RE: " Punching" my release...
Blind bail shooting is a method of practice that is recommended by most (if not " all" ) archery coaches. Even at the Olympic leval, blind bail shooting is the prefered method of practice for an individual to develope proper form and a clean release.
You simply stand approximately 6 feet from your target and shoot with your eyes closed. When you do this, make a mental check list of all that you are doing.
Like... (This is my mental list.)
1) * Stand up tall... (good posture)
2)* Align feet to target...
3)*Proper hand placement on grip...
4)*Draw string to exact anchor point on face...
5)*Position your elbow in proper relation to the string.
**With your eyes closed... feel your stance and posture. You will notice small variations in your stance and posture with your eyes closed.
6)* Release the arrow and feel how your bow arm, release hand, and body posture react to the release.
7)*allow proper follow through and hold this stance for an additional 3 or 4 seconds, all the while concentrating on how the shot felt. And of course... this is all done with your eyes closed.
This is the single best form of practice you could do to ensure good release and form. Typically, I will shoot with my eyes closed for 10 arrows before I begin my formal practice. (Provided that my formal pracice for that day is not soley blind bail shooting.) And then I will end my practice with ten additional arrows.
[8D]