How to deal with a slump?

I can relate. Similar to me 18 or so months ago. Forkhit problem.

I found that my brain went to "watch out for the forkhit" mode just as I was just about to release a shot [a reaction to the consistency of forkhits and richocheting projectiles when shooting OTT probably]. My brain made things more difficult and increasingly complicated - my mental focus had moved from the simplicity of "from slingshot to catchbox/target" [as it was when I was shooting TTF] to a complicated and counter-productive over analysis of what was happening when I was shooting OTT and what I was doing wrong, and what I could try to do to correct the problem.

But everyday I kept attempting OTT...until a forkhit. After the forkhit I rebanded to TTF and kept shooting. Kept trying OTT everyday. Kept shooting everyday. It would be an oversimplification to say "...then one day the OTT forkhits disappeared", but "after a period of research into the subject they disipated". To cut a short story shorter, I'd advise not to put things down even for a couple of days. Put a band aid on your sore bit...stick on a bit of a harder protective layer perhaps. No matter if your next shot is a centre hit, a 'flyer into 8' or a jaw-breaker, "you control your confidence".

Shoot every day. Keep on shooting.

So I’ve been shooting slingshots for consecutively for 3 months now and I’ve had my fair share of confidence downers.

About a month ago I hit the right side of my face 2 times in a row while learning full butterfly and got some nice kisses. It hurt like a son of a gun and had a blood sacrifice lol but after I regain my composure and stopped the bleeding, I figured out I wasn’t twisting the pouch.

Another time I hit my shooting shades clean off my face outside and it felt like God smacked the Jesus out of me. 😂 I’ve put a nice hole in my wall and almost took out my 4K tv.

I say all of this because that simple little tweak changed my shooting completely and now I basically lay the bands on my cheek under my eye and haven’t had any kisses since and I’m shooting way more accurately from 18 ft away. [email protected] happens but it’s all part of the dance man, you just gotta go back to basics step by step and see where you went wrong to make the small little adjustment. Don’t let those kisses get you down , You got it dude! 🤟🏾

The first thing I do when fork hits (or injuries) do occur (very rarely now) is to analyse the entire cycle of the shot(s) that failed in such a way. A slingshot held in a canted manner relative to the flat bands, ammo not properly centered inside the pouch, and of course the release technique would come to mind first in this unpleasant situation, assuming that other factors such as good band symmetry were alright before a shooting session.

That target shot grouping in the first photo is excellent. Pain and the memory of it is always a major deterrent to simply carrying on just like before in any sport, and this invariably will lead to a cautious approach when starting out again: who wants to suffer "punishment" twice? The only answer is carefully reviewing what may have gone wrong, and to persevere while playing safe.

About five years ago, I came up with an index and thumb protection device intended for novice slingshot shooters, for whom an injury linked to a bad release might put them off for good from continuing with the sport. I presented this device on this forum back at the time, but surprisingly it did not seem to yield much interest. It needs some minor improvements to be perfected. It does not interfere in the way a slingshot like yours is held, and will not work with certain slingshot designs.

It may be the right sort of tool to enable you and others with a (legitimate) fear of fork hits and injuries to regain lost confidence, while allowing you to work on different release techniques and positions without exposing your slingshot holding hand to serious harm again. The idea is to reach a stage where you shoot confidently 99% of the time, and no longer need it.

It's quite simple to make using PVC, a few nuts & bolts, and some leather with Velcro. Photos attached herewith.