Made it to the range. Had to have John reposition my new peep sight and I bought a 1/8" plus one Clarifier for it - I can now see the target easily. I then started shooting a 5 spot target like I will be shooting this weekend at the tournament. I had to move the sight right a good bit and up a little bit also it took a number of adjustments but I was hitting centers. Then I had to leave for my bagpipe lesson with John S. I also took one more turn off the limbs to reduce the draw weight so that is a total of 5 turns so far - Hoyt's book say I can safely do up to 8 full turns. Looking forward to getting to shoot it again Wednesday evening. After I got home I changed the blade for the rest to a much wider one, added three washers under the mount for the rest to give more adjustment to the right on my sight. I also replaced my D-loop because John said I had tight it on backwards - I thought I had it correct.  I did not check just assumed he knows what he is talking about.
I modified the mount for the wrist strap for the Double XL so that I could mount the quick disconnect and rear stabilizers on the Double XL. This went very well and I am looking forward to getting a chance to shoot and sight this bow in.

The Prevail 40

Was not feeling well so did not go to bagpipe rehearsal. After dinner and resting a while I started building the Prevail 40 with the X3 cams 50 to 60 pounds 31.5 inch draw length. It is a beautiful bow in blue and will have red accents when they come in.
I installed the following:

• Hamskea Hybrid Target Pro Arrow Rest with Microtune in blue and a Hamskea Limb Clamp Assembly Kit(which came with blue cord on mine - cool)
• Axcel Achieve CXL Carbon Bar Compound Sight in blue with 9" bar
• Axcel AccuView AV-41 Scope in blue with a Clear Targets Aurora Star Custom Lens with Halo Reticle - orange dot, green halo - plus 4 power - lighted
• FUSE Carbon Blade ES Stabilizer 33" and two FUSE Carbon Blade ES Side Blade 15" all in blue, a FUSE Quick Detach V-Bar with 10° off set, a FUSE Carbon Blade Doinker on each also extra weights. I disassembled the V-Bar and front quick release, mounted the front quick release on the front of the bow and the V-Bar on the bows rear lower mount point.
• Advanced 1/8" 37° peep sight in blue - which I will need to get a #1 Clarifier.
• Fuse Stealth Discs added to the upper rear mount point with just a 1/4 - 20 screw - one blue one black - I will ad about 8 or 9 when I get a longer screw.
• D-Loop in red D d-loop cord.

It looks beautiful to me - just the way I envisioned her. I shot it a few time in the garage and everything seems to be fine - will find out tomorrow at the range.

Picture here soon 

I did not qualify on Friday so there was nothing for me to shoot on Saturday or Sunday but the practice ranges was still open and I was allowed to shoot them so I did. I shoot about 52 arrows each day. It takes a lot longer to shoot at this practice range because of all the people. On Sunday I was the only person shooting on my target so I started shooting two targets, five or six arrows per end. It was nice to be able to shoot.
Saturday I was tired and not feeling great and Sunday I was sick but determine to shoot, maybe I should not have. Driving home Sunday was very difficult and unpleasant. It took me 8.5 hours to get home mostly from all the stops I had to make, the traffic was not too bad.
While I was walking out with my bow bag over my shoulder I saw Lexi Keller sitting on the floor with her laptop and her dog 'Jedi'. I was pretty sure it was her but asked anyway. She looked thinner than on Youtube and I told her so. I told her I was a fan and have learned a lot from watching her. She was very nice and pleasent and responded to me in kind. I asked her how she had done and she said she had missed qualifying by just a few points but she was not upset because she was using mostly new and newly set up equipment. She asked how I did and I told her not as well as I had hopped but I had had fun. She was very nice, now I am even more of a fan.
Most of this weekend I seemed to be shooting all around the X but not hitting it. I was like I was shooting a ring around it.  I assumed my sight was OK because I was shooting above, below, left, right and in between all of those just not the center. I was shooting better when I was no NC, I am not sure what to do about this.

I found out on Saturday that my Hoyt Prevail 40 in blue with the X3 cams had come in at Springhill Outfitters. I will try to pick it up Monday. My plan is to set this bow up completely myself. I am looking forward to it.

