Post by bowtech on Feb 4, 2006 8:38:41 GMT -5
Shooting form is probably the most important thing.
With proper form , even a poorly splined arrow can be shot with accurate results.
(it can but I suggest getting proper arrows for your set up)
Proper form consists of only a few things but they are important and to make them a mechanical response on the draw is the goal.
[blue]First lets look at anchor point.[/blue]
Anchor point is different for alot of people and I can only offer a guide as to where you need to be.
When starting , adjust the position of the hand on the face when at anchor to see where the arrow strikes in relation to where your eye is looking.
The lower the anchor the more to the right the arrow will strike as your face slopes inward to the jaw.
A lower anchor also causes the arrow to strike higher.
Visa/versa on the higher anchor.
Use the anchor to tune your arrows impact location to the desired area.
This may have you (when on target) feeling awkward or uncomfortable but try and stay with it.
It will become normal and easy after a short time and your shooting will be far greater than trying to make your eye do what your bow wants
I have met to many guys that just cant do the trad. bow because they try and put that index at the corner of their mouth like they have seen Fred Bear do all their lives or have been instructed to do.
The trad. bow is an extension of the arm and nothing more.
(or at least thats the way it should be)
[blue]Next , lets look at hand placement on the bow.[/blue]
Each bows grip is manufactured in one of three ways.
low wrist,neutral and high wrist.
Before getting a bow make sure that you know the difference
Most mass produced bows are neutral but not all.
(My Martin is a wrist high and it is a mass produced bow.)
I have found that neutral and high wrist handles offer better performance for the average person but that does not mean that you should consider yourself average
Be aware that a low wrist grip does not provide as much control of the bow itself as a high wrist does but for this reason it also offers less chance for torquing and such.
The high wrist offers alot of control but requires a stable bow arm or it can effect the arrow through torque and such.
[blue]Lastly , the follow through [/blue]
Follow through isn't a word I like to use because it implies that it is important to hold the position after the shot which may build good form but does nothing for the arrow which has already left.
I like to instead say that you should practice disconnect of the release.
This is just what you should do with any bow but it is very important on the trad. bow.
The act of releasing without releasing is what you are trying to do in as much as the only change is the relaxation of the fingers that hold the string.
Some day (if not already) you are going to hear someone suggest pushing the bow towards the target.
This is part of the release and how it should look when done correctly.
When at full draw you are pushing and pulling and on the release that forward pressure from the bow arm should be no different.
Same with the draw hand.
To make a point let me exaggerate and say that on the release your chest area should increase visually as the bow arm continues forward from the sudden lack of resistance and the draw hand should come back behind the ear as resistance is lost.
The bow and the draw hand should move in straight lines forward and back and if they do not it could be your signal that you are doing something wrong
I cant even remember who it was back 20 years ago but he was the big rock star at the time and when he released it looked like he had a sudden stroke ;D
He fairly collapsed on release
He was so dominate that people stoped laughing and started asking why he did this .... the rest is history and today most people will recognize the need to follow through in such a way.
For some...You may already know this but , for those who dont...practise your follow through.
[blue]Lastly[/blue]
Dont over Bow yourself!
This is archery...not a weight lifting contest
The heavier the bow the harder to practice proper form.
With proper form , even a poorly splined arrow can be shot with accurate results.
(it can but I suggest getting proper arrows for your set up)
Proper form consists of only a few things but they are important and to make them a mechanical response on the draw is the goal.
[blue]First lets look at anchor point.[/blue]
Anchor point is different for alot of people and I can only offer a guide as to where you need to be.
When starting , adjust the position of the hand on the face when at anchor to see where the arrow strikes in relation to where your eye is looking.
The lower the anchor the more to the right the arrow will strike as your face slopes inward to the jaw.
A lower anchor also causes the arrow to strike higher.
Visa/versa on the higher anchor.
Use the anchor to tune your arrows impact location to the desired area.
This may have you (when on target) feeling awkward or uncomfortable but try and stay with it.
It will become normal and easy after a short time and your shooting will be far greater than trying to make your eye do what your bow wants
I have met to many guys that just cant do the trad. bow because they try and put that index at the corner of their mouth like they have seen Fred Bear do all their lives or have been instructed to do.
The trad. bow is an extension of the arm and nothing more.
(or at least thats the way it should be)
[blue]Next , lets look at hand placement on the bow.[/blue]
Each bows grip is manufactured in one of three ways.
low wrist,neutral and high wrist.
Before getting a bow make sure that you know the difference
Most mass produced bows are neutral but not all.
(My Martin is a wrist high and it is a mass produced bow.)
I have found that neutral and high wrist handles offer better performance for the average person but that does not mean that you should consider yourself average
Be aware that a low wrist grip does not provide as much control of the bow itself as a high wrist does but for this reason it also offers less chance for torquing and such.
The high wrist offers alot of control but requires a stable bow arm or it can effect the arrow through torque and such.
[blue]Lastly , the follow through [/blue]
Follow through isn't a word I like to use because it implies that it is important to hold the position after the shot which may build good form but does nothing for the arrow which has already left.
I like to instead say that you should practice disconnect of the release.
This is just what you should do with any bow but it is very important on the trad. bow.
The act of releasing without releasing is what you are trying to do in as much as the only change is the relaxation of the fingers that hold the string.
Some day (if not already) you are going to hear someone suggest pushing the bow towards the target.
This is part of the release and how it should look when done correctly.
When at full draw you are pushing and pulling and on the release that forward pressure from the bow arm should be no different.
Same with the draw hand.
To make a point let me exaggerate and say that on the release your chest area should increase visually as the bow arm continues forward from the sudden lack of resistance and the draw hand should come back behind the ear as resistance is lost.
The bow and the draw hand should move in straight lines forward and back and if they do not it could be your signal that you are doing something wrong
I cant even remember who it was back 20 years ago but he was the big rock star at the time and when he released it looked like he had a sudden stroke ;D
He fairly collapsed on release
He was so dominate that people stoped laughing and started asking why he did this .... the rest is history and today most people will recognize the need to follow through in such a way.
For some...You may already know this but , for those who dont...practise your follow through.
[blue]Lastly[/blue]
Dont over Bow yourself!
This is archery...not a weight lifting contest
The heavier the bow the harder to practice proper form.
