I group 5 inches pretty consistently from 20 yards. I've been told that that is borderline unacceptable. I know some of you pro's can group 3 inches from 40. Tell me how you do it and give me some shooting tips to improve my groups.

I'm currently using a release that latches on to a nylon loop and shooting carbon fibers with vanes on a Pearson with what looks to me like eccentric cams, a peep sight with attached rubber tube, at 55lbs. I do not have a stabilizer. Will one help with accuracy? I read that vanes tend to be less forgiving than feathers but I'm pretty sure some of you guys can still group 3 inches at 20 with vanes.

I'm right handed and am shooting right foot forward. Is this the right form? LOL no just kidding. Besides more practice, what can I try?

THANKS

just saw the thread titled "shooting form"

anything else anyone can add?

A stabilizer will help also make sure the bow is tuned properly by a proshop that is the biggest thing you will have a hell of a time shooting consistently with an untuned bow. make sure you are shooting the proper arrows, and if you are shooting carbons you have to remeber that they will fly faster and flatter but they do amplify any flaws in your shooting form. Another big thing is your anchor point if you do not have a consistant anchor point your shooting will be inconsistant. If you do not have anyone to teach you proper form than search the internet and you will find lots of info on proper techniques for shooting. Good luck (remeber the most important thing is make sure the bow is tuned properly and you have a consistant anchor pont and proper draw lenght)

There are many things that could be addressed to improve accuracy with any given person's setup. The tune of the bow, the size of your arrows, the point weight you are using, etc....
For instance, just the other day I was switching point weights from 100 to 75 grains on one of the sets of arrows I was shooting. My groups instantly tightened up because I made that "adjustment". What that was telling me is that the arrows were too weakly spined for the setup I was using.

If you are just starting then I would take it one step at a time and rule out each variable before making any major changes. Start with a basic tuneup for your bow. Are your cams properly timed? Is your tiller set correctly? Do you have any fletching clearance issues? If all of that seems fine then I would move onto your arrows and try some different sizes and point weights. Eventually you will find a combination that increases accuracy for your bow.

...that is, assuming, it isn't your shooting form that is the problem.

How?

My guess: absorb some fo the recoil helping steady the bow as the arrow is released?

... and will any stabilizer do or do they have to be specific weights for my specific bow?

A stabilizer does just what it says. Stabilizes the bow---keeps it from moving so much when you release. That's why a short one (less than about 7") isn't worth spending the money. They also absorb vibration from the bow, reducing noise and "felt" recoil. The longer the stabilizer the more effective it is. Note that Olympic and target archers often use one that is as long as 42". If you're looking at a hunting setup then that obviously is too long. 7" to 12" is the norm for best results.

Tuning has been mentioned and you'll get to this, with some help.
Form is what you really need to work on. Try to get some coaching to "Not" point out your flaws but show you what to do right. Then once you learn some good stuff you want to repeat it, shot, after shot, after shot. That is the secret to shooting groups. No matter whether you are having a good day or a bad day, shoot form. Forget score.

Whether your bow is tuned properly or not, if you do the same thing on every shot then the arrows will group together. Tuning helps make the bow more forgiving of shoot form flaws. There is more to it than this but this touches the basics.

Your grip on the bow is VERY important. Try this. www.bowsite.com. Click on features, practical bowhunter, grip (dated Sept 1999, I think). This is a good read with pictures to show you how to NOT grip a bow. By that I mean that you should not grip a bow. You should let it sit in your hand. Read this and you'll see what I mean.