Need Help - Holding Low

[bipock]

Hoyt Rx7 Ultra, bought new 2 years ago. Draw length is 31.5, draw weight is just a hair under 60lbs.

For 2 years, same issue. When I draw and anchor, I go through the same process - level, located target in scope, nose to string. And for 2 years, the second I go nose to string, my holding point drops. At 20 yards, it's fairly easy for me to correct by lifting my shoulder a little. However, the farther back I go in distance, the worse it gets. AT 60 yards, I'm holding almost a foot to foot and a half low.

I've consulted Google and found a number of videos of archery pros talking about this and suggesting moving the d-loop point up higher. Basic geometry - d-loop higher, pull angle tilts the bow back from the top while lifting the bow fro the bottom. I had my local store move my d-loop and it helped, but only a little (that said, they only moved it a little too).

What's my next move? Move the d-loop up a significant amount? Torque the limbs unevenly with the top having more torque?

 

[dtrkyman]

Have the top cam hit the stop a hair before the bottom, play with holding weight, play with draw length.

Paige Pearce has had some good videos on the subject.

She just helped the dude from Bow Disciples with improving hold and goes into detail about adjustments and the affects.

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Is this no stab? Or are you using stabilization? I would start by playing with the draw length a little. I would start going shorter. More holding weight is another easy option if not already maxed on it.

 

[fragment]

This is such a common problem. Archers I generally work with on this it's a shoulder issue. You want to to be sure when you transition from the draw to anchor and hold that you're shoulders are both down and level. Front shoulder needs to the rotated down, and is commonly rotated in and up. The draw shoulder actually needs to relax, allowing the weight to transfer out of the shoulder and into the back, causing the elbow to rotate around and align with the arrow. When the shoulders are left high, the harder you pull into the wall the worse the drop out the bottom gets.

One archer I helped would draw and as soon as he transitioned to hold he would do this weird relax and dump of his release hand and as soon as he did it he'd be in the 8 ring low at 20 yards. Once he held onto the release and kept everything in alignment it went away.

D-loop location, grip angles and pressures, tiller, release hand angle and pressures, can all contribute, but I'd guess a good review of your form would figure this one out. I find that if the hold is solid low, it's an alignment issue. If the bow is pulling down and your having to constantly pull it back up creating floating sight it's a setup issue.

Any good coaches or pros in your area that could watch?

GRIV has a good video on this also -

 

[fragment]

The next video has the front shoulder details

 

[bipock]

D-loop location, grip angles and pressures, tiller, release hand angle and pressures, can all contribute, but I'd guess a good review of your form would figure this one out. I find that if the hold is solid low, it's an alignment issue. If the bow is pulling down and your having to constantly pull it back up creating floating sight it's a setup issue.

Let me see if I can explain it a little better what's happening. I'm 6'2". Basically, everytime I go out to shoot, I am shooting down at a target. Both of the steps above Ryals mentions above, I do already as they just kind of feel natural to me. My issue is that as I go to adjust down to the target, gravity takes over and I end up completely blowing through the center and locking low. As mentioned at 20 yards, not a huge deal as I can muscle it back up as I only end up an inch or so low. But at 60 yards, I'm now 1.5 feet low and it becomes a real challenge to get it back to the center, much less hold it steady.

 

[Pwb199]

would you say it’s a form of target panic?

 

[bipock]

would you say it’s a form of target panic?

The shot release definitely has some target panic as I have to time it for when I cross the target center.

But the actual process of trying to acquire the target and hold, I think, is something else. It's been this way for 2 years. If you put me in front of something that is almost at my natural draw height, we're good. Anything lower where I have to adjust down and I'll blow through it and end up holding below. Doesn't matter if I try and use my shoulder to adjust or bend at the hips. I will simply blow through and have real struggles in recovering.

 

[Billy Goat]

It sounds to me like a target panic issue, not a form issue.


Pretty common to lock in low, or high, or 3 and be steady, but can't get the pin on target.

You can play with tiller, d-loop location, timing etc to try to force it different directions, but it will likely keep repeating.

 

[High Climber]

3rd vote for target panic, I fight it every year for a few hundred shots. Prove it by aiming at the top of your target and watch where your pin goes.. it helps me to draw back knowing I’m not going to release and float my pin on the spot for a while before letting down