Since the majority of GNAS target archers use sights I would imagine it's not a concept they need to use very often.
However NFAS has a majority of 'Instinctive archers' it's a very commonly used term. I've never had any confusion with the term.
Hi Simon, I would have replied sooner but I couldn't get in to AIUK later last night.
I think the things you mention are part of the problem. Groups of archers who shoot together, talk together and in a way they use a common language that develops for them over time. Talk to others who are not so closely associated and things break down until explained.
One of the guys at the club was struggling with his longbow and I went to have a chat.
He said he was ok at 30y but at 40y the arrows were all over the place.
He went on to say that he was trying to shoot instinctive. My ears pricked up immediately as you can imagine.
I asked him what he was doing; and why 30y was ok and 40y was rubbish.( his words)
He said that he wasn't aiming he just had
this on the gold and drew and "fired".
THIS turned out to be the arrow point.
At 40y he had to do the same but then tilt back till the arrow point was above the target. Sometimes he was just raising his bow arm and not tilting.... but he remembered having trouble with that, on and off for some months.
I would say that he was aiming deliberately. To my way of thinking he was not shooting instinctively, but perhaps after some years, it might end up that way.