The Think Tank

Mom and I are up in Seattle this weekend so I can shoot in the USAA Indoor National Championships, the first Indoor Nationals ever held in the Pacific Northwest.  I signed up late, so the only shooting time available was 5pm both days, so I shot later in the day than I usually do for tournaments. That was pretty nice though, because I was able to lounge around the house and relax most of the afternoon.

I warmed up 4-5 ends downstairs on the practice range, then shot the two official practice ends.  I started out very well, felt really strong and like I was executing really well.  In fact, I felt like I actually shot better than I scored.  I finished the first thirty arrows with a 290, and I felt like I shot around a 293-294.  I had three or four arrows that felt really good, I held well, I wound up in the proper post-shot form, and the arrow missed by the tiniest sliver imaginable.

The first end of the second half was good, all 10s, but the next three were all 28s.  That was rough.  I did not feel I was holding well, I was holding longer than I like, and my form was feeling stiff.  My shoulder was also getting pretty sore.  Around the 15th end, I started feeling a little better, but it wasn’t until the last 2-3 ends where I thought I was actually drilling it again.

I had been bouncing back and forth with Justin Carver all day (up a point, down a point, tied… ), but coming in the final stretch I was up one point and I really wanted to stay there.  I got just a touch nervous, which gave me a little extra boost in the energy department, and I came through my shots much faster and stronger and I drained three inside-out X’s.  I also used my new trick, thinking to myself “You can’t miss.”  Several weeks ago, I started reprogramming myself so that whenever I say that, I execute a perfect shot.  (In the past that always preceded a missed shot, but a few weeks ago I started turning that weakness into a strength.  Now whenever I think that, I double down on my form and make damn sure I drill that shot.)

I finished with a 579.  I really think I should be more along the lines of a 585, and I really don’t like dropping below 580, but all in all I’m not too disappointed with this score.  Last time I was up here (for the WSAA Indoor FITA Championships) I shot a 1156.  I would really like to get into the 1160s this time around.

I do not know where I placed overall, but I was the top spot in my group by two points.