Confused
 

OK so let me start by saying that im new to bowhunting and dont know all that much about it. But today while sighting in my sights, I was shooting at 10 yards, I got pretty good groups but for some reason some of them always trail way off and hit like 4-5 inches away and evertime I shoot a set of 5 they always go to a differnt spot, and no matter how I adjust my sight I cannot get it to hit dead on. Can anybody help, or do I worry too much? Thanks

Corey

RE: Confused
 

I would check a couple things. Is your Bow tuned,and the arrows are all fletched,spined correctly . If all are yes then what you need to do is mark you arrows, I use a permant marker and shoot your group If the same arrows flair everytime. then get rid of them or re fletch them.You may havesomebent or scraped arrows.If those check out. then check at your form You may be grapping the grip or adding some torq some where. You may even be punching the trigger on your release. If you shoot fingers your could be plucking the string and not getting a smoth release. It could be a number of thingsbut that will get you started in the right direction.

RE: Confused
 

One thing I know a lot of folks who are new to the sport make are that if they shoot one or two groups bad they immediately move thier sights or start tweeking their bow. Each person has good days and bad. And your shooting form can change based on your physical or mental state when shooting.
First as noted above, do a paper test with some of your arrows, This is done by setting up a large piece of paper ( Newspaper works ) pulled tights between two braces of some sort. Place this set up just a couple feet in front of your target, then PReferably with a bare shaft, shoot through the paper from just 4 - 5 yard away and ensure your shafts are going stright through the paper. if there are large tears in the paper in any direction, you need to adjust your rest or knock point to the point where you are tearing only straight holes in the paper. Once this is done and you set up your sights to group well, then don't move them for a couple days of shooting. See if there is a difference in where you groups go based solely on your form and grip, verses moving the sights everytime a couplearrows are in a different place.

RE: Confused
 

ONe of the most important things you can do is breathe easy and I am guessing you are jumping the shot and jerking a lil.Just relax and dont grip the bow let it craddle in your hand then place 1 finger and your thumb around the grip without putting preasure on your grip with your hand.Take a deep breathe and exhale slowly then release your string while still exhaling.See if this helps.I am interested to hear what it is you do that helps you the most.Also a lot of new people to bow hunting dont spend a little extra money on quality arrows.This can make a difference a huge difference.Weighed and balanced arrows are a neccesity to great grouping.Dont buy Wally World (Walmart)arrows.You get what you pay for with them.

RE: Confused
 

Thanks Guys I will take heed to your advice today while im doing more target shooting. By the way the arrow that I bought are Gold Tip Exp. Hunter 5575. Im not sure what spined is but I had them cut to my proper length.

RE: Confused
 

By the way while we are on the subject here are some pictures of me at full draw, any suggestions or comments about my form? Also on the last picture I have here, I noticed yesterday it was rattling, I never noticed it until yesterday so im not sure if it is supposed to rattle. It is the golden looking thing that looks like it adjusts your draw length, rattle or not? Sorry about the quality of the last pic btw.

Thanks in Advance guys!

RE: Confused
 

Loosen your grip. You are torquing (not letting the bow flow correctly) with that grip. Cradle the bow between your thumb and your other fingers and do not grab at the bow when you shoot. If you would feel more comfortable get a wrist strap and practice by letting the bow fall out of your hand after the shot and hang by the wrist strap. You can also take all your fingers off the handle except your thumb and forefinger like mentioned above. Either way loosen your grip. If something is rattling, check to see if you can tighten with an allen wrench. That will help. Some people even use lock-tite to secure all nuts and bolts.

hope this helps.

RE: Confused
 

Sorry one more thing. If you are drawn as far back as you can pull the string, it appears to be a little short for you. Looks to me like it be about an inch longer. With fingers, a good anchor point is to hook your index finger in the corner of your mouth every time. It looks to me like you can't pull it that far back. Just keep in mind you will have to readjust some things like nock point, Peep, and sights if you make this change. I think it will help.

RE: Confused
 

Could either be a form issue or the tune of your bow. If your form is slipping...dropping your bow arm, punching the release, gripping the riser too tight,etc.... then it could be causing the errant shots. On the other hand, if your bow isn't properly tuned then it could definitely lead to poor accuracy as well.

RE: Confused
 

Looks like you're shooting fingers, is that right? Hope you're not trying to shoot a prong rest or dropaway. You need a flipper rest instead, like the Cavalier Free Flyte. I like the Free Flite Micro

I'm not so sure the draw length is too short for you. Looks to me like you're leaning your head back, away from your anchor. Maybe trying to see through a peep set too high? Lean your head slightly forward instead. Then, if you're shooting fingers, pick a tooth in your upper jaw to anchor over, one that will put the arrow's nock directly under your eye. Then adjust the height of your peep to match it.

To adjust your peep, close your eyes and draw to anchor, then open your eyes. If you're not looking directly through the center of the peep, move it. You will have to move your pins to correspond to the new peep location.

