Took my Olympic with the 30 pounds limbs to the range. I wanted work on my form on the Olympic hence the 30# limbs. They did make it a lot easier to work on my form but I could not hit anything I aimed at. I kept adjusting my sight and plunger but nothing had the needed results. I took the stabilizers off and shoot at one of the close bails. My arrow was stuck in the bail at almost a 45º - I tried this several times and it always at about a 45º angle. When watching more closely to the arrow path I could see it flipping back and forth. The Carbon One arrows I shoot have a 550 spine. John suggest we try weaker spine arrow and he found a 700 spine arrow. I shoot it and it flew straight to where I aimed it and hit the target where I aimed.  I know that spine was important but I had not seen it for myself before. I had John order me a set of Carbon One shafts with a spine of 660 which is what the Easton chart recommends for my draw and 30# limbs. Also ordered points nock inserts and pin nocks.  I am pretty sure I have enough vanes. I could have likely have gotten the cheaper and quicker but John helped me and I felt like it was the right thing to do. He will cut the shafts once he gets them but I will assemble the arrows myself.

Fishing Creek Archery Club 3D shoot

Beautiful place, if bit hard to find but worth the trip. I had a good time but today was both good and bad.
I did not shoot well and after the shoot I went back to the range and figured out that the scale I put on my scope after trying to sighting it in yesterday was OK at 20 yards but out by 3 yard at 30 and 5 yard at 40 - I assume it just keeps getting worse the farther one goes out.  I will have to try again sighting it in or at least a different scale. I shot a 155.

I shot with two nice and friendly gentleman James and Neil.
I found shooting with the new release very easy. It likely had me shooting better than I would of,
I had a lot of dead inline shoots that were 3 to 5 inches low. Also the first time shoot without an arm guard.
I destroyed only one arrow today - I hit a deer in the leg and hit the steel bar inside the leg.
Walking to score and get our arrows on the 17th target I tripped  on a vine and face planted on the trail. I landed on my knees, elbows and hands. They all hurt a bit but seem to be OK. Unfortunately they were not my only injury. I carry a 5.mm mechanical pencil on a lanyard around my neck which I use to score. This got stabbed in to my chest, not too deep and I pulled it out. But it hurts like crazy and pulling a bow after doing this hurts a lot.
Then if that was not enough when I got into my car to leave the driver side front wheel of my car had snuck into the mud which was under the straw I had parked on. A couple of the other archers helped me get it out using one of their 4-wheel drive trucks.
So I pretty eventful and frustrating day but I still had fun.

Went to Springhill to shoot and sight in the new sight. Beautiful day almost warm but a bit windy.
Using the orange nail markers I had put there the week before I sighted in the new sight pretty quickly. I even added a 70 yard mark and used it.
Had my first early release with the new release at 40 yards. I went to reestablish my anchor and forgot where my thumb was. I shot over the target, Heard the arrow hit a tree. I finished that yardage and after getting my arrows from the target I went looking for the arrow that got away. I found about the back 4" of the arrow but continued to look. Found the front of the arrow in the bank of a ditch. I could not get to it but did not want to leave it there. I was concerned that whoever owned the property may complain or cause trouble for Springhill Outfitters. I got some help from the store to retrieve the arrow.
When I went to put a distance scale on the sight I found that none of the scales that came with the sight were not a match. None were long enough. I use a scale from a website that I had downloaded and printer out along with some double sided tape. This seemed to work well.

Took the Podium to the range - I have replaced the sight so I have to get it sighted in again.  I got it sighted in pretty quickly.
I then working on the Hoyt Klash bow I got to use to try to get other interested in archery. The Klash is a lower end bow with an amazing range of draw lengths and weights. I had some success with it but need to work on it more.
Then I tried to use the Stan Perfex release. OMG it is amazing. I had to do a little adjustment on it and change my anchor point but once I did that I was just pound the X. Now I was at 10 yards because John was doing a Friday night beginners class, I was really amazed how I could release the string and have NO bow movement. I am really looking forward to using it Saturday.

My EMail to Dryad Bows after receiving my bow

Well I received my rise and limbs today. To be honest I am disappointed.

