Joel Turner reveals why punching your trigger locks your accuracy at a six-month plateau.
The episode is an interview format where host Aaron interviews mental performance coach Joel Turner. The primary focus is understanding and fixing target panic in archery. Turner begins by explaining that target panic is heavily personality-based, often affecting control freaks or mechanically-minded individuals. He introduces the concepts of 'open-loop' (fast, automatic) and 'closed-loop' (slow, conscious) movements, linking trigger punching to open-loop actions that limit accuracy. Turner states most archers hit their peak accuracy just six months in if they rely on punching. The host shares his personal experience with target panic, which led him to switch to a hinge release. Turner argues this worked because it forced the host's consciousness away from the aim and onto the trigger movement. Turner then details his four-step shot process: draw back and aim, address the trigger, make a conscious decision ('here I go'), and talk yourself through the trigger movement. He emphasizes that 'thoughts aren't thinking,' and shooters must make their conscious thinking louder than their intrusive thoughts. The conversation critiques common advice like removing your sight or shooting blank bale, which Turner calls Band-Aids that don't address the mental root cause. Instead, he advocates for practicing real, aimed shots at distances that induce nervousness. Training methods are discussed, including stress drills where Turner intentionally distracts or shakes archers' bows during clinics to build mental resilience. The episode also touches on hunting applications, with the host describing his 'brain dead' focus during animal shots. Turner shares the origin of his work, stemming from his own severe target panic and his desire to prevent his son Bodie from experiencing it. He reveals Bodie gets nauseous before tournaments but succeeds by keeping his release moving. The episode concludes with information on Turner's Shot IQ online courses and clinics.