2017 Lancaster Classic

Took my time getting up and going to the sports center - I did not shoot until 4 PM and the only other things I plan to do was to look at the vender booths and to practice, which I am limiting myself to an hour of and am doing so a couple of hours before my shooting time.  I want to be rested.
The vendors were interesting but except for getting to see and try a Perflex release and getting to see and draw back a Prevail 40. This on was green and had the other cam on it not X3 which I am getting.  I liked the look feel of the Prevail 40. I got to see a bow in the blue color my Prevail will come in - I like the shade of blue it is.
The practice shooting was much less ridge and controlled than I expected. I had to wait almost no time to shoot and got my hour plus a bit with out any problem.
I did pick up the Clear Targets Aurora Star Custom 4X Lens with a Halo Reticle from Lancaster. Dan had arranged for it to be at their trailer for me to pickup, They had a bit of trouble finding it but did after a phone call and a few minutes looking.
I told myself I would not install it until after I shot but that did not happen - it looked so good I went straight to the practice area/bow storage and got my bow and installed the new lens.  Then went right to the practice range.  I had to make very few adjustment to get to shoot well with it. It is also so bright and clear.  I believe it is well worth the money. By the time I stopped my practice I was hitting 9s, 10s and 11s exclusively.
My qualification shoot was fun and I did enjoy the even but I did not shoot anywhere near as well as I had hopped and expected. I did not feel nervous if anything I was excited. I was with three nice guys all younger than me but still nice. There was Devin who shoot a 640, Justin who 602 and David for shoot 600. I shoot 524 and once I miss my target completely. I really do not know what happened in that shoot I was doing my regular shot routine and I was easily hold on target pull with my back waiting for it to fire and well I really do not know what happened but as soon as I shot did I knew it was very wrong. My one good take away from this is that I let it go and went to my same shot routine on the third target and hit the X. My first target on this end was a 10 to for this end I got 10, miss and 11. Also in the next end when I shot the middle target I got a 9 so I did not let that weird shot freak me out. I shoot a boat load of 9s, 8s, and 7s, 3 - 11s and some 10s. I really meant to photograph my score card before I turned it in but I forgot. Since I was the only one in my group who knew anytime about computers I was elected to enter the scores into the table. We had only one dispute. no one got angry. It was kind of interesting for me to see how it is done. I and one other were over ruled but it was not about my target anyway.
I really did expect to shoot better. If I could have shoot as well as I have beeb on league night should have scored around 564. So I was 40 points off and I do not know what. I have worked hard on my routine and do it more or less automatically or subconsciously which is what I have been working towards. Most of my shot, better than 90% fell correct but only about 75% of those hit where I thought they would. I ended up in 50th place for my group out of 55 archers so not last but close.
I will just keep working and try harder to find a coach.

Left home at 11AM - was suppose to be a 6 hour drive but due to traffic backups and accident it took me 10 hours to get here. Next time I will plan on a different time to drive to try to miss all that traffic.  I had hopped to get here in time to register and practice a but - that did not happen.
My room is nice but expensive, it does come with a free and nice breakfast.  I do not usually eat breakfast but I did and then skipped lunch - no problem.
Next year if I come again I will make sure I get at room at the hotel in the sport center.

Went to First Flight to shoot. Had a real good shoot. I was taking time to number my arrows and check out all the new arrows, they are performing very well.
I shoot 114 arrows. Leslie told me I was letting my anchor slip by rotating me right elbow forward while at anchor after I commented about why I am still inconsistent. I made sure I stopped doing that and it did help. So many little things to do correctly. I do not think I could have found this on my own. I need to work more on finding a coach.
I will shoot again Wednesday to prepare for Lancaster - I am looking forward to the Classic but I am not sure what to expect.

Went up to the farm to pickup the game camera. I want to see what it has recorded. I will not put it back out - I want to see if I can get it to put the photos in a folder so I can see them on my iPhone with the apple adapter.
Link to the photos from the game camera - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mex91wnl1cfxiy7/AABAmo5cOA567AGZ_yqoJfz9a?dl=0
this should work for anything I put in this folder.
There were some really nice and interesting photo but I think I can find a better location for the camera which I will try to do when I put it back up.