The riser is as I requested but the finish on it does not look anything like the ones on your website, The finish on the website looks real well done, polished. The best term I can come up with for the finish my riser is like Orange peel.

Next one of the string nocks simply will not capture the string, I have attached a photograph.  I have strung and unstrung the bow at least a half a dozen time. Each time I push the string into the grove and try to hold it there while I release the tension on my bow stringer cords but as soon as I remove my thumb it pops right back out like it is in the photo. I am not even sure it is safe to shoot like this.

The third problem I simply do not understand. The bow seems to think it is half long bow and half recurve. I have included photographs. Once strung one end of the bow looks like a long bow but the other end looks like a recurve. If I push on the recurve side to make it look like a long bow the other side reverts to looking like a recurve bow. This is unbelievable. 

I assumed y'll would string up a bow before you ship it and if you did how could you have not seen both of theses problems?

Please let me know how you will fix these problems

Worked more with getting the FatBoys to shoot consistently on the Prevail - I made a good bit of progress. Turns out it is me- no surprise there. Good news it going back and reviewing my shot routine, visualizing it then executing it helped a lot, slowing down also seemed to help.
After a bit of a slow start in the league shoot I did pretty well. I shoot 271 which may be my high score for the league shoots.  I really want to get into the 290s.
I received the STAN PerfeX Release yesterday and after setting it up like I think I will like it I took it to work with w piece of para-cord and practiced with it during the day. I had planned to take to the range and was looking forward to trying it but I left it at work on my desk so maybe Friday.

Took my Olympic bow to the range tonight. Even though I am preparing for the Nationals on Mar 10th I still want to spend a little time with my recurve or long bow each week but next week I think I will bring the recurve on Tuesday because if I take my Bagpipe lesson I have more time to shoot on Wednesdays. So Tuesday will be Recurve/Long Bow, Wednesday & Thursday Compound target bow and Friday will be 3D or other bows.
I was really struggling with the Olympic and was a bit frustrated. John, Brian and Leisa all gave me some instruction which helped a lot. I try very hard not to bother them or to interfere with they work with their JOAD archers. But they offered and I was not doing well and did not know why.
I had my anchor point wrong for a recurve. I had to move it back and down. I needed to get it under my jaw. This took a good bit of effort to achieve. Also moving it back made my clicker go off too soon so I had to adjust it several times, it is better now but may still need more work. I had some trouble getting my sight to work with the new position but after some adjustments I got it working also with the anchor.
Once I had them approving my shots from the anchor I was told I needed to improve my release. I am apparently pulling my hand out away from my face and body instead of back along the same line as the arrow finishing behind my head. I made some progress on this but will work on both next Tuesday.
I have ordered some 30 pound limbs so I can work on the form with less draw weight.

Dryad Bow

My custom Dryad bow has shipped. It is a wooden ILF riser with custom limbs. I have waited a long time, really looking forward to getting it.

Your package was shipped on 02/21/2017 via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail
to the following address:

Ashby W Spratley III
220 Grand Pointe Dr
Garner, NC 27529-2138

The following optional services were used:  Endicia Insured

The package's USPS Tracking ID is 9405510200883362363107

To check the delivery status of your package at any time please visit the
U.S. Postal Service's web-site:
http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

Connie Westvang
Dryad Bows

Gooch's Mill Archery Club 3D shoot

Had a real good time at the Gooch's Mill Archery Club 3D shoot. My first time at this club. It is a very nice place. I enjoy the day very much.
The was my second 3D shoot. I did better than last week but I made two dumb mistakes - I ranged the target and did the rest of my shot routine except I for resetting my sight. So on the first shot I shot over the target but we found the arrow undamaged. The second hit the top of the target only about an inch from going over the top so I got 5 points for that one. Other than that I had one shot that was just bad, I just jerked the release. I shot under the target and hit a tree. My Easton Fat-Boy was broken in two right at the vanes. We did find both pieces.
In general I did shoot better than last week. Last week I shot 113, this week 171. I was able to more or less get rid of the two misses by hitting the 14 circle on the bonus target. Like getting two sevens in place of the two misses. I do admit it was luck hitting the 14 - I had aimed two inches lower and right of the 14 but I will take it. Most of the time I hit where I aimed or very close to it. I now need to learn where the 10 and 12 rings are on target, up to now I have been aiming for center.
The 4 fletch Fat-Boys worked well - I will re-fletch the other Fat-Boys this evening.

