tips against adrenalin

[Bram]

Hi all,

When I have to take an important shot, I sometimes have a adrenalin 'rush', my puls becomes high, and I miss the important shot. So, am I the only one with this 'problem', and how can I overcome it?

atb,
Bram

[The Doctor]

This is a more common problem than you think. There has been a lot of work looking at this in terms of the higher level professional athletes, as well as Olympic level shooters.

Generally, some people are more susceptible to 'nerves' and the adrenaline rush than others - but it is a natural process linked into the 'flight-or-fight- response we still have left over from our prehistoric forebears - either we stand and beat the crap out of something, or turn tail and run. That sudden rush is your body preparing itself for either of these eventualities. In terms of shooting, the competitive urge has deeper ramifications - if we miss, we will feel bad, it makes us feel bad about ourselves in front of others - what do people think about us when we miss - and there is the excitement element linked into shooting which also doesn't help.

Key tips - breathing - can't be underestimated; breath in as you start to approach your target (what ever it is) and then slowly breathe out on the way down to the target. As you reach the point of aim, what ever it is, slowly squeeze the trigger - if you focus on this process, you should find yourself worrying less and less about what you are actually doing. It is a lot easier said than done, but it does work eventually. And there is nothing from stopping the shot and starting again as long as you have the time :-)

Lee

[Beagle Boy]

Everything said above matey, and it is very common, I think practice and experience the more you get used to it the more ordinary it gets. Everything I was going to say has been covers lol. Atvb rob

[Bram]

Thanks . Tips stay welcome.

Bram

[Buckphutt32]

Is this condition also called `BUCK FEVER`.

[gingernut]

Beta Blockers.
Once you get older the Docs hand em out like sweeties.
Not so good for your sex life but good for snooker and shooting.
So Im told!

[madcarlos]

this can come with everything , shoot your first bunny or two, feel this way, shoot 40/50/100 it will go

[secretagentmole]

Calm down dear it's only an advert.....

[bozzer]

Hey up Lee ... nice to see you posting fella. I was looking at Millride's site the other day and saw an old pic of you. Hope you are well.

The best advice I acquired re this was from an old German Olympic shooting coaching book ( in English ). Strangely found in my local library.

The coach was telling his students that at every event the chances are that someone will get a perfect score. So he pointed out that if you make one imperfect shot you probably won't win. So he was telling them that it is far too common for shooters to aim at the target and be thinking ( at least subconsciously ) " I have to score a 10 .... I have to score a 10 ". This introduces the fear of failure " what if I miss this one " and along comes all that adrenaline ... fight or flight as Lee says.

So this instructor was telling his students that where the pellet struck on the target was of no importance to them. They had no control whatsoever over that pellet when it left the barrel. All they have is technique. That is all they concentrate on ... technique ... technique ... technique. Body in the right position ... breathing correct ... release shot ... follow through ... end of. They must immune themselves from worrying about what happens at the other end.

Same thing applies when coaching cricket bowlers. Many a young bowler can run in and bowl very well. Put an unknown batsman at the other end and the young lad will run in and probably knock him over. Put a well known batsmen at the other end who scores lots of runs and that young bowler goes to bits. You try and teach them to concentrate only on their job ... their technique. Run in as normal ... good action ... release the ball ... good follow through. That's your job done ... what that batsman does with the ball at the other end is nothing to do with you.

If you feel your heart is racing then before approaching the shot take a few deep breaths. Make your out breath a little longer than your in breath as the out breath has more of a calming effect on our fight or flight system.

Good luck

[whitevanman574]

breathe and dont snatch the trigger ......follow through and watch your target go down


if this fails get on the wacky backy thatll chill you out

[RobF]

What are you thinking of when you feel the rush? Keeping your mind occupied with the shooting process and not the outcome will help... most people have little capability beyond being able to think about what they are doing, but it's very easy to be thinking about what comes afterwards (... if i hit/miss this then...).

Depending where you are on the performance/arousal curve depends on what can be done, but thinking about what you should be doing will help. Breathing is a part of shooting, so it helps, but there are many other facets.

You can break it down and probably find an aspect of something not psychological to work on. Managing expectations can really help. Not easy, but thinking about what you are doing rather than what might happen is the path to better performance... saves a visit to the shrink as well.

[Bram]

Thanks for all the good tips, I'm sure it will help

Bram

[Gwylan]

Some people enjoy the joking and banter, but I prefer to concentrate on what I'm doing. Get your breathing right, I exhale half way, take up the first stage of the trigger, and mentally reach out in my mind, and touch the KZ with my finger, as I break the trigger, don't forget the follow through. I then take another drag on my spliff, and move on to the next lane....!

Gus

[Beagle Boy]

Some people enjoy the joking and banter, but I prefer to concentrate on what I'm doing. Get your breathing right, I exhale half way, take up the first stage of the trigger, and mentally reach out in my mind, and touch the KZ with my finger, as I break the trigger, don't forget the follow through. I then take another drag on my spliff, and move on to the next lane....!

Gus

A nice joint does the job for Gus, I prefer to shoot up and really get my head into the game . Atvb rob

[funkedup]

I then take another drag on my spliff, and move on to the next lane....!

Gus

giggling all the way