Form Video
 

So, rather than the same old same old pictures that always get posted, I decided to snap a quick video while I was shooting in the backyard today. Photobucket killed the video quality, but it still works.

Take a gander and see what you think. I've had to modify my grip a tad as the "leather" onthewrist sling I had rotted and broke apart. You'll notice I make a loop around the grip with my index finger and thumb so that the bow doesn't fall away.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v79/CVBears2006/?action=view&current=DSCF0336.flv

RE: Form Video
 

It looks like your leaning back and then your head is leaning into the string. It looks like if you shortened up your DL a tad, you could straighten your back and get in more of a straight line.

Here's a pic of my form...I'm not saying that it is perfect or anything close to perfect but it seems that you look a bit uncomfortable in that position.

But hey if your shooting good, you'll be plenty good to get one in the vitals and thats all that matters.

RE: Form Video
 

I've noticed the lean too,but the only problem with shortening it little bit is that a little bit has to be an entire inch.

This Jaguar came with the olderZ-Cams and because of that the drawlength has to be changed one inch at a time. I can't just shorten it by a half inch. I've got my d-loop as small as I can and the head of my release is as short as it gets.

Aside from shooting directly off the string, I can't figure out what else I could do tomake upfor it.

RE: Form Video
 

Well besides twisting strings and cables and throwing everything else out of whack at the same time, the only thing I could suggest is to buy a bowtech with 1/2" adjustment and moveable drawstop peg.:D You can get it just perfect.

All kidding aside, maybe someone else can come through and offer a better suggestion.

RE: Form Video
 

Try the inch adjustment. Why not? You can always lenghten your loop if need be by a little. Shorter draw length is better than too long.
I like the way you do not grab the bow upon release as so many others do, including myself before I went to rolling my fingers back and resting them on the side of the grip, Except for the index and thumb which wrap around the grip at the top.

RE: Form Video
 

mo......are you english? or is it a longhorn thing? either way, you need some work on that release hand - and your bow shoulder.

wa, straighten up a bit...

RE: Form Video
 

You need to stand up more straight, but you may just have bad posture to begin with;). Your draw length may be a tad long as well, if you are shooting a loop you could ditch it, that would shorten it up a bit.

And you slap the trigger something fierce! I have the some problem though:D.

I agree, I would try shortening it up an inch and shooting that way for a while. You look sort of stretched out. Then consiously focus on standing straight. And you need to spend some time blind bale shooting with that release. Do you have target panic at all? Like having trouble getting the pin on the target and you punch the release as the pin goes by the dot. Or is that just the way you trigger your release?

Paul

RE: Form Video
 

I just think you need to eat more[8D]LOL

RE: Form Video
 

I don't know if it's a team mate thing but I was thinking the same thing when I watched the video...LOL...time to beef up WH..

RE: Form Video
 

I knew I'd get a comment about being skinny. I honestly can't put on any mass, no matter how much I eat or work out. But yeah yeah.

Well I shortened my draw length and inch like you guys suggested, I'm down to a whopping 26" draw.

I haven't recorded a new video yet to check on the lean, but it did feel like I might have been standing a bit straighter. My left shoulder got a bit fatigued after about a dozen shots though, I didn't notice it doing that before with the longer draw.

Paul, I don't know what it is about the release, I don't have any noticable target panic. I think it's just the way I hit the trigger. I wish I could adjust the pull on it, its pretty stiff. I'll make an effort to fix that though and see if it helps out at all.

RE: Form Video
 

Your left shoulder tired because your working it now, before you were probably locking your arm out...not right...

RE: Form Video
 

I see, that makes sense.

I'll go out now and snap another video and post it. I should have it up in 10 - 15 minutes.

RE: Form Video
 

Get some WHEY Protein

1 cup choc Yogert
2 Tblspoon of Whey Protein
2 TblSpoon of Peanut Butter
1 Banna

Mix in blender and drink every morning. This will build muscle!!!