I have gotten a place to shoot at US National Indoor Archery Championships in Harrisonburg, VA on March 10 - 12 2017. I have email and mailed my application and check for the shoot.
I am looking forward
to the Championship and the 3D shoot this coming weekend.

Took most of my bows with me to Springhill Outfitters. I was hopping to get several of them or more sighted in. I also wanted to verify the Double XL's peek at 20 yards and get it tied in and I did.
I go there a lot later than I had hopped but the things I was doing at home were archery related so it did not bug me.
I did get the Podium sighted in but that was it got tired and ran out of time.
No problem I am ready for the 3D shoot Sunday.

Took my Double XL to the range to night. I have only shot it 5 to 8 times since I received her. We durned the draw weight down but 4 full turn - the manual say I can do 6 so I plan to turn it down one more turn. The bow shoot nice but the peek was way too high, we put it in in a hurry so it is not too surprising. I had it more it down about 3/8 of an inch. Most of the time I was shooting at the range I was looking through the string gap under the peep. I moved the peek at home I also removed the orange D-loop and tied nock then put a flow green D-loop which matches the strings on the bow. I shoot it at home and the sight seems to be good. I plan to go to Springhill to sight in the Podium so it will be ready for Sundays shoot. I hope to have time to also do some of my other bows maybe all fo them.

Took my Prevail to the range tonight, I had not shot it for over a week.  I wanted to use it for the league shoot.
Had a good time shot pretty well. Scored 275 at league which was 3rd place. No money for third this week we had a small group.
Plan to bring the Double XL Friday so I can shot it and start sighting it in.
I have only shot it a few time since I got her and she needs some attention.

My Olympic Recurve Bow

Took my Olympic Recurve bow to the range tonight - I have been miss shooting it and I for not have a compound target bow competition in the future at this time.
I do not believe I have describe my Olympic bow here yet.

She has:

• Hoyt Grand Prix Epik 25" Recurve Riser in Championship Red
• Hoyt Grand Prix Carbon X-Tour Bamboo Recurve Limbs Long 40#
• Axcel Achieve RXL Recurve Sight
• Mybo Clearview Recurve Scope
• Shibuya Ultima Recurve Rest in red
• AAE Gold Micro Plunger in red
• AAE Gold Micro Clicker
• FUSE Carbon Blade ES Stabilizer 30" with 3" extension in White
• FUSE Carbon Blade ES Side Blade 15" in white
• FUSE Quick Detach V-Bar angled
• FUSE Carbon Blade Doinker x 3 one on each bar
• Fuse Carbon X Taper 3 oz. Base Weight x 2
• Fuse Carbon X Taper 1 oz. Disc Weight x 4
• Fuse Carbon X Taper 4 oz. Stacked Weight x 2
• Fuse Flexblade Stabilizer in red & black
• HushPuk Oval Puk in red
• Flex Archery Flat Wrist Sling in red
• Fivics Saker 3 Finger Tab
• Custom Red & Black string

I had a real good time shooting my recurve bow but was a bit surprised at how much I had lose it the shooting of her. I will make an effort to she recurved at least once a week.  I need to work on sighting consistently and in releasing smoothly and gently.

I really like my Easton Carbon One arrows. They are almost as nice as the X10 - I may when I shoot the recurve better buy a set of X10 shafts, have them cut for the recurve bow and then build them up for the Olympic Bow.

Tonight I went to First Flight Archery to use the range. I had brought the Podium. I want to get it setup to use the Easton Fat-Boys. It only took a few ends, Once I had them setup for 20 yards I tried the WhiteOut arrows. They shoot almost exactly the same at 20 yards so I think they will be a good lower cost arrow for time when I do not want to chance losing a Fat-Boy.  I will have to test them at other yardages.  There are no tournaments this Saturday so I will go out to Springhill Outfitters and use the outside range if the weather will cooperate. So far it looks like it might.

