I decided to shoot a few arrows the last couple of days so I could participate in the Smackdown today to support my home club. I think it's important to support your home club if it hosts and event. The more people who attend, the more people who might come back next year. I was happy with the turnout.

  I practiced well for not having shot too many arrows over the last two weeks. I believe I only missed one 10 during my practice. The pin was holding well, and I felt good about my shooting. Since I got there early, I probably shot too many practice arrows. I should've known better, but things felt better than I had anticipated.

                                                    The Round

  My round started off well, but my shot timing slowed down. I cruised through the first 5 ends and missed one due to a dip bang. I guess you take those when they happen. As the round continued, my shot timing wasn't consistent, and I could feel my body becoming a little weak. It might have been from too much practice, or it could have been from a little anxiety. Overall, I wasn't all the concerned with the events of the day. When the dust settled after the qualification round, I found my way into the dance.

  This tournament a little different than most. The eliminations weren't head to head. Instead, every time there was an elimination, half the field got to take a seat. In the first go-around, I started off great. I shot two 11s and a 10. I followed that up with another 32 in the second end. All of my shots were executed perfectly, and I felt good about everything. 

  

  Going into the third and final end, I was on cruise control. I'd shoot my three arrows and move into the next round. When I drew the first arrow of the round, my sight picture changed for the first time of the day, and I got a little tight. The tightness caused the pin to move more than it had been, and my shot slowed down considerably. I continued doing my thing and shot my arrows. In the last round, I shot two 9s and an 11. I took a seat. I wasn't all that dejected because I've barely shot this year, but I also wasn't happy that I signed my own detention pass, stay after school pass, or whatever you might want to call it. I gave someone a free pass into the next round. It was entirely my own fault. 

  I made seven great shots during my elimination match. They all found their way into the 11-ring.  I couldn't have centered six of them any better than I did, either. That made me feel good about my day. Throughout the round, and definitely in the elimination, I realized that I need to move the stop back into a lower let-off setting. I need the lower let-off to execute a better shot when I'm nervous. I could always get away with it with a limb stop bow, but I can't get away with it on a cable stop bow. I'll be moving the stops before I shoot the next time. Hopefully, I can figure out the most comfortable place to put them. 

                                                 Taking a Step Back

  After taking a seat, I sat back and watched the people shooting. I glanced down the line and was amazed at what I saw on the line in the Hudson Falls Club. Jacob Slusarz was in lane 2. I don't need to tell everyone what he has done, but the first few things that come to mind are the NAA and NFAA Indoor Nationals, where he finished in both of them in the top 4 in the pro class last year. and swept all three legs of the IBO National Triple Crown in SPM. Not much more needs to be said. In lane 3 was Jon Scott, the guy who puts on more miles than anyone I know to shoot indoor target archery in the winter. He always put himself in a place to gain experience under pressure. Everyone has to recognize that and realize why he does it. I'm sure that his travels helped him shoot a 900 in Vegas a few years back in the pro class. That is no easy feat and not many people have done it over the years for as many people that register for the tournament. In lane 4 was Jeff Wagoner, who has come a long way since retiring his finger tab and finger bows, but I believe he might be the only guy who ever won the NY state indoor shoot in the fingers class and the release class. Jeff is always in the running during these elimination shoots. You can never count him out. Then, a few lanes down from him was John Vozzy, who, like Jacob, also found himself in the shootoff in the pro class at the Indoor Nationals a few years ago after shooting 120xs. Glancing at those guys made me appreciate where I live and the guys I be around while shooting. I consider all of them friends, and I know that all of them have done their part in making me better. They drive me to keep at it and get better. It's nice to be able to rub elbows with those guys. 

  I'd just like to wish everyone luck who is going to Vegas. Since Jacob and Jason shot off against each other in the final today and put on a show, I hope they continue down the same road after they find their way to the range out there. I also have to give a shout-out to Jon Purdy, who had a great showing in Lancaster. Great job, Jon. I consider myself lucky to shoot with a lot of great guys every week in our leagues at Hudson Falls. They all push me to keep going and get better.