RE: Form Video
 

Video number two. This is with my draw length reduced an inch. I still seem to lean a bit, so maybe its just a posture problem. In any case, the lean is less noticable so I'll leave it at 26" for now.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v79/CVBears2006/?action=view&current=DSCF0340.flv

RE: Form Video
 

Much better form and I know you where just shooting for the camera...slow down and make every shot count.

RE: Form Video
 

Agreed much better!!

RE: Form Video
 

first video no follow through second vid lil more follow through just slow down a lil bit bro other than that you fixed it

RE: Form Video
 

dude i know exactly how you feel. i'm 6'4" and weigh like 130#. i get comments on a daily basis. i eat like a horse and all kinds of stuff but gain no weight whatsoever. its good to know i'm not the only one.

RE: Form Video
 

Fast metabolisms aren't all they're cracked up to be. I can out eat anybody I know and I don't gain an ounce. I think I've only put on 10lbs in the last 5 years. I thinkI weighed around 130 freshman year and I weigh 141 today.

RE: Form Video
 

I know us skinny people shouldn't complain cause the world battles with obesity, but it does kinda suck having a fast metabolism.

Especially when you leave a resturant stuffed and you are hungry about 30 minutes later.

I'm not complaining, just saying food isn't cheap. I guess I need to shoot more deer this year.

RE: Form Video
 

And now for the same old same old pictures. Since I shortened my draw length, how does the form look to you guys?





I think its a definite improvement from what it was before. I know its not perfect, but its a step up from where it was.

Opinions?

RE: Form Video
 

Can you shorten the barrel of that release or adjust it so that the trigger falls at your first joint of your index finger? That way, you won't be as inclined to "punch" it or "slap" at it, as Paul put it.

RE: Form Video
 

Try gently resting your bow-hand fingers on the front of that riser, too... see how that feels.

RE: Form Video
 

WH, I noticed you are slightly sky drawing. Sometimes its a sign of to much draw weight but it doesn't appear you're straining to draw. Maybe just habit. I never sky draw, even slightly. Besides the danger aspect, when you are in a stand the less movement you make the better. I've found drawing level or slightly pointing down is a better way to practice. If you can't draw it slightly down you might be overweighted. If so back it down until you can. I will also vary my draw speed from normal to very slow.

RE: Form Video
 

Greg - The barrel of the release is as short as it'll go. I just have short fingers, I guess.

If I try to "relax" my fingers more like you're suggesting, that would require me to use the muscles in my hands to move them. Where they are in the picture is how they naturally relax when I'm at full draw.

Aero - I was in a car accident about a month ago and it messed up my lower back. I generally draw straight towards me, but this was the first time my doctor had told me it was alright to go out and shoot. He actually called me up and told me he was "prescribing" archery as another form of my physical therapy. It helps to have a doctor who is an archer. Anyhow, as soon as I build that muscle back up I'll be able to draw correctly again. You're right though, I should start drawing from the ground up anyhow, to prevent any accidents if the arrow somehow gets loose at the draw.

RE: Form Video
 

Looks much better to me, I bet you could even go a bit shorter if you wanted to. However I would leave it as is for now.
How small are you? Are you sure it 26 inches? I draw 26 inches and my arm is not extended that much, and I am LITTLE. Like 5'3" and 130 lbs.

You need to learn to squeeze the trigger, or better yet shoot it with back tension. If you do a search someone has probably explained it on this site. Or maybe gibblet could explain it to you.

I would try, but I think I might actually confuse you more than help you[:o]. I actually don't shoot mine backtension any way. I actually like to physically trigger my release. I know I'm probably not as accurate as I could be that way, but I am plenty accurate for what I need and I know exactly when my arrow is getting released. I can draw my bow, aim and release an arrow all in one motion if I have to. Sort of like shooting a recurve, but with a release.

I won't be winning vegas with that method, but it's minute of deer accurate if I need to utilize it.