I was doing well working on my bow sight and was shooting well when one on the parents who was at the shot Saturday walked up to me and handed me an item wrapped in bubble wrap and he said "Congratulations you took second place last Saturday". I was absolutely stunned, I had trouble accepting it. I true-fully had not expected it. I am really pleased by this and surprised.

My first 3D shoot

Today I shot my first 3D shoot. It was at the Tar River Archery Club.
I had a good time but I was not prepared for the shoot but I decided to do it anyway. My Podium which is my 3D bow had only been sighted to at 20 yards. So having been told that they have a range I went planning to get a mark for 40 yards and then to put a tape on my scope which matched the 20 and 40 yard marks. Since I was planning to shoot know 45 I thought this would be OK.

I got the mark but only after missing the target one time and sinking my arrow into a tree.  I was not able to get it out without damaging one of my Easton Full Bore arrows.
I dropped off my quiver at my car and just took my SweetSeat stool and what I thought I might need from the quiver. Turned out to be a good idea - running around in the woods with the quiver would have been annoying.

I thought my tape was pretty good because my first shoot was a 10 and a felt I hit what I aimed.  Must have just been a luck shot because everything else for a while was low and to the right.  I kept trying to figure out how to adjust the yardages I was seeing in my range finder with what I was dialing in on my scope. I shot 4 misses losing two more Full Bore arrows, a number of fives destroying another arrow on one of those when I shot the target in the leg and must have hit the steel support - it drove the arrow head down into the shaft. I shot several 10s and two 12s. By the 17 target I had figured out how to set my sight and got the left to right adjusted and for the next four targets I hit right where I was aiming. This was when I got my two 12 and two of my tens, last one on the bonus round. I think I shot a 118 which is pretty poor out of 240. I was told that most folks feel they did well if they broke 200 so that is my goal. I have to learn how to shoot down hill and up hill. I forgot to photograph my score card - I really meant to.

It got pretty warm, was 83º I was told. I even got a tiny bit sunburned. There was some wind but more would have felt better, when we were out of the trees there was a lot of wind. By about target 15 I was pretty worn out, hot and tired. It was a hilly course but at least most of the steep hills were in the first half. I got some water around target 16 and over the next couple of targets drinking the water help me and I felt better also it may have cooled off a bit.

There is another one next Sunday and I will most likely go but only if I can get my bow sighted in also I plan to switch to Fat-Boys and/or WhiteOut arrows, may take both.

The SweetSeat worked well and is pretty comfortable. I have moved the quiver tubes to the right side and will likely remove the backpack straps since I only used the shoulder strap today. I have installed an AEE Lube Tube on the quiver tubes - I hope it works and stays put, I have gotten a belt and small bag to carry the tools I would like to have. This along with the stool will work well I believe.

I had no trouble carrying the bow so I plan no changes there. I do plan to do what it take to get the sight working perfectly before I go out again. I will set it up for the Easton Fat-Boys then find out how I have to aim to use the WhiteOuts.

I wore my 5-finger today which were OK but I think boots would be a better idea. I will try the boots I got from Jim - I like them but they have always given a blister on my right big toe - I will try a band-aid there and see if that helps.

In the insulated area of the SweetSeat I will have two 20oz pre-chilled Diet Dews and a bottle of water frozen solid. - I think that should cover me for the shoot. When it gets hot I may try taking one of my CamelBaks half frozen.

2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships

I had a real good time ant the 2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships in Advanced NC at Drop Tine Archery, 100 Webb Way, Advance, NC  27006 336-940-3250. It turned out to be a pretty nice place. Range about the same size as First Flight but with better lighting on the targets. Stores is smaller but better stocked.
I went up the hopping I was registered and I was thankfully. I decided to go ahead and drive over figuring if I did not get to shoot then I would just have driven 4 hours round trip to see an archery store.
After the first of two practice ends I decided to switch back to the X10s but only had one practice to get my scope right. This may have been a mistake for it took at least 4 ends to get the scope close and a couple more to get it right.  I do like shooting those X10s, wish they were not so costly.



