Need Help - Holding Low

[fatlander]

Disclaimer, I’m no expert. I do run a small archery shop out of my garage.

It sounds like there’s two issues here:

1.) You’re trying to aim before you’re anchored. Anchor first then aim.

2.) You’ve got target panic. Blank baling a hinge is the only thing that saved archery for me. I shoot so well with a hinge that I own nothing but hinge releases.


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[chasewild]

To me, "the second my nose touches the string" says that either (1) your process is mixed up; or (2) you have target panic. Both are fixable.

Process: Draw, anchor, aim, execute. If you are aiming, then anchoring, your aiming point will change.

Panic: If you draw, anchor, aim, and execute but your bow just sinks, that is 100% a form of panic.

Test: Go outside, draw, anchor, aim and don't execute the shot (tell yourself in advance you're not going to shoot). If your bow dips after you anchor properly when you are aiming, then probably a subconscious thing.

 

[Tilzbow]

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.

Are you sure your draw length isn’t too long? Too long of a draw can create all sorts of problems including over extending your bow arm and shoulder along with poor head positioning.

I’m 6’6” with normal arm length and shoot 30.5” draw length. At 6’2” you should only need 31.5” if you’ve got wide shoulders and long arms but the majority of people your height are going to have a shorter draw length.

 

[Shooter Mike]

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?

How do you aim? Do you focus on the target or the pin? Most in archery focus on the target. If that’s you too, try to switch to focusing on the pin, and holding it over the dot. Trust your float, learn your execution timing and then start executing when you’re in your normal float. All in all, shot execution. Shouldn’t take more than 3-4 seconds from starting to draw to shot release.


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[bergie]

Have you tired aiming where you want to hit? Joking of course. Check out shot iq from Joel turner. I punched the trigger as hard as anyone when pressure was high before watching his course (multiple times). Best $250 I’ve ever spent on my archery journey. If the issue truly is target panic he has nuggets in there that are immensely helpful.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Sure sounds like target panic. You have to separate aim from shot execution. Joel Turner has the dope to fix this. The first skill you need to learn is how to use speech to stay in the correct stage of your shot. The stage/job of aiming has nothing to do with the stage/job of working slowly through a trigger. It sounds like you're using the aim to punch a trigger right now.

Try this out for starters: