Inconsistent grouping at closer ranges

This is not a weak attempt at a humble-brag. This year I've been shooting really tight groups at 20,30, and 40yds with my compound. Lately, my grouping isn't as consistent, and sometimes downright poor at 20-30yds. The odd thing is that I've been shooting well at 40-50yds, with some of those groupings being better than at closer ranges.

Any ideas on why this would be? Could it be tuning or simply user error? Obviously, I can't see the target as well at 40-50yds; could this be helping me out in some way?

I'm still hitting the bread basket, but I should be getting 2" groups at the closer ranges, and right now I'm not consistently doing that.

Sounds like target panic

Maybe so

Has to be something other than mechanical. Your groups wouldn’t tighten up at distance they would get worse.

Hard to even guess without more details about your set up.

I think this is right. The tuning seems to be fine and I agree, that wouldn't make sense. Shot some last night and it went a little better. I'm probably just over (or under) thinking it.

quit thinking it, shoot until it is natural thing to do. Getting back to the basics stance, grip, draw, anchor, sight, release and follow through. Do not over think anything, put those little thinking gremlins out of the head.

Going back to the basics seems to help many of the shooters I have worked with and even those that have been shooting for years as well as new shooters.


Of course that is easier said than done

You're absolutely right. I think at further distances I fall back on muscle memory and instinct. At closer ranges, when I can see a specific spot of the target very clearly, I probably overthink my shot.

Sometimes I tend to change my shot routine on closer shots. Thinking they are a gimmie. I estimate I rush those shots sometimes by a couple of seconds. That makes a difference for me.

Overspined arrrow will do the opposite and shoot real good close and bad far, some times under spine arrow shot poorly close as they haven’t had time to recover.

If you want to experiment, My check your arrow spine with https://www.archersadvantageonline....&view=article&id=15&Itemid=2

Or cut 1” or two off an arrow if you have room.

95% probably it’s you though

It’s you. You’re concentrating and following through at distance. Form is breaking down somewhere when you’re up close.