Skip to main content

2 Tips for Perfect Shot Timing

2 Tips for Perfect Shot Timing

Decorated target shooter Levi Morgan uses two different Tru-Fire release aids — a Synapse thumb-button release (left) and a SEAR hinge release (right). Occasionally switching back and forth between the two release styles keeps Morgan from becoming too familiar with their timing. This prevents him from anticipating the shot so he can maintain his focus on aiming and proper shot execution.

Over many years of shooting — both in competition and in hunting situations — I’ve come to realize the importance of timing in my shot.

Release execution and aiming have to blend together perfectly for me to maximize my shooting potential. Timing, or rhythm, is crucial to the success of my archery game.

I’ve said at least 1,000 times that archery is made up of hundreds of tiny things you have to do over and over again in order to succeed. Well, “timing” is just all those tiny things working together fluidly. I’ve shot my bow at a high level virtually my entire life, so I know the fundamentals very well and don’t struggle with any of them individually. However, doing them all correctly at the same time and with a great flow from shot to shot is normally what makes or breaks me from one day to the next.

When my timing is off, there always seems to be one underlying cause — anticipation of my shot. There are many ways to help prevent this, from blank bale shooting to using multiple styles of release aids with multiple sensitivity settings on them. Anticipation is the cause of myriad shooting woes, so it’s imperative to keep it in check.

What do I mean when I say I’m anticipating the shot? Well, after shooting the same release for so long, I’m so familiar with its timing that I subconsciously know exactly when it’s about to fire. I then start to “freeze” on my shot and over-aim, throwing a monkey wrench into my overall shot timing. Blank bale shooting is great for working on timing, but it can actually make things worse if this is the underlying issue. So, my go-to cure is to carry two different styles of release aids.

I carry a Synapse thumb-button release and a SEAR hinge release, both made by Tru-Fire. After I shoot one for a while, I start getting a little sloppy, over-aiming and freezing when my shot’s about to break. When that happens, I switch releases, and everything suddenly starts falling back into place. I no longer subconsciously know when the release is going to fire, so I can focus on aiming and let the shot happen.

One of my heroes growing up was Randy Ulmer — one of the most successful target shooters and bowhunters our sport has ever seen. I remember Randy used to carry multiple releases of the same make and model. They all looked the same, but Randy set the timing differently on each. This forced him to focus on aiming because he never knew which release he had in his hand and couldn’t anticipate the timing of the shot.

Both my method and Randy’s will work. Regardless, if you’ve shot the same release on the same setting for a long time, I almost guarantee that you struggle with shot timing sometimes.

There are so many things you have to do correctly to be a great archer. In addition to doing them all well individually, you also need great rhythm and timing while doing many of them simultaneously. There are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years to help keep me focused on aiming and not subconsciously anticipating the shot. My go-to is to simply switch styles of releases when I start to freeze on my shot; others like to change the sensitivity on the same release.

Either way, a small change to your release aid is needed every now and then in order to keep you focused on the fundamentals that never change.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Bowhunting

Think Differently When Hanging Treestands

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Bowhunting

Hunting the Right Way

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Bowhunting

How to Hunt Small Acreage All Season

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Do Animals Smell Ozone?

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Bowhunting

Baseball & Bowhunting with Ben McDonald

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

30 Years of TenPoint Crossbows!

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

APX — The Newest Pattern From Realtree

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Buck Commander Releases New Buk Ops Technology

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Easton's Sonic 6.0 a Versatile Arrow Shaft

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Easton Introduces the Match Grade Pro Series Arrow

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Primos Double Bull Delivers New Raised Hunting Ground Blind

For big game hunters on the move out West, or a whitetail hunter looking to spot and stalk into range with a rifle or cr...
Gear

Primos Delivers Steady Shooting With Edge Tripod System

Bowhunter Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Bowhunter App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Bowhunter stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Bowhunter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Bowhunter stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use