#aim small

[kurtoutdoorman]

Working on the rodents.

[timetotalkbeauty]

Focus. And forget the rest.

[onebeardedgolfer]

Don't think, just putt: how I beat back putting paralysis.

I recently tried something different with my putting. Don't think, just putt: how I beat back putting paralysis.

The quality of the putt that I hit is inversely proportional to the amount of time I spend over the the putt at address. That is how I beat back my minor putting yips, for the time being. It really is that simple; so simple that I’m embarrassed that I didn’t arrive at this technique sooner. I still spend the same amount of time and effort reading each putt that I might have otherwise done,…

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[takingpentopage-blog]

Aim Small

Warrin picked a bow and a set of arrows from the small stack by the archery range.  He set all of the arrows on the ground, except for one which he nocked in the bow.  Staring at the target, he pulled the bowstring back until it touched his face, finding his anchor point.  The bowstring released with a twang sending the arrow soaring… straight past the target.

Robin, standing only a few yards away, laughed loudly.  “If that’s the best you can shoot, boy, perhaps we should send you to work for the Sheriff.”  Warrin flushed in embarrassment, but bent down quickly to pick up another arrow.

“I’ll learn,” he replied with barely restrained ire as he nocked the arrow.  He drew and fired; the arrow soared past the other side of the target, which elicited another laugh from the famous outlaw.  The young man spun on his heel to face him.

“If you’re going to mock me, at least tell me what I’m doing wrong?”  It was as much of a challenge as a question.

“Ready your shot.”  The older archer strode over as Warrin drew back his third arrow.  “Are you a man or a maid?  Widen your stance,” Robin ordered, kicking Warrin’s instep with his boot.  “You’ll be more stable if your feet are even with your shoulders.”  He circled the boy.  “Relax your shoulders and pull your elbow back so that it’s in line with the arrow.

“Now, when you take the shot, hold your breath for a few seconds. Hit the target.”

Warrin took a breath and then released the arrow; it lodged in the outer ring of the target.

“You’re already improving.” Robin began to walk away, while Warrin stared at the target.

“How do you do it?”  Warrin stared at the seasoned archer in disbelief.  “They say that you can hit the smallest of targets at great distances and that you never miss.  From what I’ve seen, they’re right.  What’s your secret?”

Robin turned and took the bow from Warrin.  He nocked an arrow and sent it sailing into the forest, where it lodged in a tree about 30 paces past the target.

“Hit the arrow,” he ordered as he returned the bow.

“But that has to be at least 50 paces!”

“Aim at the arrow.  Try to split it right down the center.”

Warrin nocked the arrow and drew the bowstring back.  He double checked his stance, feet, shoulders, elbow.  Looking down the arrow shaft, he focused on tail of Robin’s arrow, in the center of the fletching.  He took a breath and let the arrow fly.  It lodged in the same tree, but missed the other arrow by inches.

“Well done, Warrin,” Robin commended, clapping the boy on the arm.

“But, I missed the arrow,” the boy remarked, disappointed.

“True, but you hit the tree.  If that were a man, it would still be a wounding blow.  Aim small, miss small.  That’s the secret.”

((A snippet I wrote for a Robin Hood story. It still needs some polish.))