Form Help/Questions(Updated with new bow and Video)
 

just seeing what my form looks like with the new bow...hopefully draw length is close....still having trouble with the grip...i tried it like in the video but my arm turn purple from bein hit by the string...so i am doin it like it shows in the pic.....it would be alot of help if someone could post a pic from the shooters view of how to properly hold....you cant really see in the "get a grip" video....the video is just to show how i pull back...is it the right way??...i am still somehow doin good then out of no where it goes to the right about 4 inches at any given time...

I still say your dl is a tad long. You look to be leaning back.

Drop that Draw Length down some, should help.!! should help keepin your arm out of the way

Looks alot better to me. The grip doesnt look too bad from what I see. Your hand is at roughly a 45degree angle etc. But you are putting a little too much palm into it.

Shorten the release up, and cut 1/2" of DL and then see what it looks like. Your lean and extended release exagerates your DL looking long a little bit, but by the bend in your elbow, it looks to be a 1/2".

In the pic where you are pointing your bow at the camera, you can tell how your lean affects your posture. Once you shorten the DL and release, you should be able to posture up, and you will most likely not push out at your stomach as well. Its hard to not lean when you are a bit too long like you are but you are close imo.

by lean you guys mean my head towards the bow?? how should my elbow be if its obvious my LD is long by it?? im not sure how to shorten my release....if i tighten it any more i cant pull the trigger bc its too deep into my hand...also how would dropping the DL help keep my arm out of the way?push my stomach out??? huh..haha i have alot of faults to work on..thanks guys!!

No. You appear to be leaning backwards. That's AN indication your DL "may" be too long.

when you shorten that dl your elbow wont be in so far on your bow arm and you'll be able to relax it more. at least that helped me alot when i shortened mine.

well i THINK i made some progress earlier shooting....with the lean anyways i will still prolly shorten it a half inch....but instead of having my string and trigger about an inch away from my face and my nose to the side of the string...i tried it a few times with it against my face and my nose ontop of the string.....i think my head feels straight up and down...less or no lean...made me happy beacause they were all grouped pretty well and 1 in about 6 was going to the right...idk if the face my hand was away from my face made it do that or not???.....anyways still got some boo boos on my arm from toying with the grip :(

Yeah i would just use your thumb and index finger to have as your grip, it helps me group better and relax, but from the looks of your pics and video, like said above 1.your leaning back and 2. Grip, thats about it everything else is good IMO

-NICK

yeah...i tried it tonight where the bow was at the base of my thumb and my pointer and thumb were touching in a circle and my other 3 fingers were out...like an "OK" hand gesture...

Yeah but they dont have to connect, just let them relaxe all of your fingures thats what i changed to and i have shot consistent groups ever since it helps i will bet money on it!!

-NICK

good deal...i think i am better on the grip and anchor placement to my face...i wanna shot some more!

Definately looks way better.

The first thing you need to do is either shorten the release if possible or you may have to take it apart,cut the rod and rebend it.If you can't do that,put that on your list of next purchases.There are alot of shorter designed releases on the market now.



Leaning back does not mean your draw length is too long.It means you are leaning back,that's it.It may be a habit you picked up from shooting too long at 1 point(like you were) or you may be just trying to get your body under the bow to hold it up easier.Use the camera and a full length mirror to fix the leaning.At first it will feel like you are leaning forward but it is a normal feeling.


The locking the bow arm out is a problem.Relax the bow arm and try to stand up straight without poking your chest out and bending the back.(you are actually leaning in 2 directions)


I DO happen to think you might be a little too long as well but shortening the release will help.Shorten the release and take a 1/2" off the bow if possible.This will do wonders for your shooting.

Thats what I meant kwaldeier.

Dont get overwhelmed with all of it. ESPECIALLY before deer season (if you plan on hunting). Limit your range of shots to what you are most confident in.

You have already improved a bunch so keep it up:barmy:

Don't think anyone said that, T. I know I didn't. But it's A sign that the DL "could" be too long.

If he relaxes that bow arm (and I think he should, also), it's gonna compound the DL issue (IMO).

I agree,you are pretty close now and no doubt you can whack a deer at this point.

the leaning in 2 directions confused me haha i dont see how i am poking my chest out...just drawing back and lookin through the peep....but i plan to buy another release...i am VERY excited with the progress i have made so far and am just trying to do it right for season...which i plan to hunt in 2 weeks,drockw! how do i relax the bow arm...i dont get that either...if i relax it the bow would hit me in the face? lol

I agree with the locking the arm out at full draw, from the video it looked like you had a pretty high shoulder position which can tire your shoulder muscles out quicker, by relaxing your arm and sort of letting the bow push against your shoulder socket you should feel more relaxed. It does look alot better than your first pics. Keep at it!

Shane

There were several references to leaning back as a sign of being too long,not by just you.


But your first reply made it look as though the draw length was the reason for the leaning.

I realize you came back and further explained but the thought was already implanted.

sr77 that would explain why my shoulder has been hurting....

It isn't so much poking the chest out as it is bending the back and tensing up the chest area.

Hope that makes since.

Just stand up straight.:action-smiley-099:;)

Don't get me wrong, there is muscle involved, you just want to use as much "bone to bone" contact as possible in the shoulder socket, you want to utilize a low shoulder position for a more relaxed bow arm. TFOX is much more versed at this type of thing than I am, he is definately someone you want to listen to when it comes to shooting form, your shoulder just sort of stuck out to me.

Shane

i cant ever stand up straight :(

I was doing the same thing a few years back and a shooting coach noticed it at the shop I was at. Had nothing to do with draw length, just a bad posture at full draw, when I was fixing it, it almost felt like I was putting more weight on my front foot than back foot when infact I was standing like I was supposed to lol.

Shane

yeah i noticed that earlier...when i THINK i have weight on both feet...in the pic it shows how i lean back...ahhhh Epiphany!!!

Stand up as straight as you do when not drawing a bow.If your body doesn't allow you to do it then don't worry about it,unless you are just being lazy.:s3:

you obviously dont know much about me...i am lazy haha...but i will try and lean forward...like mentioned before i THINK i am standing up straight but as pointed out and i JUST notice i have weight on my back foot...

It isn't just your back foot but also your weight is on your heels.Your weight should be distributed evenly over both feet BUT you should have a 60/40 split to the balls of your feet.This should HELP take the bend out of your back.

BTW....

It ain't that bad! It's a LOT better than it was!

noted TFOX.....what would happen if i had alot of weight on my left foot...being a right handed shooter....i ask bc my shooting buddy has all his weight on his left foot and he is still pretty darn good...just curious!

That is known as an aggresive stance and is not a "bad" thing for hunting.This can help with those shots out of a stand.Many traditional archers use this method.

I prefer neutral weight and when you lean forward at the waist for a stand shot,the weight will distubute forward to the front foot.

True. I do it almost exclusively. I don't even shoot from the ground very much, any more.

I used to shoot like that. I put most of my weight out front like you are talking about, and actually shot decent like that. When I learned to balance my weight out, I eventually realized that it made my follow through better and more consistent. I have zero traditional experience so I cant comment on that deal...

Also, the standing up, and posture thing. I know how you feel. It IS hard to really get a feel for where your weight is when that is the way that is comfortable for you. When you first figure it out though (stance, and weight displacement) it will most likely feel a bit uncomfortable. It will seem like you are trying to force it, which you are, but once you get it all straightened out, you will be thankful you took the time to get it right!

Anyway, like GMMAT said, you look a helluva lot better! Stick with it and it will all become second nature.