                                   

Hudson Falls 660 Round

  

  Amazingly, my shoulder has begun to feel a little better as I've exercised hit by doing the therapy program I was given after my surgery in 2012. I think between that and shooting my bow once or twice a week, it has allowed my shoulder to stretch a little bit. While the pain is still there and it is uncomfortable to shoot, it's not overbearing. It definitely affects my ability to hold the bow and execute, but for now, I'm just shooting because I love shooting my bow. Whenever I get optimistic about my doctor's visit on 1/22, I have to remember to stay in my lane and remember that I will probably need some work done on it. I'm praying that some scar tissue formed in the area, which is causing the issues. I guess I'll know more in a few weeks. It's a mystery that I want solved........quickly.......and sometimes it takes a while for things to circle around to solve the puzzle.

  During my two shooting sessions this week with the Wheelin Assassin, Chris Hall, I learned that on some days I can hold the bow pretty steady. I was able to shoot a 450 with 32 xs one night and continued through the round to finish with a 600 41X for a 641.




For everything I have going on, I felt excited about the end result. I also shot well, so that made things feel even better. It was a good day all around. I also changed my holding weight this year. One thing that I like about the PSE evolve cams is that you can change the letoff with a wrench. I moved it from 75 to 70%. Although I couldn't hold the bow very well, I was able to execute better shots. I figured I would get used to it as I shot more.

                                                   Hudson Falls 660 Shoot

  Whenever I shoot in a tournament, I never know how I'm going to feel. Sometimes I have uncontrollable nerves, and other times I don't feel much at all. There's not rhyme or reason as to when the nerves appear.

  Luckily, on the first scoring end, I drew my bow, settled into my anchor point, transferred my shot into my anchor point and started aiming. Before I knew it, the shot fired and the arrow landed in the 11. My next two shots on the first end broke in the same fashion, and I was off to a good start. I figured I would ride the wave on the surfboard as long as I could. If I got washed off the board, I would let the waves carry me to the shore. Then, I would search for another wave and try riding that one longer than the previous one. It's all about finding the feeling, avoiding any negative thoughts from anything that might happen, and staying focused for a few hours while you shoot your bow and have fun.

  I rode the save for the first 10 ends. I wasn't punching out the middle of the target, but I was holding my own, on pace to shot in the 640s. I was shooting as well as the bow was holding, and I couldn't ask for that. While my shot timing slowed down a little, I was holding well and executing good shots. I felt really good considering all of the things I'm facing right now. I got through the first 10 ends and shot 21 11s and three 9s. It wasn't great by any standards, but I was satisfied with it. Two nines were less than a paper width out of the 10, and those arrows hit directly behind the pin. I also shot one 9 that landed at 6 o'clock due to a weak shot.

   As we began shooting the second game, a number of people began showing up and a lot of distractions made it difficult for me to focus. Usually, when I'm shooting well, I can block out almost anything around me. Today I couldn't do that. With everything going on around me, I knew that something had changed from the first 30 arrows. Nothing felt the same at the line, but I couldn't get a handle on the root of the problem.

  I continued shooting but began thinking about everything required to make a good shot. I started consciously focusing on all of the steps of the shot and lost my mind. My focus was no longer on aiming. I could feel the pain in my shoulder and gave it more attention that I should have. The pace was a little quicker than what I'm used to, and I couldn't take a break and sit out a few rounds while everyone else shot their arrows. I've been doing that the few times I've shot my bow, and it has worked well. We all know that when the mind is wandering, it makes it tough to shoot good shots. This is what was going on for the first seven ends of the second game.



  When I got into the eight end, I had an "Ah-ha" moment. Instantly, I realized what caused me to fall off the surfboard when I was just cruising along on the wave in the first half. It was because I had stopped focusing on aiming. When I aim, the shot happens by itself because I've trained my body what to do over the years, and it automatically does it. If my mind is preoccupied with the steps of shooting, I get overwhelmed. This is what people and coaches are talking about when they tell you to trust your shot. If you just aim, your shot will happen automatically. That's where all of the blind-baling comes together and shows its value.

