Someone mentioned that as long as it feels right to YOU, then its ok. Thats partially true.

Any other part of your form and Id agree wholeheartedly.

But to shoot to the best of your ability, you HAVE to start off with the bow pre-aimed slightly above the spot.

You can either push-pull, or put your bow arm out and simply pull.

Either way, you must draw straight back, using the large muscles in your back. This allows all your other muscles to remain relaxed throughout the shot sequence.

Raising or lowering the bow causes too many different muscles to get involved, muscles that will vary from shot to shot too much.

Your bows draw weight should be light enough to draw while sitting flat on your butt, with legs straight out in front of you.

You should never have to strain at all to draw it back, if you do, this is effecting your accuracy.

As for the fear of being punched in the face. Check your equipment regularly and this wont be a problem. The chance of a loop failing is slim, if tied properly, cared for and replaced when worn.

Ive only had one release aid fail, and that was many years ago. It was due to my own fault. I thought that a hair trigger was best. So I set it as light as it would go. Around mid-draw, the release let go and launched the arrow over my backstop and into the woods. Never found that arrow. But with proper form, I merely grazed my face.

Also, when drawing, keep your finger behind the trigger until you are anchored. Once your anchored you need to apply your finger to the trigger. A trigger with a heavy "pull" and a small amount of "travel" is best. This allows you to set your finger into the trigger, and pull through with your back. The smaller amount of travel keeps your finger from feeling the movement and relaying it to your brain.

The final reason you could be afraid to draw straight back, is when learning to use a back tension release with no safety. They are scary at first, so try them out on a lighter bow. Accuracy achieved with a properly used back tension release can be astonishing at first.

So, check your equipment, lower your draw weight if need be, and learn to draw straight back using your back muscles. You will see your accuracy improve.


By the way, to give you an idea of how light you could go;
With the harsher draw of most cams today, you need not go any higher than 60# for ANY animal on this continent.

Ive had pass throughs with 45# round wheel compounds. A well placed shot, with a razor sharp broadhead is what you NEED!

Have a good one---Matt