  I was assigned to target 16 D which I had no problem with however the first time I took the line it seemed very crowded. It was not like this at First flight or Lancaster so I am guessing the lanes here are a bit smaller. They asked me to move to target 3A. There was no one shooting on 4B right beside me so there was lots of space. I did worry a bit because I was scoring with three children. The Judge ask me to call out the scores and two of the youngsters record the scores. I am not use to children having never had them and they were uncomfortable with me at first. Turned out I was concerned over nothing. They relaxed after a couple of ends and I guess I did also. They were pleasant and polite and we got on just fine. I actually enjoyed watching them and joking with them. There was one young man Boras, and two Young ladies, Lilly and Erica. They all shot recurve, Erica shot bare bow. Boras did the score sheet pictured and I have checked his math - no errors. I shot 518 which I think would have been better if I have been setup for the X10s when I arrived, I will not make that mistake again.

Play a funeral this afternoon for Lisa Zimmerman father, It went well.
Afterwards I went to the range. I wanted to test the four fleshed Fat-boys. I like them and feel they shoot better.  I will use them in Advanced assuming I am registered, I sent in my application and check but have heard nothing.  I sure hope I am not driving there for nothing.
I shot pretty well tonight and I am getting better at know how to adjust my sight. Seems I am not moving it enough when I do adjust it. I left at 7:10 tonight. John wanted us all to shoot at 10 yards so he could teach his new archer class - I did it for a while but found it annoying.  My sight is pretty well set up but I would liked to tune it a bit more.

Went to the range today but was feeling a bit rough. Shoot fairly well but not as well as I would liked. I removed the 1/8" +1 clarifier and 1/4" aperture and installed a 1/4" +1 clarifier. This completely did away with the ghosting problem. Real nice clear image now in my sight. I had to make a few sight adjustments but once done everything is fine. I can easily see the sight level and the circle is clear, I just have make sure every thing is centered.
I shot a few X10s - I really like theses arrows but decided I needed to shoot the Fat-boys which are more of an indoor arrow. It took about 12 turns of the vert. sight know up to get the arrows centered. After that they shoot well but not a consistently as the X10s.
I shoot the league and enjoyed it. I had a couple of early releases which hurt my score. One resulted in my only 6. I scored 276.  Not great and I wonder if I would have done better with the x10s.  I plan to remove the vanes from the Fat-boys and make them 4 fletched tonight and maybe shoot 5 scored session with the them then re-sight for the X10s and shoot 5 more ends scored to see.

Well Wednesday was a challenging day. Only two people worked on my bow and somehow 4 of the threads which made up my bow string got cut but no one did it.  At any rate I had to get a new bow string so I ordered a a custom BCY Red and Blue string with control cables in blue with red servings.  It looks great. Because I was worried about using the bow and wanted to use it this weekend I had it expedited. It came in today so I took a little time off of work and went to get the string installed which went very well. We installed the Blue hood Advanced 37º peep. I asked about using an aperture to reduce the peep size along with the +1 Clarifier. I was told that it was not possible to use both but I could install a 1/8" +1 Clarifier in the 1/4" aperture that came with my blue peek. I decided to try this. When I started shooting the bow I could see the level which I was not able to see when I was using a 1/8" peep with a +1 one Clarifier. I did however have a problem I was seeing my sight circle along with 2 ghost images of the sight circle. I tried cleaning the lens but this had no effect. The correct circle was slightly darker than the ghost so I just shot with it. It diid make it hard to shoot and did effect my shooting.
I was shooting the X10s arrows very well but but wanted to see how I could do with the Fatboy arrows.  I did OK but was just aiming what I thought the offset would be.

I did have an unexplained mishap when I removed one of my X10 from the bail it was damaged.  Several folks think I hit a point that was imbedded in the bail. I am not sure just was upset to lose a $40 dollar arrow.

My practice target at the First Fight for 2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Champion-ships this coming weekend.
I scored this practice so I could look at it later I also noted sight changes ie L3 is 3 clicks left.  I am getting better at making adjustments to my sight. I am really feeling good about the progress I am making.  The minor changes I have made to my shot routine and by slowing down letting my shot happen.
John got the new blue peek in for me now if the strings just get here I will be setup for the weekend.
John made a comment to me after about 20 ends "I do not know what you have done since Lancaster but what ever it is keep doing it."
I still need and want to get more in the gold and therefore less red, I was please to not get and blues tonight.