  I struggled through the last 30 arrows, but I recovered nicely in the end. I found the issue that was holding me back in the middle and worked my way through it. I wish I had figured it out sooner, but in the end, it all worked out because I learned a lesson. I need to focus more on aiming, and everything will happen by itself.

  When the dust settled and the cards were added up, I was disappointed with my 628, which was a 594 34. Over half of my shots found their way into the 11 ring and only six landed in the 9, and I didn't shoot a big 9. All of the nines except one were no more than 1/4 of an inch out of the 10. Overall, it was a good round, even though the score didn't reflect it. My shooting form suffered a little bit in the middle of the round, but I executed really good shots in the beginning and end. I learned a lot today, and it will definitely help me in the future. Lancaster scoring can be humbling. The little Xs seem to be elusive on certain ends and impossible to miss on other ends. I think I need to shoot 27s. If I had 27s today, I surely would have had less nines and more 11s, but that's the way it works.

  I'm looking forward to my doctor visit. I only have a week and three days left before I go. I'm hoping for the best, but I'll deal with whatever happens when it comes. I wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out to support the shoot today. I really appreciate your presence, and I'm glad you came. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I may shoot at Ti Yogi next weekend or at the first leg of the Grand Slam in Keene, N.H. I'll know more at the end of the week. That might be the end of my shooting for the indoor season, so I'll try to make the most of it and have fun.

Nimrod New Year's Day Shoot

  Over the years, I've had a few lapses in judgment that have caused me to look back on things and wonder why in the world I attempted doing things I shouldn't have been doing. Well, 2020 started off with me doing something that probably wasn't the smartest thing to attempt.

  Those of you who are close to me know that I've been battling a shoulder injury to my previously repaired shoulder. By late August, I thought I was on the right track. The orthopedic surgeon told me to take it easy and let it heal on its own. I took it easy and didn't do anything more than sight my bow in to hunt in Colorado. Unfortunately, I had the poundage set at 67 pounds, which is about 10 pounds more than I shoot all year. Although I didn't shoot many arrows to get the bow ready, it aggravated the injury, and the pain quickly worsened. After getting in Colorado, I rode a bike over some extremely rough terrain every day for about two weeks. The constant pounding of my shoulders while going over rocks and through some rough areas, made the pain worse.

  When I returned home, I could barely use my right arm/shoulder. I got in touch with my physical therapist to see what he had to say. He gave me his thoughts and recommended an orthopedic surgeon at the Albany Bone and Joint Center. The doctor is widely recognized across the country as being a premier surgeon, so getting an appointment with him isn't easy. Amazingly, I got an appointment for December 9. Well, the week before the appointment, I received a call and the office told me the appointment had to be moved back to January 22.

  That brings me to last week. I found out that Jeff Wagoner was going to the New Year's Day shoot at Nimrod, so I decided I would get my indoor bow off the rack to see if I could shoot it. I went to the club one day and shot about 20 arrows. My shoulder was in rough shape the next day, but it wasn't too terribly bad on my scale of 1 to 10.

  I gave it a few more days and decided to see if I could shoot 45 arrows. I went to the club and got through it. I didn't shoot any more arrows than I needed to shoot. I kept score so I would have a starting point. In the first 30 arrows, I shot a 300 with 20xs. I finished the round with a 446 26xs. The last 15 arrows did me in, but I was able to finish the round. I decided I would go to the shoot on New Year's Day since Jason VanHillo told me he had a cancellation. I felt good about my performance. I shot a Bowhunter Freestyle setup.

  I got to Nimrod about an hour before the shooting time. I was able to see a lot of my archery friends whom I haven't seen since last summer. I've always enjoyed shooting in New England because all of these people are like family members. I would invite all of them to my house. I never really thought about the shoot. I know that I don't have the ability to shoot right now like I'm capable of shooting with a good shoulder.

