21 Nov IT’S A CONFIDENCE THING
It’s a Confidence Thing
By: Tom LaLond
Being a better shot than the next guy can often be boiled down to one word. Confidence. If you both put in the same amount of practice shots and bow tuning time, but you have more confidence in your shooting. Well, 9 times out of 10 you’ll be taking home the gold buckle (or big check). Knowing this, the question may be asked, “Well how does a person find that mysterious trait of confidence?” Well partner it comes from knowing AND believing in your set up. The “knowing” and “believing” characteristics are both highly variable from person to person. Find hope though, because there are breadcrumbs to follow on the right path.
The “knowing” part of the confidence equation is highly correlated to the amount of time spent shooting your particular set up. For me, my confidence sores when I’m asked to hit a 12 ring within 30 yards and I’m stepping up to the line with my trusty Mathews Halon 32. Yes, that rig is 4 bows back in the Mathews flagship lineup, but that should prove my point. I’ve had more time behind the string, and that’s equaled increased knowledge. The more time you spend researching something the more confident on that subject matter you will be. I’ve had time to shoot this bow and gotten to know every tweak, twist, and thwack of that ol’ girl so I trust it and I’m more confident that I’m going to make a great shot when it presents itself.
Just like how it takes time to get to know your bow, it takes time to gain the belief quality of the Confidence Equation. For example, I’ve been shooting Magnus broadheads for several, successful years now, and even through I was in love with how they made my arrow look like a mini Battle Axe when I first screwed them on, I couldn’t really believe in them until they proved themselves. For me, I started to really believe in them when I kept seeing them fly so da gum well out of any bow they exited. Then when I kept seeing them whizz through my quarry at all angles, and be the leading factor in some short blood trails, my belief in them soared! This in turn caused my confidence in my abilities with them to skyrocket! That belief, and eventual confidence, didn’t come overnight though. I had to spend time testing the product in order to gain belief in the broadheads. After it aced those tests I became confident that this product would do the job I was asking it to do, when I asked it to do it.
Because I took the time to get to know my bow and my broadheads, in this example, and how they handled, pristine and adverse, situations I gained belief in these products. That belief and knowledge multiplied by positive experiences equaled incredible confidence in the products to deliver in crunch time. But, keep in mind that I had to spend time honing my own skills and abilities with each of these products. So go and spend some time outside with your gear, your friends, and your family so you can know and believe in them more. That will improve your life, happiness, and confidence.