 Yes we have turkeys.

And there are still some nice deer.

Had planned to go to Springhill Outfitter early to shoot their league but UPS delivered the part of my arrows so after getting a late start I decided to build them so that I could shoot them.  They came out real well.  I did shoot them at the league and they shoot well - I think I will be happy with this setup they are Easton Full Bore shafts with the G-Uni insert and G nock, TopHat LL Convex Points 100 grain for the Full Bore shafts with 20 grain weights added and fleshed with Ozark 3" Parabolic Barred Color Feather in Hoyt Red and PSE Black.
I did make it out to Springhill Outfitters and did shoot in the league. I did not shoot as well as I had hopped. I had trouble calming down. I shot 248, worse I have ever done.  I will working on ways to relay and calm myself.
I shot a total of 45 arrows today, less than I had hopped for but still not bad.
I had Lee check my rest and mount. He said my rest needed to be lowered a bit which he did and found my sight to be a half a bubble off to the right. He fixed that then checked the third axis and said it was dead on.
I will not be able to shoot targets until Tuesday - I am looking forward to see how these adjustments help.

Felt better this evening but I have a limited of time to shoot - my friends are taking out to dinner for my birthday.  Shot well. Shot 68 arrows but did not score. Some ends were good some not as good I need to be more consistent and to maintain my focus. Will be shooting their league at Springhill Saturday - should be interesting and different.

Was not feeling great but I wanted to shoot and to shoot the league so I made it out to the range. Shot 76 arrows including the league - shooting pretty well in spite of how I was feeling.
Shot 282 for league, 9.4 average per arrow - I really have to get this up if I am going to have a chance at LAC. I am comfortable with my shot routine and feel I am repeating it well - need to focus.

Went to First Flight to use the range, it is not much of a store yet but they are getting some stock in.
I was feeling pretty sick sore throat, headache, cough, drainage.  I made sure I was not close to anyone and did not touch anything I did not have to touch.
I had only shoot 15 arrows Monday and really want to shoot. I manages 80 arrows before deciding to leave. I felt good about the arrows I shot. Most were good shots. My shot routine is becoming automatic and when I mess it up I know and I stop and start over.
The new arrow setup on the Fatboy's works very well. The 4 fletch Full Core were a fail, the three flech Full Core with the 4" veins worked but I still think the 4" veins are too long are too long going to try 3".
Went home and did not do any arrow or bow work last night just went to bed at about 8:30 PM.
No shooting Wednesday - bagpipe lesson at 6PM.
Looking forward to shooting Thursday and the league shoot.

Well looks like it is just you am me now blog - Christine is apparently not my coach even though that is what I thought I was hiring. It is a shame I liked her and felt she had a lot to offer me being a pro archer who did not start as a child.
I was on my way to Springhill Outfitters when I got a call from them - my Holt Double XL had come in. We got it mostly set up and I shot it a few times. I think it will be a very good hunting bow.
Only shot 15 arrows - I got to the range late due to being depressed in the morning. I did get my car serviced which it was over due for and with getting the new bow I did not get many shots in.

Christine Harrelson to me

Ashby, it looks like you have been very dedicated in your practice.  This is great and I love your passion for the sport.  I can totally identify with that, it wasn't so long ago I was in your shoes!  I've been getting a flood of emails from you since you began taking lessons which I do not want to ignore.  From what I've seen, most of this information is good for your archery performance journal and is more appropriate for that vs. a daily email to me.  Daily emails are something we would do if I was your coach on retainer, but alas I do not even have the luxury of time right now even if you wanted to do that.   But if you have specific questions between lessons that you feel are pertinent to moving forward in your practice, feel free to put those in one email and I will review and answer them.  

One of the most beneficial things you can do now is to settle into your equipment set up, write out your shot routine, practice it consciously during blank bale, then spend time tapping into shooting with your subconscious mind.  During that you want to "feel" your shots and you don't need to coach yourself through every step of the shot.  If you run into days where things just don't jibe, put the bow down.  That happens to every single archer.  Mental and physical rest are as important as the mental and physical training.  Practicing while you're tired or injured can create bad habits quickly and you'll want to avoid that.  