  I brought my buddy Chris with me because he needs more tournament experience, and I knew everyone would welcome him. He started shooting bows last year and is doing well. He barely has use of his legs, and he can't stand or walk on his own, so he has to use a wheelchair. He's a baller when it comes to archery. He has some game for never shooting before last year. It was fun to watch him shoot today. He was beating me at the halfway point, and I wanted him to keep it rolling. Unfortunately, he didn't do the one thing I stress to everyone I try to help. When you are shooting, whether it's in practice or in a tournament, be ALL THERE. I usually put my phone on Airplane Mode and don't look at it until I'm done. Chris left his phone on and got a little rattled halfway through when he started paying attention to a few text messages he received. There's a lesson to be learned from this. When you are shooting, BE ALL THERE. You need all of your focus in one place, especially when you're trying to hit something the size of a quarter.

                                                             The Round

  I had no expectations for this shoot. However, I'm competitive and I can't stand it when I don't shoot up to the standards I have set for myself. I do know that my shoulder has caused all sorts of issues. I can't hold the bow steady right now, and I just haven't been able to put any time behind the string. This definitely causes issues. For indoor shooting, I'm one of those guys that has to shoot a lot to perform well.

  When the round started, I felt relatively calm. I got to shoot next to Brian Visco, and Brian and I haven't shot next to each other in many years. It brought me back to the days when we were both in our early 20s and traveling all over the place. Now, we are both 50 but still flinging arrows. I've always enjoyed Brian's company, and today was no different. It was a good time.

  I battled a bobbing sight picture in the beginning of the round. I couldn't quite place what was causing the issue, so I took an ounce off my front stabilizer. After taking the weight off, the sight picture became steadier and I got on a roll. The sight was sitting relatively still and the arrows were hitting behind the pin. I decided to roll with it.

  When I finished the 7th end, I could feel some pain in my shoulder. The pace was a little too fast for me to recover. I ignored it the best I could, but at full draw, I could feel the pain start in my upper arm, move to the top of my shoulder and rest in my entire arm and shoulder before the bow would fire. I tried holding as steady as possible, but not being able to shoot my bow lately, I couldn't find a solid hold. It takes a while to get back into shooting form when you haven't touched a bow for months. If I didn't have to battle the physical issues, I would know that this particular holding pattern was not acceptable. Since I have no choice about it right now, I know I just have to go with the flow and let the pin wobble, float and sometimes race all over the yellow. As long as I trust the process, the arrow should land somewhere near the middle of the yellow.

  As the round came to a close, I wasn't too happy about the results. Of course, we always expect more out of ourselves. Although I'm facing a serious injury that affects my shooting, I will not use it as an excuse. If I had held better and executed better shots, I shouldn't have missed. If I can shoot 40 of the 45 arrows in the middle of the bullseye, there's no reason the other five shouldn't have landed there, too. Always push to be better and never be satisfied. When you become satisfied is when your will stop climbing. If you stop climbing, you will never reach the summit. Who wants to climb Mt. Washington and turn around just as you crest the hill and can see the weather tower above? Well, I sure as hell don't want to do that. I want to run up to the tower and know I didn't quit. I want to reach the summit. Your knees might ache, your backpack might be too heavy, and you might be short of air, but you have to keep pushing. Archery is the same exact thing as climbing mountains. When you get to the top, there's nothing like it. So, when it was all said and done, I think I shot a 445 with 30xs. I'll take it. The X count was okay for my first round tournament of the year, but the five 9s could have been cleaned up a little.



  I believe three of the nines hit behind the pin, barely missing out the left and right. This was happening because I shot a bowhunter freestyle setup, and I don't think I could tell exactly where the pin was in the yellow. I just don't have enough time behind the bow right now, and it usually takes me a bit to get going when I start shooting indoors every winter.

                                                            Eliminations

  When I looked at the brackets, I saw that I had gotten Joe Santos. Joe is one of the toughest competitors in New England and to draw him in the first match was going to test my shooting. After the first end, he got a jump on me. Once again, I missed an arrow a hair low, but I think it hit behind the pin. I had a rough time all day determining exactly where the pin was sitting. I shoot a very large pin on the Vegas target and it's solid black. I'm thinking a fiber optic might have been better today.

