K – LOOSING

Paul Taylor 1977

The origin of the clicker

The Triggered Release

Mounting a Clicker

Clicker Strength

Clicker Shooting

KIM Keep it Moving

Wind and the Clicker

Beginners and the Clicker

Click and Hold

Thought Pattern

‘K’ – Loosing

Preamble

When Ellis Shepherd first asked me to present a paper to the National Coaching Conference I agreed and submitted the title ‘KLOOSING’. When the programme was published I noticed that Ellis had separated the ‘K’ from ‘Loosing’ to give the above title. Upon reflection, I think he was very wise to make the alteration since it provides me with a more clear-cut objective:

How to convert ‘K-Loosing’ into ‘KLOOSING’

The Origin of the Clicker

The only information I have on the subject comes from an article in the American magazine Archery, published in March 1963. The title of the article: ‘Freezing – An Instant Cure’. The author is quite unambiguous about the function of the device, it was designed to ‘trigger the release’ and ‘My eyes were playing NO part in this vital move’.

There can be no argument against the contribution made by the clicker to archery. Thousands of archers who would, as a consequence of ‘Freezing’, target shyness, etc.,’ have otherwise given up the sport, were thereby enabled, not only to continue, but, in many cases, move on to new heights of performance.

However, we must not make the mistake of thinking that this was the first solution to the ‘Freezing’ problem. Archers as long in the tooth as I, will recall the little rubber draw-check fitted as standard to the APOLLO steel bows. Releasing as soon as the little black ‘signal’ appeared saved the day for many an archer who would, in subsequent discussion; claim that it was nothing more than a draw-check. The evolution of this into the ‘Flag’ system, introduced in the mid fifties by MELLISH (?) and later used to such good effect by Ron Bishop, is a matter of history.

Before moving on, it is interesting to note that the ‘KISSER’ was once used as a trigger, the release being made as soon as the ‘Kisser’ contact was made!