Don't worry about being skinny or little. I could never gain any weight when I was young either. I weighed 90 lbs all thru highschool. And barely made it to 110 in the military. I haven't grown since the 8th grade. You will start gaining weight when you get older, or get married, or have kids. I tried everything when I was younger too. I was in weight training and seeing a nutrutionist. Did the shackly protien shake thing and took about 20 vitamins a day. I didn't gain a pound! I had great muscle tone though.

I will tell you how to gain weight. Wait until you are about 30, get laid off and sit around and drink beer every day.;)

Paul

RE: Form Video
 

Paul, as far as I know its 26". The manual on this particular bow shows which cam modules equal which draw length, and these particular ones are for 26". It does seem a little odd though that being 5'10" I would have that short of a draw length, which is one of the reasons I didn't shorten it earlier.

As for back tension, I've read everything posted about it -- twice. I just never impliment it. perhaps its from the days when I was a rifle hunter, I just like to trigger the release myself. Maybe I should try and impliment back tension a bit more though, at least until I'm more comfortable with my new release.

As for being skinny... The way I look at it, I'd rather be skinny than overweight. Everyone in highschool always asked why I never busted my butt like everyone else in the gym to put on mass. My reason then and now is that I'm fit enough to do the things I enjoy doing. I can draw a 70lb bow all day long with no problem. I can haul treestands up and down mountains with ease. I can drag a full grown deer a couple miles if needed. I can pack a camp in and pack an elk out. I'm fit for the things that I enjoydoing, I don't need to impress anyone.

RE: Form Video
 

WH,

I know the feeling but got you by a few years. 5'10" as well, 142 lbs., and 36 years old. Wait a while and you will be more and more happy with your build. Over the last ten years I have seen the guys in my age group "putting on the pounds" and they are paying for it. I'm now flying by guys on the basketball court, the same of which used to eat me for breakfast! If you have a physical job, all the better. Trust me, it's not a curse. About the form- I'm no form genius but I do know Michael Jordan had a very flat jump shot, Arnold Palmer has a terrible swing, and Michael Johnson ran way too upright. They all have more money and gold medals than I will ever see!

RE: Form Video
 

So how are you shooting now? Your form looks better with the shorter length and I am curious to see if this has improved your accuracy.

RE: Form Video
 

This was yesterday right after I shortened my draw length. The arrow in the center of the bullseye bounced off the nock of the next arrow up. The highest arrow was a muzzy with practice blades, the other two were fieldpoints.





20 yards.

RE: Form Video
 

yeah i have that problem on a daily basis.

Washington Hunter i was maybe 120 my freshmen year and i'm 130 now in my senior year but i grew at least a foot in that time.

RE: Form Video
 

That will kill em.

RE: Form Video
 

Dont worry WH. Im sure theres some fat chick out there who has a thing for skinny white guys in beaters. In fact i think i saw multiple ones in walmart the other day. Dont get so down bout being skinny;)

Formwise, looks good, try to straighten up a bit when your back is better.

RE: Form Video
 

Washington, to me your draw length looks too short and never was too long to begin with. Your anchor point to me looks a little higher than usual. With a higher anchor point it will put you into the string more. Look at your final pic. Your nock looks to be in front of your eye and not below it. In your video, your release hand does not come back, but it goes upwards. With a lower anchor point, you should be pulling back during the shot, thus making a backwards motion upon release and not upwards as given by the higher anchor point, I like to anchor the pocket of my release hand between my thumb and my index finger on the botton line of my jawbone Try it and you will find that the string will be way out in front of your nose.. With a lower anchor you will find that you will be using more of your stronger skeleton to hold and aim, moreso than your arm muscles. In the pic, you are using more of your arm to make the shot. Also as stated already, the barrel on your release is way to long. You will not be able to pull of a shot by using back tension with as far as your finger is extended. it looks like a little goose to me. Try the little bitty goose where you can shorten that thing right up.

By lowering your anchor point, extending your draw length, and shortening your barrel(release) you should be able to drop your back elbow and get things lined up a little better.

RE: Form Video
 

You might want to try dropping your release arm elbow, just seems a bit high to me. It should be lined up with your arrow and bow hand.