This is a great video, with some valuable tips. It’s similar to the “Natural Point of Aim” we taught soldiers in the Army. You aim the rifle (or pistol) then close your eyes. If you open your eyes and your sights are off target, you adjust your body position to bring your sights back on target, then repeat the process. Once you open your eyes and you’re on target, that’s your natural point of aim and you maintain that body position when you squeeze the trigger.

I blink at the split second I hit ancker point: it interrupts the release trigger: From that point I open my eyes and can hold on target for 5 ,10 or 15 seconds to do what I want.. it's something I learned in the 90s I shoot a 55 lb 1995 Hoyt desperado take down 62" still Hunt deer and Elk with it.. I don't miss.. you have to find a way to interrupt the release trigger process.. this video is spot on!!! Thanks!! Jack: from the high country of Colorado!!

Great vid! A while back I was really noticing that I dropped my bow arm super fast after shooting, which is a bad thing so I did a couple blind bale shots and fixed it immediately and I haven't had any problem since

Great video Joel, my whole mental approach to blank bailing has changed forever since we spoke back in August. Your science backed approach has been a huge game changer for me. Thank you for all of your hard work. I'm looking forward to your new book!

Thank you for posting this Joel you are so spot on , I would love to train with you

Hi Joel, just wanted to say great informative video please keep them coming it's great to have someone who has a completely different and fresh approach to teaching archery. Its great that you give people a better understanding of what's going on in our brains so we can improve our skills and move forward. Many thanks Gianni.

Honestly, u have the best achery video guide on youtube. Love your thumb shooting guide. Great work!

Thank you very much for your teachings Joel ....absolutely great and amazing stuff ....I say this as an archer how ist shooting now for more than 30 years ...Your teachings opened my my mind and leaded me to my breakthrough in precise and controlled shooting ....with kind regards Hannes from Austria. ...😀 "John Archer"

blown away at this! I suffer from target panic and this has made a lot of sense to me and much I will take to practicing. Thanks! Also, I'm amazed that you're using a thumb grip technique with the arrow shelved on the left side. I love that technique and have even made my own thumb guards, but have to fire with a left handed bow or one that doesn't have a shelf (Asian style). Thanks again.

Nice that you're applying the "motor program" information to your passion. And may I add, cool graphic at the end.

Great informative video. Highly appreciated!

It was a bit more difficult to learn, however I love it. It gives me 2 inches more draw length and a great anchor point. Watch the thumb shooting techniques video to see how it works.

excellent information thanks.

you've just explained perhaps why my shooting tends to improve in the late evening. i can't see as well and everything else in me says just let it be and execute the shot correctly. i cant get as caught up in the aiming.

Excellent video Joel that ties several things together from phone calls and prior videos. The "eyes" have it (control of motor functions) where TP is concerned. Learning how to direct ones thinking so as to consciously bypass the visual cues is the basis. My personal question is for those who shoot Hill bows and/or selfbows and don't have a way to use any sort of physical trigger (wrong feather orientation, split fingered nock position, etc. where you can't use a washer or feather to nose), what could or should someone be using for a mental cue? Much of the mantra you used to teach has no end game in this situation other than the shot going off on its' own. And that's all well and good, but eventually efficiency creeps into that process and you're back where you started!

Joel , how can I get one of those thumb shooting gloves you are using?

It is a blunt arrow. The blunt does not fit in my quiver so I put the nock end in the quiver hood

Ok so what is the aiming method for traditional shooting open Botha yes or one eye open and how do you aim with arrow tip for different yards

Ok so a thumb how's it compare to a tab or glove

I am rekindling my interest in archery and want to take up stick and string this time. I am very interested in learning to shoot using my thumb. What draw weight do you shoot? You appear very comfortable when you shoot. I have a 60# recurve that I bought as a bargain and that I mainly use for bow fishing. Maybe it is because I am not yet used to the technique, but I find it very uncomfortable using my thumb to shoot it.

What bow do you shoot ??

You get same feeling "just let it go and don't worry missing" to shoot stump from long distance. Eyes open offcorse.

Sorry Chris, there is zero science behind the bridge program. Blank baling is nothing more than continually returning to the cognitive stage of learning. Because there is no transfer to actual aimed shooting, people that do the bridge program have to constantly return to that program when it fails. Because the bridge does not deal with the core problem in shooting, it is an unsustainable system. I have not spent my life concocting snake oil. I have just found the true science of target panic. No need to get disturbed by the truth, relax, we are all trying to help frustrated shooters.

That is relying on muscle memory to hit the target!! Joel, you should check Korean Archery !!

Having a consistent form, anchor point, and making windage a constant only leaves ELEVATION and elevation can be learned by trajectory feedback. That's the key. Using that system works fine if you do it correctly. There no reason to complicate this so much as people do. I've seen Joel's seminars and talked with him in Kzoo but I just don't understand this process. Hopefully others can and I hope it improves their shooting.

Do you think Tonto did all of that?

Ruben V, email me at joel@ironmindhunting.com