2017 North Carolina State Indoor Championships

I had a good time at the 2017 North Carolina State Indoor Championships today and I shoot pretty well also which does not hurt. The bow is performing well but I am worried about the string. In one of the changes of the peek site which has happened over the last two day three or four strains of the string were cut. There are only two people who worked on it and I am sure I know who did it but he is not admitting it. He will never touch a bow of mine again. I have ordered a new string, custom colors Blue and Red.  I just hope it gets here soon.

I shot a 277 which is 6 better than the 271 I shot on the same target Friday. More than the score I felt like I was shooting better, when arrows left the bow and the groups on the target.
Christine was there shooting, she was in the same group as me but we were on opposite sides of the range. I had never seen her shoot before, it was interesting.

She came over to talk to me between ends around the 9th end. She asked how I was doing. I told her well and that I was enjoying myself. She asked how I was shooting. Pretty well I said but my groups are a bit left. She asked if I had adjusted my sight. I told her no. She talked to me briefly about the fact that new user can be worried about adjusting the sight and that if my groups, the whole group was left I should adjust it. She asked me if I knew what to do. I told her three clicks left. She said correct and do that. I said I would. It did help but they were still a bit left so next end I did it again and again it got better.

We had 4 minutes I think to shoot five arrows. I had planned to really slow down my shoot routine and this did seem to help. The more I slowed down the better I seemed to be shooting. Christine and Brentt were the last to finish each end. By the end of the tournament I was taking almost all the time to shoot sometimes finishing after Christine. Because she was usually the last to finish I would usually just stand on the line and watch her shoot. She is very fluid, I would like to move like that.
Brett the guy in the photo was a guy I shot with on my target all weekend. He was a very nice guy, I enjoyed meeting him. He shoots Olympic Recurve and dose so pretty well.

I forgot to photograph my score sheet for this final shoot which I am really annoyed with myself over.

Got up today and went to Springhill Outfitters. I wanted to get my peek changed and also to see about getting a replacement for my cam on the Prevail, also to check about the replacement limbs for the Podium. both of which they are taking care of for me.
While they were changing the peek to string damage that I had been seeing where the peep is installed became easier to see at least 3 maybe 4 threads are damages.  I am very puzzled about this damage. I out the first peek and did not need to use any sort of cutting instrument doing that. This is very concerning so I had them order me a custom set of strings in red and blue with red servings and a blue center serving.
I arrived at First Flight at 11:30, today at the 2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships I had a Vegas three spot to shoot.
I like the larger peep sight but I do have to get use to using it and make sure I am keeping the scope centered in the peep. Once I get the hooded blue Advanced peep installed I want to experiment with verifiers to reduce the aperture as long as I can use them along with the plus one clarifier.
I did not shoot as well as I had hopped. Shot 249 out of 300. I am just so inconsistent one end I shot 2 sevens and hit dead center on the X. I really enjoy shooting but want to shoot better. I am not sure what to do to achieve this.

2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships

Got to the range for about 5:15 to warm up for the 2017 North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships which start at 7 PM. there are shoot Friday, 3 on Saturday and two on Sunday. I am not sure which are for which event but I am shooting both. I shoot Friday at 7PM, Saturday at noon and Sunday at noon.
I had a real good time shooting tonight and felt I shot pretty well scoring 271 out of 300 with 17 inside outs.
I am going to Springhill Outfitters Saturday morning to see if I can get the peep replaced and to ask about the getting the cam replace. One of the cams I could not get the Torque screw out to change the draw length.

Went to the range after work to shoot and to shoot the league. Prevail is doing well but I am looking forward to getting the peep replaced.
We only shot half a normal 5 NNFA shoot so it was six ends of 5 arrows. So that is 30 arrows with 5 maximum per arrow for maximum of 150 points. I shot only 114.
I shot at total for about 90 tonight.

to Michael Porter

Greetings my friend.

I had a good time at Lancaster - I did not win Senor Open but I did not come in last either. I came in 50th out of 55. Actually I shot very poorly but do not know why. I was not nervous, actually I found it fun and exciting. 3.5 hours to shoot 60 arrows is a long time but I did not get tired or feel wore out. I guess all the shooting lots of arrows the 5 weeks before I went worked. I shot 524 out of 660 which is 40 points short of what I thought I would shoot based on what I had been averaging at the league shoots and scored practice round I did with a timer. I have been averaging 286 out of 330 during those.

