Most archers treat practice like a social hour with a bow in hand. They show up, chat with friends, scroll through their phones between ends, and wonder why their groups haven’t tightened in months.
The hard truth is that it’s just too easy to break concentration in today’s day and age, and the formula doesn’t offer good outcomes.
Phones = Notifications
Notifications = Distractions
DISTRACTIONS = DIMINISHING PERFORMANCE
The math is simple.
For instance, when I’m struggling on my guitar, there are times when I’m pumped to hear my progress, and I can transition through chords without thinking about it. Practice is paying off!
However, as soon as someone asks me something while I’m playing, it goes to shit in a hurry. This is because my brain has not developed a solid subconscious ability to perform the motions without my conscious focus. I’ve had to learn the left hand, then the right hand, then the combination to play the song. But if I start thinking about the song’s words or talking to someone in the room, I’m destined for a highlight reel of America’s worst talent.
I appreciate this, as it allows me to relate it to many new and intermediate archers who are struggling. Archery practice is the same for any of you out there who feel you’re at those levels. You need to be honest with yourself and reflect on whether you’ve put in enough practice and reps for your subconscious to roll through all the small details I’ve been coaching you on.
Can you trust your stance is exactly where it needs to be, even if you don’t look down? Is your grip seated in the same place each time before you raise your bow? Are you confident that the front shoulder is right where we have talked about it needing to be? How about that anchor position? Is your release hand flat, angle of attack identical, and rocker position perfectly balanced?
The time you spend at the range means nothing if your mind isn’t fully committed. Mental presence isn’t some abstract concept reserved for meditation retreats. It’s the single most controllable variable in your shooting performance.
This week’s School of Nock homework builds on what we talked about on Monday. We’re covering how to eliminate distractions, create focused practice environments, and why the process matters more than the prize.
The Philosophy Behind Focused Practice
I’ve got a phrase that captures it all: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
This isn’t fortune cookie wisdom. It’s a tactical approach to skill development, one that separates people who improve from people who accumulate hours.
When you’re at the range to practice, be mentally at the range. Don’t think about work deadlines, relationship problems, or dinner plans.
I was in England working with some incredibly passionate archers. These folks get maybe one practice session per week because finding space for archery in the UK isn’t easy. Every club has to book its time at sports halls.
It was a bit of a learning curve for me when I had to train there during my years living in the UK with Sharon. The archers would show up, spend half the session catching up with friends, showing off a new piece of their “kit,” practice a little while, then actually have some tea and biscuits.
Then, they’d wonder why their form wasn’t clicking, and they’d come over to ask me for some advice. I would certainly try to help, but that also meant me having what I considered “purposeless practice.”
I was the guy trying to go to a range with my own targets, finding a spot away from it all, and trying to visualize myself in a deprivation tank with an archery target inside. I wanted to use what little time I had for practice to really dig into it.
I get the social appeal. Archery communities attract good people, and nobody wants to be the antisocial guy in the corner. But I was that guy. I was in my lane, running through my complete shot sequence, analyzing arrow flight, making micro-adjustments.
That’s not rudeness. That’s respect for limited training time and an undying thirst to be better.
Getting better means working for it. I can give you all the tools you need to be a leading archer, but if you just show them off during practice time instead of putting them to use and listening to what they have to say, you won’t build on yourself.
Focus has never been harder to maintain. Your phone buzzes with notifications constantly. If you don’t actively fight against those intrusions, they’ll consume every practice session you have.
Creating Your Distraction-Free Training Zone
Your smartphone has focus modes built right into it. On my phone, I’ve created a custom setting called “Training.” When I activate it, the phone locks down, notifications stop, and nobody can get in.
I’ve got a different screen saver set for training mode, so the second I look at my phone, I’m reminded I’m locked in. When I turn off training mode, my normal screen saver comes back. It’s a clean mental trigger.
Outside of the phone, I get my environment dialed in. I’ll crack open a Jocko GO, get my tunes going, and start crushing arrows with zero interruptions. This ties right back to building your archery habitat, the idea of creating a space that makes consistent practice effortless.
If you want to get better at any skill, give it your undivided attention when you show up to do the work. Be focused on what you’re doing, do it right, and soak in what’s happening around you.
Why Process Beats Prize Every Time
A lot of people love archery for the same reason: It forces them to clear their heads. You can’t shoot well with a scattered mind.
The bow exposes distraction immediately. Your groups open up, your anchor point drifts, and your release timing gets inconsistent. The target doesn’t lie.
I experience the same with guitar as I mentioned earlier. When I sit down to play my Taylor and sound like dog crap, I know my mind is elsewhere, caught up in outside anxieties and problems I’ve got no control over.
When that happens, I have to tell myself, “Think about what you’re doing right now. Think about this chord. Think about how to hit the right string. Think about what to play to make it sound good.” And all of a sudden, it starts clicking.
I picked up music later in life and wish I’d learned it as a kid, when my brain was spongier. I’m sure some of you feel the same way about archery. If you’re picking up archery later in your life when you aren’t as spongy, your focus is twice as important. Distractions are double the trouble.
If you’re shooting archery for the getaway, then actually get away. Eliminate those distractions and focus on what you’re doing.
Don’t focus on the prize. Focus on the process. The prize will be awarded if you complete the process.
Your Assignment: Put It Into Practice This Week
This week’s homework:
- When you walk, walk. When you eat, eat. When you practice, practice!
- Every session, put your phone in training mode or leave it in your vehicle. Set up your space to support full concentration.
- Pay attention to when your mind drifts. When it does, bring yourself back to the present shot. Ask yourself, “What was I working on?”
This skill improves with reps, just like your anchor point or your release. Every arrow is an imprint, so make each one count.
Your undivided attention is the most valuable resource you can bring to any task. Start treating it that way, and watch your performance respond.