And it also looks like you're canting the bow to your left. Loosening your grip would probably fix that. Not to mention you've got the 'aiming at a target on the floor' syndrome, using your arms to aim the bow. Your arms and shoulders are not in alignment.

Check those screws on your bottom cam. If the cam is rattling, then they are probably loose.

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Well I am shooting a whisker biscuit of that has any significance to you. But yea about pointing down, the reason I was doing that because my mom was screwing with camera and I had to hold it for a long time and I was getting shaky.

RE: Confused
 

Yeah, the whisker bisquit does hold some significance for me. I've seen a very few guys on the forums say they like the WB for fingers shooting, but I've never seen anyone do it. Frankly, I think it's a lousy choice for a finger shooter. Cavalier Archery and Golden Key Futura both have a lot of great fingers rests.

I'll give you a hint about getting a good grip on the bow. Hold your bow arm out level with your shoulder, palm down and with your thumb sticking straight out. Make sure the inside bend of your elbow is perpendicular to the floor. Curl your pinky and ring fingers into your palm. Now, keeping that elbow bend perpendicular, rotate your forearm so that your thumb is sticking up at a 45 degree angle. Now, relax your thumb. Your bow's handle will go right into the V between your thumb and forefinger, resting right into that baby's butt at the base of your palm. Your ring finger and pinky will be between your palm and the grip, with your forefinger and middle finger loosely draped across the front of the riser.

RE: Confused
 

Well I went out and did the stuff you told me to, I saw improvemnet in my groupings, I wa able to keep it more steady and keep it consistent. Now ive moved up to 20 yards and im getting decnt groups there as well, I still need to get out there and work on it a little more.

RE: Confused
 

Im starting to get frustrated with one thing. At 10 yards I shoot 5 arrows the all land in a 1-2 in circle each time, now when I move up to 20 yards, sometimes they hit and most of the time they just fly all over my deer target, I am not changing anything that I do from 10 yards to the 20 yard. Im not jerking when I release, im not torquing my arm, my arm is square with my arm. Im doing everything right Im assuming, what could be the deal here, I cant figure it out ive been shooting all night trying to figure this out. I also tried shooting numerous arrows and none of them seemed to hit where I wanted them to. Thanks Guys!

Corey

RE: Confused
 

Every little mistake at 10 yards is magnified when you go out to 20 yards.A little torque here, a drop of the bow arm there, at 10 yards you still might hit all of them in a small 1-2 inch group. At 20 yards it gets much worse. Also, a lot of people have a harder time holding their pin steady when the target looks smaller because of distance. I will be honest with you and tell you I was never able to get a WB to fly right for me out past 15 yards... Some people I know shoot them great but I had to scrap it twice because I just couldn't get the consistancy that I wanted

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I've only been bowhunting for three years and your initial problem that you stated about your groups is exactly what used to happen to me. I discovered that my problem(s) were exactly what these guys are saying. I had bow tune issues AND form issues. Listen to what they're saying and take your time while trying to solve the issue. After making one change, shoot the bow for several days before moving on to the next modification. I would recommend that you first make a stop at your pro shop and get your form straightened out. Don't touch the bow until your comfortable that you're shooting the exact same way every time (or at least trying to). One other suggesting, when new to bowhunting we tend to want to shoot a lot. NEVER try to tune your bow when you are tired.

RE: Confused
 

My father recommended a release. Do you think this could help the situation?

RE: Confused
 

A release will help you to get a cleaner release. Now, let's not let Authur see that you are going to the dark side! :D

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what is releases the darkside to him? lol

RE: Confused
 

I think Arthur has nailed it with your grip ,it's so easy to forget that part of your form,he's set out some good advice for you .Don't forget do not drop your arm keep it up and keep it consistant with your grip.I'd definately go with the release it just help's make your release a little more consistant than finger's . I also believe as Arthur say's every time you bring your bow up and draw your peep should be right there automatically,so be sure your peep is set correctly.If your shooting from a treestand ,bend at the waist and keep your arm up .
Make yourself out a check list of thing's to remember when setting up for a shot everytime .Some guy's I've heard that they'll tape a small list on the inside of their riser ,that they can see every time they pull their bow up.This just remind's you everytime you draw.

1. Grip [no torque]
2. Bowarm [up]
3 Stance [turn your body slightly toward's your target with your feet slightly seperated ]
4.easy release
5. let bow drop on it's own

nubo

RE: Confused
 

I think Zak's saying that Arthur doesn't use a release .

nubo

RE: Confused
 

I'm posting some pic's of my form as well ,I'm sure i mightcome undersome critisism as well ,but I'm a big boy and can take it .But I'm posting a pic of my grip and bowarm just to show you what we mean by GRIP. Sorry but the second pic has a bit of canting to the left ,but I'm just trying to give you an idea what my grip look's like .








nubo

RE: Confused
 

Nice lookin bow there nubo!;):)

RE: Confused
 

Well give me some critisism ,I'm sure I have a flaw or 2 .

