Looking For Throwing Tips
by Atlatls N More
1/23/2006
The following letter came from John Morris of Vermont.
Hi Dennis:
I have been trying to improve my atlatl throwing accuracy by throwing some, almost daily for several years now.
Some days it is, "Look out Mark Bracken. Next year, you are going to be embarrassed!"…but 99 percent of the days are, "Why do I do this. I can't even consistently hit the target!!"
I think there are a lot of people like me out here. We are rookies trying to break through the wall. Many of us have no other atlatlist to practice with or compare techniques. A couple of times in the summer we may do the long trip to one of the competitions.
I always feel that I am right at "the wall" and if I can come up with one correction; I will be finally be able to, at least, consistently hit in the 7-ring. I suspect this is a common thing for all us rookies. We are always searching for that key to break into better scores.
I was wondering if any members of the WAA Top 25 list would be willing to offer help to us beginners. Perhaps a Blog on your site for rookies that allows any member of the Top 25 to suggest one thing he or she thinks is important for accurate throwing of the atlatl dart. This could include the top 25 Youth atlatlists.
Throw safe,
John Morris
John:
I think that this is an excellent idea and it can be open to anyone. It doesn’t matter if they are in the top 25 or not. Any lessons or tips on throwing will be posted on the Lessons ‘N Tips page of Atlatl Digest
If the response is good enough, we can get the tips printed into a booklet to give out at demonstrations.
I will offer a couple of tips here in this blog, but all future tips will be posted in their proper place, which will be the Lessons ‘N Tips section of Atlatl Digest.
The ISAC is a difficult game to figure out… especially for beginners who haven’t yet been successful. Bob Berg swears that the distances of 15 and 20 meters are WAY too far away to achieve consistent success for any but the most dedicated throwers.
It is my opinion that when starting out one should practice from a distance they are successful at. If this is under 10 meters, so be it. Bob says that from these close distances, you can make your target smaller and smaller until it is pie-plate sized.
When I first started practicing, I cut the target up so that only the 8, 9, 10 & X were showing. I threw practice ISACs at this smaller target. I didn’t count anything that didn’t hit the target… no 7s or 6s. They weren’t even there.
I think that Bob’s point makes sense, especially for those too small or not strong enough to throw from the longer distances. Perhaps some event organizers will heed his advice and include games with very close distances (from 3 to 10 meters) but with smaller targets.
As far as the ISAC is concerned, I have a couple thoughts that might help.
First, nothing breeds success like success. The difference between someone who consistently throws in the lower 90s and someone who throws in the 80’s isn’t necessarily one of skill. It is one of belief and expectation!
Expect to do well. If you expect to have none of your darts miss the center of the target, you will surprise yourself at how good a game you can have.
Yes, the ISAC is a mental game. If you go up there expecting to miss one of ten darts… you have already been defeated... and you probably will miss at least one of ten darts. I go up there expecting to hit the 10 ring with every throw… obviously I don’t do that, but it is rare that I miss the target. (That isn’t meant to sound boastful… everyone knows that I have missed many times in the past… and I still do on occasion. But it usually surprises me when it happens because I don’t expect it.)
Believe that you can hit the center of the target every time. Most shooting sports include visualization. I once talked with a member of the United States crossbow team and he talked about shooting targets 65 yards away. He said he pictures the dart sticking out of the center of the bulls-eye prior to shooting. He called it a sight picture and said it is sort of a meditative game of expecting to match his mental image with reality.
Go to the line with a picture of your dart sticking out of the X ring… and then make it reality.
Aim Small, Miss Small. Focus on a small spot of the target… not the whole target. When giving demonstrations I usually ask if people have seen the movie The Patriot with Mel Gibson. In it, Mel explains that the way to shoot a muzzleloader is to “Aim small, miss small.” That holds true with atlatls. Don’t look at the whole target… look at the smallest spot you can see. When throwing from 15 meters, I focus only on the X… when I throw from 20 meters, I focus only on the number 8, a few inches above the X. Other people tell me that they focus on other small spots.
Consistent Throwing Setup. Everyone throws a little differently because we have different body shapes and muscle use. I consistently set up with the dart along my head so that I can do the same every time. Some people throw from a spot to the right or left of the center of the target because that feels right to them. In my thinking I throw directly from the center… but maybe I really don’t.
Brandon Anderson sets up to throw with the heel of his left foot on the toes of his right foot. Whatever little setup you decide on, keep it the same.
I have already posted some equipment tips, but there are likely hundreds of more that can be included.
Send me your tips.
I think it is important to pass on the little coaching tips that will help new throwers (or inconsistent ones) do better. It is imperative to our sport that we have people achieving success and not failure. All your throwing or equipment tips will be posted.
Send tips to info@Atlatls-N-More.com