  I cleaned things up the next two ends, and we ended up tied, but I advanced because I shot more Xs than Joe. I've known Joe a long time, and neither one of us was at our best. We both muddled through the round and the match, but it's always hard to beat an accomplished shooter. If you can beat good shooters head to head, you can take confidence away from that, even if they didn't shoot their best. It means you can shoot as good as them at any given time. That's what head to head matches can do for you. Instead of going into the matches and looking at a guy and thinking you can never beat him, you have to draw from other things. I knew we were only shooting nine arrow elimination matches, so I thought back to all of the times I've easily rolled off nine Xs in a row. Ive done it more times than I can possibly count. So, even thought I hadn't shot well most of the day, I knew that the next nine arrows could be when it all would come together and I'd roll off consecutive Xs for many ends.

  When I got to my next match, it was against Jay Krampitz, the highest qualifier. I felt good about my chances. My first shot found its way home without any problems at all. I executed a good shot, and the arrow punched the center of the yellow. As I got into the second shot, I battled a quick bobble and couldn't save it before it fired. It just missed a hair low. That was all it took for me to get the short end of the stick. I cleaned out the rest of the match and felt good about my shooting. Under the circumstances, I couldn't have shot much better today. In my mind I could've done much better, but in my physical world, I probably performed to a level that should have been expected going into the day.



                                                        What Did I Learn?

  I learned today that it's hard to compete against people with freestyle setups when you're shooting a bowhunter freestyle setup. I definitely shoot a scope and long bar better. It makes it easier to see exactly where the pin is sitting when you're executing, and I think it makes it easier to get the bow to hold steadier.

  So you might wonder why I'm shooting the setup I shot today. That's what I shot all last year, and the bow hasn't been touched since last March. I just took it off the rack and shot it. When I finished indoor season last year, I figured I would leave my bow set up and not touch it. I wanted to go to the indoor nationals this year because I know the scores I've been shooting on the 300 round with that setup are capable of taking hope a silver bowl. All of my focus was going to go toward that, but the shoulder issue got in the way of that.

  I also learned that you shouldn't expect too much of yourself if you have issues that affect how you shoot, whether the issues are mental or physical. I've always put a lot of pressure on myself to perform, and the pressure sometimes causes problems. Just go shoot your bow and let the arrows fall where they may. It makes shooting a lot more fun.

  My appointment with the surgeon is on 1/22. I don't know what to expect. I'm ready for the worst and hoping for the best. Maybe I'll somehow avoid another surgery. I'm not going to count on it. At least I can shoot my bow right now, even it it's not at the level I would like to be at.

                                                        Daily Awards

  Although it was busy and hard to watch everything going on around me, I did notice a few things that caught my eye. Joe Ricard did a great job in the eliminations today. That's the thing that makes head-to-head matches so much fun: anyone has a chance to win. Joe went into his matches as the lower seed and knocked off a couple of titans. Nicely done, Joe!

  Eric Taylor looked like a totally different shooter from the last time I saw him. He was in total control of his emotions and his shot through his round and in eliminations. His shot was effortless, and he found the center regularly. He's putting his time in, and the time is paying off. He setting an example for all of you other guys out there: put the time in and you'll see the results. Great job, Eric. It was good to see your hard work paying off.

  Jay Krampitz brought his A-game today, and he looked good doing it. In these matches, I never mind it when a podium finisher beats me. Jay sent me packing, and I was glad to see him advance through the rounds. Great shooting today, Jay.

  George Connors never ceases to amaze me. George is trying to get a few shoots in before he has shoulder surgery, too. He has a few issues in his shoulder right now that are going to put him on the sidelines for the year. We are both trying to shoot right now because we know we will be done until at least next year. He eliminated Sean Roberts, and that is no easy chore. He also gave Jeff Wagoner everything he could handle before finally being eliminated. Great job, George. You're a beast, and you never use anything for an excuse. I admire that. While I'm a cry baby and make sure everyone knows what I'm dealing with, you just pretend nothing is wrong. I'm here to tell everyone that I know what you've been going through, and it's impressive to watch, especially knowing you're only at about 75%.