Thank's Bowhuntingfool ,I love this bow it's an awsome shooter ,considering it's a dually.

I noticed my bow arm is a little low in the first pic and I'm canting in the second pic .Oh well .

nubo


nubo

RE: Confused
 

Nubo, in the pic where you're aiming at the camera.... Glad you said you're canting. I was thinking either you're canting the bow to the left or that door trim is WAY outta plumb.[8D] Not to mention your string side elbow is higher than it should be. The bow's draw length looks to be at least an inch too long. Not to mention those checkered pants.[:-];)

Zak's right, I don't use a release. Learned to shoot with my fingers 50 years ago and, even though I have shot with a release quit a bit, I'm still more accurate with my fingers. However, when I shoot a compound it's a long axle to axle bow and 65% letoff, with a rest that's designed to be shot with fingers mounted on it. My favorite is a flipper, followed by the old springie rest.

Short, high letoff (over 65% actual) bows are very difficult to shoot with a fingers release. But it can be done with a change in technique. Drop a finger off and use a 2-finger release. Draw with a deep hook, then drop off a finger (either the top or bottom finger), let the string roll onto the fingertips before releasing. The main thing to remember about a fingers release is you do NOT release. You do nothing at all. You are already doing something - holding the string back under back tension. To release, you simply quit holding the string and allow it to escape.

RE: Confused
 

Icedragon,
Looking at that picture I feel your biggest issue is that you are shooting with fingers. When you switch to a release you will be able to draw much more easily and it will allow you to grip the bow properly at that point. I would stop driving myself crazy and getting discouraged about my shooting until you get to try a release. You will also find the arrow does not try and move around your release but just sits there like its supposed to. I had the same setup as you and tried to shoot without a release and gave that up immediately. Don't despair.

RE: Confused
 

Hey Icedragon who set that bow up for you?

THat peep sight looks WAY too low! When you draw, your string should be touching the side of your nose and the peep should be right there at your eye!

I would argue that the draw length is indeed set too short for you.... while actually I would argue that NUBO's is too long! But then again Nubo isn't complaining of any accuracy problems.

Get yourself to a shop and have them check your drawlength, have the bow adjusted to that length, have the peep set so you can look through it without bending your neck, get yourself a Scott Lil-goose release and THEN worry about your form. You can't have good form if the bow doesn't fit you.

RE: Confused
 

Aurthur!

I anchor at the back of my jaw ,that's why my draw length is a bit long ,I feel comfortable this way ,I haven't had any consistancy problem's to mention .I noticed the length look's a little long, but I've also been experimenting with new string's as well.I haven't had any problem's with string contact either . So much for the checkered pant's ,that was meant to throw you off a little and you weren't supposed to notice the canting . I also after seeing the pic's noticed that the elbow was high ,I thinkI might have to work on that ,becauseI never noticed I was doing that untilI seen the pic.

nubo

RE: Confused
 

One thing I noticed is your draw length is too short. Increase your draw length and check you arrow to make sure they are straight with no wobble.

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THe guys at www.huntersfriend.com set it up for me but anyways. I also realiazed this to last night. I drew it back while closing my eyes and when I opened the peep sight was way below my eye line. I think im gonna take it to Bass pro and ask a few questions and get a few things fixed if I need to.

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Ice i would try shooting with a release in my opinion,i had no problem with my bow, did you measure your draw length correct, my be you will pick uo the extra slack from shooting with your fingers, iam no pro but see if it works

RE: Confused
 

I used this formula for draw length, is it correct? arm span divided by 2.5 and I got 28.4, and my draw length on my bow is 29.

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Ice that should be fine ,have you always shot with fingers ,i know when i had my first bow i tried shooting that way for awhile but it just didnt work for me. you know anybody with arelease take a few shots that way, see if that helps;)

RE: Confused
 

Yea i never shot with a release in my life. But I think I figured out the problem, my peep sight was actually too low for me, I moved it up and got 5 arrows into a 2in circle at 20 yards, I was satisfied with that.

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thats great moved mr. peep.then bingo , id be happy with the results, just pratice ,practice practice, thats what iam doing everyday ,good luck this year:):)

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Good luck to you to Jamie! You got the grizzly to right?

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why yes i do, went with the w/b, trophey 5pin, which i dont really need 5pins, set for 68lbs, shooting 100gr. muzzy and there right 0n with my field points, no adjustments i had to make iam real happy with the bow, and huntersfriend:D:D

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Wow you didnt have to do anything huh? I got it set at 60lbs, WB, 3 pin sight for 10, 20, and 30 yard shots, got 85gr NAP Thunderheads. My sight wasnt done properly or maybe it was and I just sucked when I first started:D but otherwise they did everything else just right, I would definatly purchase from them again if I had to.