Hang in there, you got this!

to Christine

Good evening. Went to Springhill Outfitters after the meeting with Nuse River Bow Hunters. 

Something was not right today. Everything felt forced. I had trouble with focus. Not sure why. I really wanted to shoot but was having to really concentrate on my routine to get it correct. I still managed perfect shoots I had a lot more let downs and more that I should have let down. 

I will not worry about this, maybe I am just tired. 

I shot 72 arrows. I cut it short because I did not feel like it was perfect practice.

Sent from my iPhone

to Christine

Good morning. 

Good session at the range yesterday evening. I did not have it to myself but it was not crowded. My shot routine is really coming together. I no longer need to lean forward to raise and draw the bow which means I am staying better balanced between both feet. 

I know what I want to do and think for my shot routine and when I do it is a correct/perfect shot. Since I know what I want and need to do I am confused as to why I am not doing so every time. I am hopping this come with more visualization/rehearsal and perfect practice. 

\

After 36 arrows yesterday I shoot this using my timer pausing just long enough between targets to reset and restart the timer. All of my sets are not all like this but I am doing better. 

I am about 3/4 of the way through the book. I have gotten through the section where he talks about the performance journal. I went online and ordered it. I am enjoying the book and learn from it.

I have a meeting with the Nuse Rivers Bowhunters this morning. I will be going the the range afterwards. 

I shot 112 arrows yesterday. Most shots very good to perfect feeling. I am working on getting them all to perfect.

Sent from my iPhone

A "Coach" - a person who trains an athlete or a team of athletes

A "Teacher" - a person who teaches or instructs, especially as a profession; instructor.

While a Coach is also usually a teacher, a Teacher is normally not a Coach.

to Christine

A good session this afternoon at the range. I was there alone for about 45 minutes so I shot. nice and slowly working on form, flow and tension. Visualizing before every shoot. Working on full follow through.

The league was fun, 10 of us tonight including Justin who did win. The guy I shot with Stacy came in second.

Things seem to be coming together, bow is fun ting perfectly and it is still fun.

One thing happened tonight I was wondering about. A Lady about four people away from me dropped her arrow. I know it was a Lady by the remark she made. I had my back to her so I do not know if she was just taking it out of her quiver or if it was on her bow. In a competition would she be allowed to pick it up and shoot it or shoot another arrow?

Shot 86 arrows tonight. Oh I keep score tonight.

from my iPhone

to Christine

Good session last night - two JOAD groups again last night but this group seems a little older and things ran more smoothly.

Worked on form, routine rhythm and visualization. I getting a lot more shoots that very good or correct and the few that are wrong fell very wrong.

Bow is performing better and better feels really solid.  The changes and upgrades I have made over the last month are working very well and I do not see any need nor do I plan to change anything at this time.

I do have to remember to check thing like the knob for the sight - it sometimes works loose I assume from the vibration from the bow

112 arrows last night - feeling good.

to Christine

Good session at the range - working and from and visitation - feel like I am making progress.

I am finding the children annoying - not them being there but when I want to shoot and have to wait because of something to do with them.

John has gotten rid of the moveable wall - I never like the way it look but loved the fact I could get on the other side of it and just shoot as I wanted.

Only 54 arrow tonight - wanted to do more but had a bagpipe lesson to get to.

to Christine

Not a great day for archery especially if one needs to go to a range. Shoot about 50 arrows blank bailing. 

Worked on my bow. Replaced my rest blade and adjusted it. Also replaced the serving the way you recommended and replaced the D loop. I may have made it too big and may replace it. 

to Christine

Good day

Had a good time last night at the range. Got there later than usual due to having to have a blood test. Not really a problem, it just reduced the time I had to shoot. I got 56 arrows in before the league started and 30 during league. I worked on form and visualization all evening. During league I would visualize the shoot before the first shoot then shoot the three shots of each end with that visualization. I had a number of perfect stair also a few poor ones. Scoring was dune with four of us on a clipboard. First time for me. The guys in my set were nice. One guy I believe you know Eion(sp) was amazing. 

