ORIGINAL: Greg / MO
That's a quote -- verbatim -- from George Ryals, Matt... I was curious to see what you'd tell one of the world's best shooters.
His sentiments however are echoed by a lot of professional shooters who prefer triggered releases, such as Dave Cousins, et al. I personally watched Jeff Hopkins lose several thousand dollars last year during a shootdown as he had fired a shot over the back of a target before he had a chance to set up solidly in his shot sequence. If it can happen to Hopkins, whose resume rivals anyone in modern archery, it can and will happen to anyone.
There are people who feel more comfortable with triggers and shoot well with them. That's great, but I can't. I will punch the daylights out of them, most do. I can shoot one right for a little bit, but it doesn't take long for me to punch them. Some pro archers punch BADLY but seem to shoot well doing so. Tim Gillingham absolutely HAMMERS his release. It doesn't look pretty but if you hold steady enough it works.
I've NEVER *knock on wood* had my BT to misfire, then again I have mine set up pretty tight. I get to full draw with it and just relax my hand, which rolls the release a bit. After I relax, I don't roll it ANY more and its all just pulling my guts out.
As far as backtensions losing tournaments for people, triggers can do the same thing. I know if I get nervous, I'd rather have a backtension in my hand where I can pull as hard as I can into it.
Everyone's different though. Like Jeff (GMMAT) when he was still shooting 3d, he was punching. He was shooting a Carter. (Just an example Jeff). Not badly, he was squeezing, but no pulling.