How do you draw?
 

I have a weird draw. I do not know if it is right or wrong. I do not even know if there is a right or wrong way to draw. When I draw I put my right eye in my bicep and draw back. My eye follows my bicep the whole time. I keep my eye buried in my bicep until I am at full draw. I do this because of two reasons: The velcro on my release scratches the side of my fact, and because if the loop were to fail I would hit myself in the mouth. Does my draw sound a little bit strange to you guys? How do you draw back?

RE: How do you draw?
 

If that draw works for YOU, then its a perfect draw. The only disadvantage I see to it is if your eyes are buried, you cant see what the deer is doing. There are times I have begun to draw, and then let up because of something the deer has done to make me let up, look, different direction, stopped, etc.. On the other hand, I have punched myself in the mouth when I havent been careful to get my release fully around my loop. Doesnt feel the greatest, and then people ask where I got that fat lip from, lol.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I come to full draw from just above waist level... both eyes open, not obstructed and can stop the draw at anytime if required. I choose not to elevate my bow arm to keep movements to a minimum for obvious hunting reasons.

I've played the hand into mouth game before too, although that was years ago when shooting target archery as a newbie back tension release shooter. I still use back tension releases for their form benefits, but I hunt with a trigger release. I draw the same with both... now that is, and keep a back tension in my fanny pack when hunting.

The only thing I would be concerned about with your draw method would be blocked vision in a hunting situation, as previously stated by MNpurple.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I just tried drawing a different way. I started the draw with my bow facing downward and lifted it up as I draw. This looks like a better way to draw, but it is harder. I will keep practicing though.

RE: How do you draw?
 

So, you acually put your right eye on your arm all the way back until your at full draw?

I put my bow arm straight out, and pull the string straight back until at anchor. Never taking my eyes off the target.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I don't think I could draw like that.LOL

I point the bow and arrow at the target and pull with it pointing at the target the whole time, straight back. I don't want the arrow going where I don't want it to if something should go wrong (it does).

RE: How do you draw?
 

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:)

RE: How do you draw?
 

Honestly it sounds as if you are pulling too much weight and assisting your draw with your head and neck muscles this way. If you can't comfortably pull the bow straight back with the pin slightly above the target or almost dead on the target, you are pulling too much weight.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I do pretty-much what NODOG said. I raise my bow with a locked elbow till it's aimed slightly high. Then I draw completely with my right arm until I am at my anchor point.

RE: How do you draw?
 

drawing like that ....... wouldn't you have to look away from the animal you're trying to shoot ?

RE: How do you draw?
 

I really don't see a valid reason to draw like that Zak? Like someone else said, with proper form there is good chance you would miss your face anyway if the loop failed, which IMO is very unlikely, if tied correctly.

RE: How do you draw?
 

This works well for me.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I can only agree with Mattiac for the basics, but have to add that you should acquire your target visually before you begin your draw and NEVER take you eyes off that target. Then you draw the bow to you, not moving your head or any other part of your body to align with the bow. And use back muscles, not arms.

RE: How do you draw?
 

I draw like that because it is the only way I know how to draw. I posted to see other methods. I draw like that on every bow from 50 pounds to 70 pounds. The bow is not too heavy for me. I will try another way today. Thanks for the input.

RE: How do you draw?
 

zak123 - did you see my post/question ? How can you continue to watch the animal you're going to shoot if you are watching your bow arm instead ? Not that its a WRONG way to shoot, only that keeping your eyes on the deer is extremely important to my personal way of hunting

RE: How do you draw?
 

Yes I read your post. I read every single post related to my comment. I am not able to draw my bow back while looking at a target. I am working on doing that now. I just need to know how to build my muscles up. Should I try drawing like that, or should I do something else?

RE: How do you draw?
 

Wll, when I shoot a compound, I hold the bow out, keeping the bow arm for the most part very steady, and I draw the bow back. If I have to raise the bow up and use my shoulders as I draw or some variation of that, its too much bow.

Thats a general rule.

I think you should try that with your current setup. Can you draw it like that ? When I shot ocmpound I wanted a heavy bow - and only after going to a recurve do I realize how silly that was.

http://www.bowsite.com/BOWSITE/featu...kids/firstelk/

A 42# bow knocks down a HUGE bull elk. Truth is, a 50# compound will kill anything in north America. If you need to drop down in bow weight it aint no big deal, thats for sure.

BTW - my compounds were set up in such a way as I could close my eyes, seated, in a tree stand, draw my bow back in an easy way, anchor, open my eyes and the peep and pins were right there - very little did I have to do to be ready to shoot. I don't think a lot of people have their bows set up that way.

Not really right, or wrong ............ but when I'm hunting I want to able to draw easily and with very little movement

RE: How do you draw?
 

Thats kinda the same thing i was thinking when i first read his post.

RE: How do you draw?
 

Zak......I hate to bust your bubble, but if you can't look at the target while pulling back your bow, you're pulling too much weight.

Try turning it down to where you can draw it smoothly and
easily. Then practice, practice practice. Turn it up a bit. Practice more, then turn it up more. Little by little, easy does it. You'll be surprised how quickly you be pulling more weight.

Tearing a Rotator Cuff will ruin a hunting season, if not more!

If you workout with weights or have a gym membership try a back routine.

Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was Dales first race in Daytona!

RE: How do you draw?
 

I draw straight back. My old PSE Edge bow (the old classic round wheel, dual cam type) is set at 65# and a 30" draw. I use a Tru-Fire Magnum clip on release, and have no problems drawing straight back, nice and steady. I think people have said that if you notice your bow tilting back while drawing, then you're drawing with too much weight. I am by no means, a big macho Hulk Hogan type of guy, but at 6 ft and 210lbs, I feel 65# draw is about max that I would want in a bow.

Butch A.

RE: How do you draw?
 

Not tryin to get on ya. I could pull a 70-80 pound bow but sure can't hunt with it. My brother, boldplate, could probably pull a 150 pound bow, but he would not think of hunting with it, or even shooting it regular. He tore his rotator cuff from weight lifting. It sucks, he almost had and may have to have surgery on it. I ain't kidding!!

Hold the bow out between you and the target, pull it back. No leaning, swaying, or bending knees. If you can't pull it, turn it down.

RE: How do you draw?
 

The problem is it is at 60 lbs now. I cannot turn it down more. If I had my other bow I could get it to 50, but I don't.

RE: How do you draw?
 

Well, I worked on drawing it back. I can comfortably do it at 60 pounds right now. I will continue to work on it.

RE: How do you draw?
 

Good to hear your more comfortable at 60... do you notice a difference?

When you do get it back, how long can you comfotably hold it back without shaking or anything?

RE: How do you draw?
 

Me too. Except I push out the bow and draw to anchor at the same time.
PT

RE: How do you draw?
 

I noticed a big difference. I like drawing that way. I can hold it back for quite some time.