I was once in the zone doing archery. I won a little trophy like that one in the Ludo championship in Father Ted. *Thunk* Gold. *Thunk* Gold. *Thunk* Gold. Four out of six arrows hit gold at eighty yards, I felt mighty. That was a long time ago mind, in a different place. But I was certainly in the zone that day. Hurrah!
Shame I had to give it all up when I was hit by the anti-zone. One day I started shooting and found that I loosed the arrow the moment I looked at the target, I just couldn't hold the string drawn. If I looked away and pulled the bow-string, I could hold it for ages, the moment I looked at the target, *thwang!* Consequently overnight I became terrible at it. That was twelve years ago, I haven't played since that awful summer.
Hmm. Actually, now I have internet and now remember that horrible thing, I can go look it up and find out if I was just a mental. *Goes off to look*
Jesus! It really is a condition! 'Target Panic'. Wow, I actually had no idea. Some website or other says:
Quote:
Describing or defining target panic usually causes us to focus on the symptoms of the disorder. These symptoms can be manifested with slight variations given individual archers. These symptoms do have one thing in common: There is a premature release - or the strong desire for a premature release - of the arrow. This premature release - or desire for a premature release - occurs first, before the bow can be positioned to bring the arrow fully onto the target, or second, before the anchor can be fully achieved. It is also possible that an individual archer can experience the premature release - or the desire for a premature release - before both the target and anchor can be fully achieved depending on the timing between the full anchor and target acquisition. So then . . . you release too soon or you lock-in and find it impossible to bring the arrow onto the target because your mind wants to release the arrow. The specific way in which target panic manifests itself is highly dependent on the individuals form and equipment, yet, the premature release is at the core of the problem.
Grrr. Lousy target panic! I coulda been a contender!