I got the book and have started reading it. 

I will shoot again this evening and Saturday snow permitting. 

to Christine

Good shooting last night. I got 2.5 hours in but only 108 arrows. Wednesday night there are two JOAD groups, I do not mind them but have to wait for them sometimes. I moved the mount for my sight as you recommended I of course had to resight in the bow but that was expected. Later I adjusted the cable guide so the the vane on the right side of my arrow will not hit it as we discovered it was doing when we were working last night. This again cause me to have to resight the bow. Once I adjusted the the cable guard my groups moved left almost a blue ring distance. This was easy to correct. 

I am looking forward to shooting the league tonight, I hope the weather does not interfere. I am hoping there is nothing I need to do to the bow and can just shoot tonight. I will replace the serving as you recommended this weekend.

I did not do any socred ends just worked on visualization and form. The visualization works this surprises me a bit but I am pleased I can see results from it. I also did as you recommended and visualized shooting at different times during the day. For the first 70 or so arrows all but two or three felt like good to perfect, for the next 25 about 3 of every 4 were good or better shots and for the last 13 I was getting tired and had to really focus even then only 2 out of 3 were good but a few did felt perfect in the last 13. I did let down about 12 times when it did not feel right or I was out of sequence. Hopefully with time, your coaching and perfect practice I will get better.

I am still having fun.

Enjoy the snow.

to Christine

Good shooting last night. I got 2.5 hours in but only 108 arrows. Wednesday night there are two JOAD groups, I do not mind them but have to wait for them sometimes. I moved the mount for my sight as you recommended I of course had to resight in the bow but that was expected. Later I adjusted the cable guide so the the vane on the right side of my arrow will not hit it as we discovered it was doing when we were working last night. This again cause me to have to resight the bow. Once I adjusted the the cable guard my groups moved left almost a blue ring distance. This was easy to correct. 

I am looking forward to shooting the league tonight, I hope the weather does not interfere. I am hoping there is nothing I need to do to the bow and can just shoot tonight. I will replace the serving as you recommended this weekend.

I did not do any socred ends just worked on visualization and form. The visualization works this surprises me a bit but I am pleased I can see results from it. I also did as you recommended and visualized shooting at different times during the day. For the first 70 or so arrows all but two or three felt like good to perfect, for the next 25 about 3 of every 4 were good or better shots and for the last 13 I was getting tired and had to really focus even then only 2 out of 3 were good but a few did felt perfect in the last 13. I did let down about 12 times when it did not feel right or I was out of sequence. Hopefully with time, your coaching and perfect practice I will get better.

I am still having fun.

Enjoy the snow.

to Christine

Hi. 

Did not make it to the range until 3:10 Sat. so I only had fifty minutes to shoot. Only shot 43 arrows but I did work on form. Sunday no place open and I did not feel well so I did not shoot. Monday I shot 108 arrows. I did include a 10 end scored and timed session. I found that the timer did affect me. I was rushing. I got over that for the last three ends. Minor changes to my bow meant I had to reset the sight. Thought I had that finished before I started the timed session but I had to make adjustments through the first six ends. My score was 242.  

Christine Harrelson	Jan 3 (2 days ago)
to me

This is great information for a journal entry.  I'd recommend you read With Winning In Mind and follow Lanny Bassam's formula.  Most competitive archers have read it and consider it a must read.  In the book he explains how and why you should journal for performance.  

Are we on for today at 5:30?

to Christine

Yes - Looking forward to it

Thanks. I have ordered the book. 

to Christine

I felt tonight went very well. New things to work on and do. 

One thing I did not get to ask you was if you had time for us to get together again before the LAC and if you think it would be a good idea to do so?

The Shrewd Scope came in. Looks good but I am not sure I will be able to use it with the 0.010" fiber. The 0.019" will hopefully be better.

01/04/2017

Christine Harrelson	Jan 4 (1 day ago)
to me

Yes we should probably meet the 24th if you can.  

The fiber is personal preference, just shoot whatever feels right to you.  

to Christine

Great - thanks

I will see you at 5:30 PM on the 24th.