Are you supposed to have a slight bend in your bow arm when you shoot? As you know I am brand new to bows, and when i went to the shop to shoot the guy who helped me out said to have a slight bend in your bow arm.. Yet when i see pictures and videos of guys shooting it does not look like they do this.

Thanks

Patrick Dougherty

Yes it helps you to not hit your forarm when you shoot

an appropiate grip on the bow will prevent hitting your arm. 90% of accomplished target archers will not shoot with a bend in their arm.

You can have a slight bend in your arm or a straight arm, just don't lock it at the elbow. Most target shooters use a straight arm and hunters tend to use a slight bend (if they are not overdrawing their bow).

Paul

This helps us hunter to not hit the winter jackets most of us wear while hunting , say deer in november .

I guess Rick James is in that 10% as the photo in his aviator shows

That pic was taken quite a while ago....I am now shooting with a straight arm for the most part. I also wouldn't consider myselfaccomplished.........lol.

a good test is to go lean on a tree with a bent arm and time it, and then a straight arm. i think you'll see which way is easier to hold.

I agree. Straighter arm is better (just don't lock it). I used to have alot of bend. I lengthened by draw a bit (against the advice of my bow shop) and I became much more accurate. I'm able to hold the bow steadier w/ a straighter arm. Plus Ipicked up speed withthe longer draw length.

I've found that shooting too much with a bent arm can result in injury. I'm going through physical therapy for tendonitis in my bow arm. It is a result of trying to shoot with the bent bow arm.

Like Paul posted, don't lock it either. That will probably hurt you faster than bent.

I think that the elbow should be balanced so that the forces are going through the joint with the least muscle involvment possible. This is how the Korean kids can shoot 1,000 arrows a day without injury.