Working on 5 spot targets now for the North Carolina State Indoor and JOAD State Indoor Championships at First Flight this weekend. I have to shoot 3 spot vertical and 5 shot for that shoot.

I am now shooting a blue Hoyt Prevail 40 for my target bow, very pleased with it. I have also gotten the Double XL which I will hunt with. It looks real nice but I have not shoot it much. It is setup but not sighted in yet. The Red Podium 40 is my 3D bow.

Do you have either a phone number and /or email address for Jim of Pittsboro? I saw him at the LAS store while in PA. He offered to sell me a Carter Like Mike Release which I was looking at LAS for $130 which retail for $170 at LAS.

Hope you are doing well. Let me know how you are even if you do not have info on Jim.

Thanks

Ashby

Good evening at the range. Bow is performing well and is more familiar to hold and use. Lots of delays with the JOADs tonight, not sure why there are more some nights than others. Also so delay due to them getting their shot clock working. They did get it working and it seems like it will be easy to use. Took another turn off the limb bolts last night so I am up to a total of 6 and there are 2 more available to me. If I do take more off I will do so in half turns.
Sight is getting close now after the mods the night before. Hit some Xs and most in the white ring on the 5 spot targets. I have decided that the 1/8" peep is too small - I cannot see the scope level while looking at the target. I have to move around to see it and I do not like this, other may not have a problem with this but I do. I have asked John to get me a larger sight, will will see how well this works out.
I only shoot about 37 arrows, both Fat Boys and Carbon Ones - I really like the Carbon Ones.  I have not shoot any of My X10 with this bow yet.
Tried once again to use my Hogg Spot thumb release after John adjusted it to be harder. It fired prematurely again. My arrow flew down range and landed on the ground and I hit myself in the mouth hard enough to bleed inside of my mouth a little. I am having trouble trusting that thing especially since my wrist release works so well and reliably.

My shot process

Christine Harrelson

to me

Ashby, I apologize, I don't have a single evening available this week or next!  As you prepare for your tournaments, recite your shot process. And you must, must, must have a shot list that gives you commands that you repeat with every shot.  For me it's, feet, nock, hook, grip, draw inhale, relax hand, anchor, tension, thumb, aim, wait, arm up.  This is how a shot happens for me, but you need to come up with yours.  When the steps don't line up and something is off, I let down and completely restart the shot list.  The next time you come I would recite that list aloud as you shoot.  That list needs to become your second nature and something you tap into and rely on in competition.

Good luck and have fun! BTW, My earliest available lesson is the week of the 20th.

to Christine

Thank you. Please set me up with a lesson for the week of the 20th. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. I can get there by 5:30 pm later is also OK.
I do have a defined shot process. I use it every time I shot and each time I visualize shooting but I have not written it down. When written would you like to see it or wait until I see you?
Mine is different from yours. Thanks for sharing yours I found it interesting.
One last thing. I have also registered for the NC Indoor State Championships on Feb 11th in Advanced NC.

Sent from my iPhone

My shoot process:

• Draw and lube arrow
• Notch and clip in 
• Feet
• Raise bow and Draw
• Peep and Aim
• Tension to Release
• Follow through

Draw and Lube - Remove the arrow from my quiver and lubricate the tip and front end of the arrow

Notch and Clip in - Notch arrow onto the string at the nock point then clip in my release

Feet - Check stance, feet position and make sure I am balanced evenly on both feet

Raise bow and Draw - Lower bow and left shoulder until my left arm is straight at about a 45° angle to the ground. Then raise the bow until my  bow arm is horizontal while leaving my shoulder down, then with a soft bow hand grip draw back to my anchor point

Peep and Aim - Make sure my bow is center balanced - Center my peep in my scope on the target with both eyes open

Tension to Release - Keep my eye on the target - increase the tension in my back until release

Follow through - Keep eyes on target after release, allow bow to move forward, allow my right to move back, keep my eyes one target

Repeat