Back tension release critique

[rhendrix]

Looking to get some feedback about my form. I know I mentioned my draw length being too long. I just misspoke, I need to change my peep location, and I could probably go up a 1/2" in DL if I wanted to. I went down a 1/2" recently trying to fire my trigger with back tension.

Anyways, here's the video:

[YT]http://youtu.be/32kLNwSIs84[/YT]

 

[OR Archer]

First thing I would change is your front arm. You have way to much of a bend in it. Drop your hand to your side in a natural position then raise it straight up. That is the amount of bend you should be using on your front arm. Second is your anchor point. Way to far into your face. Changing the front arm position will help this but you may also need to shorten the draw also.

Now I also noticed you were "punching" the release. Yes this can be done with a hinge and quite easily. It looked like to me as if you were giving it a pretty good yank to get it to fire. Try this method. Once you are in your anchor and in your aiming sequence gently relax your index finger as if you were trying to point at your target. This will help the hand rotate thus firing the bow. Practice that method on a cord before going to your bow.

I'm by no means an expert on using a hinge but those are some observations I see when looking at your video.

 

[wapitibob]

I only know one guy who can shoot with a bow arm like that.

 

[rhendrix]

OR, I think my DL looks too long because I was trying to look through my peep rather than finding my normal anchor point. I took another video with my trigger to compare, but ran outta memory on my phone: here's a still with my normal anchor.

Still some bend in my arm, but nothing crazy like in the video.

I'll change mods back to 29" and anchor up where I normally do and take another video Sunday. At work for 24 hours right now.

Tried your technique quickly before I left the house though and it seemed to work well, I recognized right away though that if I'm relaxing my finger and that's what fires the hinge I could still punch.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I would look up nuts and bolts of archery. He really explains well why and how your parts need to be in certain locations for best shooting.....well I can say it helped me quite a bit.

 

[rhendrix]

I just read up on that actually backpack hunter, I also measured my arm span and divided by 2.5, came up with 30" essentially.

 

[Jeff Martin]

I agree with all above:

I would also suggest you relax your grip. I have seen more guys over 20 years try to "emulate" a good grip rather than execute one based on what other guys are doing. The goal is "no torque," the goal is not "to shoot without fingers on the bow."

To me (i realize i am just looking at a photo) but it looks like you are pulling your fingers off the bow (creates tension) so you only have your "lifeline" touching that bow. Thats great if you are not creating more tension by doing so.

Google Randy Ulmer and look at his grip. His fingers hang down because he is TOTALLY relaxed. If you are relaxed, ignore my post, but it sure looks like you are trying to emulate a no finger grip (pulling your fingers backwards) rather than creating a grip that is repeatable & relaxed. for whats that worth to you...

 

[Beendare]

from the picture- I would agree with OR and Bob- you need to straighten your arm more and that will push your anchor further out- not so deep into your face. Your left shoulder is dipped down. Its hard to describe good alignment better to look at the pros on youtube...or find a diagram. Even TradGang has their form clock which shows you from overhead good alignment which is the same with a compound.

Your draw arm should be in line with the arrow- in the pic it looks high and with your wrist slightly bent. Your draw arm should continue in a straight line through the arrow to the target. If you are too far back with your anchor [you are] then when applying tension in your back the tendency is to pull around back of your body- instead of the straight line which pulls shots from side to side.

The way you are shooting i bet you lose some shots right, eh? Hard not to push the bow with that bent arm. You might not have to adjust DL on the bow as when you extend it might be just right. If you can get a camera over the top of you when you shoot- the alignment becomes more obvious. Good alignment just makes it so when you do have a minor blip in your release- the bad shots aren't so bad. I would groove in that good alignment with blank bale shooting- some even with your eyes closed concentrating on how it feels and don't worry about aiming- just form and back tension until you groove it in.

I didn't see the vid but if you are punching....that gets you in really bad habits that can bring on TP- not good.

 

[rhendrix]

Grip is relaxed, that's just how my hand winds up. I'll check and make sure it's relaxed Sunday. Wish I could shoot at work and check some of these things.

I know my anchor is wrong. Was trying to look through the peep instead of anchoring up. And I think my shoulder is low because of where the target was, obviously I'm not making a good t and bending at the waist.

 

[Beendare]

Once you know what its supposed to look like...its easy to self critique with the camera over the top. Kudos for putting it out there...not easy having bastids like my critiquing your chit!

 

[rhendrix]

As long as it makes me a better shot, I don't care. I welcome it actually.

 

[c5mrr270]

Even with the trigger you have too much bend in your bow arm. If you are ever on archery talk I would look at all the "how's my form" threads and read everything by nuts&bolts.

 

[Jimbob]

Put target at shoulder height and practice form like that. Nothing worse then trying to learn good form by shooting downhill all the time.

Also write down a shot sequence step by step then follow it on every shot. ex

1. set feet position
2. clip on release
3. adjust grip to correct place
4. draw bow
5. right knuckle under ear
6. stand up straight (no leaning back)
7. make sure bow arm is extended straight
8. make sure bow shoulder is rolled back (use some tension in your back)
7. touch tip of nose to string
8. centre sight and peep
9. use buble to level bow
10. open left eye and aim
11. start to squeeze trigger
12. continue to aim
13. continue to aim

You can't just allow all this stuff to happen subconsciously or you won't end up doing it, you will just revery to your old way. Once you've done a few thousand times then it will happen without thinking = perfect kill shot.

For the shot sequence you need to have a few times built in that you consciously think about your form. So what are your problem areas? identify those then at a certain time in your shot sequence address that part of your shooting.

There is lots more to the shot sequence and a lot of things you can do to hep with accuracy but this is just about form. Use the conscious shot sequence to address your form issues is what I am trying to say.

 

[Jimbob]

Honestly I would post on AT as NutsnBolts can really help. But if you're going to continue to post here then take a picture of your self from directly 90 degrees to your side and you aiming at a target at shoulder level. Make sure the camera is not pointing up or down also. Wear a t-shirt and tuck it into your pants. Maybe take out your peep when doing this as you have already mentioned that your adjusting your form to match that.

 

[c5mrr270]

Honestly I would post on AT as NutsnBolts can really help. But if you're going to continue to post here then take a picture of your self from directly 90 degrees to your side and you aiming at a target at shoulder level. Make sure the camera is not pointing up or down also. Wear a t-shirt and tuck it into your pants. Maybe take out your peep when doing this as you have already mentioned that your adjusting your form to match that.

I almost posted the same thing.

 

[rhendrix]

Posted on AT last night, haven't gotten much of a response yet. I appreciate the responses. Guess I just need to rebuild my whole shot sequence.

 

[wapitibob]

Bow arm "should" be straighter but in the end, if that gives you the consistency you need, it'll work. A bazillion ways to shoot a bow.
From way back when....

 

[c5mrr270]

Posted on AT last night, haven't gotten much of a response yet. I appreciate the responses. Guess I just need to rebuild my whole shot sequence.

Did you post in the General section?

 

[rhendrix]

Bow arm "should" be straighter but in the end, if that gives you the consistency you need, it'll work. A bazillion ways to shoot a bow.
From way back when....

I've never been able to shoot with my arm straight like that, I'll try it again though if it means I kill more animals.

Did you post in the General section?

Yeah, just updated the video link, apparently it wasn't working.

 

[c5mrr270]

Nevermind I found it. I gave some ideas on taking a better picture but now the thread is also back to the top so hopefully some people more qualified than me will see it. They will want a new photo though.