chipshot

After a 20 year absence, I picked up my old bear recurve and shot all spring and summer and went hunting this deer season. I'm enjoying it enough to justify buying a compound for another summer of shooting and next year's deer season. I had a 31.5" draw shooting my recurve with a high wrist. I knew I would loose about a 1/2" shooting a compound with a lower wrist, but when I was being helped at a proshop, I was advised to change my anchor with the mechanical release so that the string touched the front or side of my nose. Shooting instinctive with the recurve, I had anchored with my index finger in the corner of my mouth and my thumb hooking under the back of my jaw bone. With this new anchor, the proshop owner had me down to a 29.5" draw length! She was also recommending a string loop which would shorten me up to 29". Does this make sense? Even with a peep sight, do you need that nose reference when using a mechanical release? It just seems like a huge difference to me and I hate to loose all the drawlength, but they seemed very knowledgeable with their advice on form when I was trying out some new bows. I really liked the Cybertec with an Excel cam over the Ultratec with a VersaCam. It was a very smooth shooting bow and I shot better with it, despite it's shorter brace height. Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback about my questions on form, mainly where to anchor when using the mechanical release. And is what the proshop person saying correct? Also, does a string loop's advantages outweigh the loss of more drawlength?

Thanks,
Chip

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Arthur P

Yep. The more anchor references you can build into your form, the more consistent shooter you will be. So I also think they're steering you in the right direction.

I've lost 2&quot; of draw length by going from high wrist to low wrist, fingers to release/loop. But, I could afford it and I'm actually better off for doing it. They don't make many 34&quot; draw bows these days.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don't worry about the drop in draw length. Using the bows we shot 20 years ago as a baseline, you'll be shooting faster arrows with these new fangled bows at 29&quot; than you ever did at 31.5.

Martin Man

chipshot,

It is not uncommon to lose 2 or more inches of drawlength when switching to a compound. It all depends on the setup.
If you can, it is not a bad idea to anchor to the nose as the extra anchor point will only help with consistency.
The string loop is personal preference. It will shorten drawlength a little. It will help save your center serving, but you will have to replace the loop once in a while. It is a good way to make peep sight rotation more consistent if necessary. Some set-ups won't require it, though. At your drawlength, you'll get more than enough performance whichever way you choose to go. By the way, I don't use a loop.

As for bow selection, if hunting is the major application you are looking for, I might suggest a higher brace height. If possible, try shooting the bows with your standard hunting garb to make sure that the bowstring won't be contacting the clothing (especially the arm sleeves). This is one place the higher brace height is appreciated.

Good luck!!

FLHunter

Sounds like you have a good proshop getting you properly fitted for a bow. The majority of compound archers are shooting a bow that is too long for them, which causes all kinds of form problems equalling accuracy problems in most cases. Be thankful your proshop is spending time to fit you correctly. A quick check is to measure yourself fingertip to fingertip up against a wall, chin up at shoulder height. Take that measurement subtract 15&quot; and divide by two. It will get you very close to what your correct drawlength should be. So if you measure 73&quot; of wingspan, that is 73&quot; minus 15 which is 58 divided by 2 equals a 29&quot; drawlength. There are differences for individual body features like long fingers, short fingers ect. but for the most part it is very accurate for a good estimation and correct more times than not.

Good shooting!

Edited by - FLHunter on 01/20/2002 20:25:14

jvanduse

Don't worry about loosing drawlength. Now-a-days it doesn't matter that much. I use the tip of my nose as an extra ancor point. Just another way to make sure your in the right spot.

Good luck!
John