Back Tension
 

I recently purchased a back tension release. However, I find my shooting is worse with it than my standard release! I pull through the shot, and it rarely catches me by surprise. I have a problem with my shoulder than I cannot fully "rotate" it or try and touch my shoulder blades; and its compounded when I am pulling weight. I'm just wondering if there are any drills out there to improve my back tension technique. It seems like if I am 10 feet from the target and shoot with my eye closed, I can get it to make me surprised about 50 - 75% of the time. But any farther from the target I seem to be able to get a good feel for when it goes off and it causes me to throw arrows all around the target. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh, I don't know if I will be much help as I immediately shot better when I switched to a back tension release over 10 years ago. I even hunt with one!

What type of release do you have? Is it a rotation type of release or one with a trigger like a Carter? I would suggest learning back tension on a rotation type of release and shooting up close with your eyes closed. I can't beleive that someone would not get a suprise release using a rotation style. If you are and still anticipate the shot then I think some serious blank bale time is needed. I have a very detailed 29 page pdf document that gives some very good back tension tips. I found this on another forum and I guess I am lucky because I did a lot of this stuff on my own years ago. I could email it to you if you really want to learn. It recommends learning on the blank bale until the release becomes subconsious and says it could take thousands of shots. But once you learn the true suprise release your shooting will never be the same.

RE: Back Tension
 

I use a back tension release as training tool. I had developed a small amount of target panic and didn't know how much I was punching the trigger. at first my accuracy went to hell quick. I kept at it and then it started to improve. You can cheat a back tension and maybe this is why it is not surprising all of the time. For consistant accurate shots the shot must not be anticipated. I found myself cheating the back tension release and also anticipating the shot. I cured this real quick by having a couple of backtension releases set up at different travel distances. Make sure they are the same brand, color and everything. This way you won't know which one you have in your hand. This will teach you to be patient and wait out the shot. For competitive shooting I would go with the thumb release and pull through the shot, but would stick to the back tension as a training tool. A great training release is the answer release. You cannot punch it and have to ease the shot. The first time I tried one it took me 1/2 hour to get a shot off. I didn't know that I was that bad off. Training with these tools took my shooting to a new level. It seems like you have the right idea about using a back tension release. It teaches an archer to shoot the right way.

RE: Back Tension
 

I would appreciate if you sent the document. My email is [email protected]

I think my biggest problem is that I can barely move my shoulder blades together even without holding a bow. If I set the release light enough so it will surprise me, it tends to surprise me while I'm drawing back one of out 10 or so times. I really think I need to dedicate the whole spring to learning the correct back tension methods and perhaps even give up 3d shooting until I get it.

RE: Back Tension
 

PS I'm using this release...

http://store.yahoo.com/archery-experts/trutefi.html

RE: Back Tension
 

JoshKeller, I would continue to use the back tension as a tool for training. Still shoot your 3-D with your normal release. You should notice a huge improvement. Have you ever tried shooting a thumb style release buy pulling through the shot? That will give you a surprise release also. Alot of the top notch 3-D shooters shoot the back tension for training and use the thumb style for shoots. Another issue that I would like to point out. In order to shoot back tension properly your draw length will probably end up a little shorter. If you are having a rough time it is possible that you might be a little long keeping you from getting proper rotation..

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh, I sent the email with the back tension guide attached. That release you are using is a good one to learn on. Just be patient as I understand some people really struggle at first. It will be worth it if you can figure it out. Once I learned what a good shot feels like with no anticipation I can't stand using a regular trigger release. Good luck.

RE: Back Tension
 

Another thing, How do I ensure that my release will not go off mid way through my draw? I try and keep my hand rotated, but if I set the release with enough travel that it will not go off mid way trhough, it tends to take a lot more effort to get it to release.

RE: Back Tension
 

I recently started shooting a Carter thumb trigger with back tension. I'm starting to see some results but it takes a lot of practice. When I get a good suprise release and a solid shot, it feels so good. I jsut need to get that feeling consistently shot after shot.

Keep it up josh.

RE: Back Tension
 

Yep, I love the feeling when it does come by surprise and goes right where im looking at. However, that seems to only happen about once out of every 7 shots, and the rest are just scattered on the target. I think I will crank my bow down some and try and get the feel better. I think my consistancy is my biggest problem right now. target panic sucks [:@]

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh, how long have you been shooting the Bt release? If it's working for you one out of 7 shots, that's better than some stubborn "punch" shooters who give up after an hour of trying..

Practicing on a blank bale may help you some, but the one big thing about these releases is that they teach you to focus on you pin and your target, and not the release. That's your goal: a perfect release while being completely focused on your target/sight pin, whichever you do. Turning your wrist to fire the release is cheating the release, which sounds to me like what you may be doing and not even realizing it. When you draw back, try to keep all of the pressure on your index finger, keep it there, tighten you back muscles slightly,set your anchor, concentrate on your pin, then start to relax your index finger, transferring the pressure to the middle finger, while slightly squeezing the shoulders together. Also, "push" the bow towards the target with your arm that's holding the bow. You make want to try different ways of holding the release: possibly rotating your hand so your knuckles are up against your face, or keeping the knuckles facing the floor. Gripping the release differently may help also. Some guys bury the release all the way in their hands, almost in a fist, while some guys like me shoot it while holding it just behind the first knuckle, barely behind the fingertips. I had to tie a piece of string to mine and loop it around my wrist because I kept dropping it after my shot, which tells you how relaxed my hand is when it fires.

Just keep trying. One day you'll pick it up and will feel so good, you wonder how you ever shot a bow and hit anything before without it. And once you do learn, it's really like riding a bike, you'll never forget.......but you will forget about target panic!

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh, I might not be right but here's something to play with. Back tension releases are much more sensitive to correct drawlength of the bow. If your bows drawlength is too long it's very hard to shoot BT. You can try shortening your draw a little at a time. The other guys got good advice, too. But I took a while to make the transistion from a caliper/trigger years ago and will never shoot one again.

RE: Back Tension
 

Thanks BGfisher, I took your advice in my other post about my form and got the 29.5" and 29" module. They are calling for over an inch of rain tomorrow, so it may be tuesday before I get to tinker with my draw.

RE: Back Tension
 

in order to keep the release from going off prematurely during the draw cycle use only your first 2 fingers to draw. when you are at full draw you can begin to put back pressure with youre other 2 fingers.

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh, I was reading some of those back tension notes I sent you. I just wanted to make sure you knew it was a collection of various articles and message board posts all put together. It does not really flow together and that makes it hard to read but it does have a bunch of good information.

Also, I think the suggestions above to make sure your draw length is not too long are good ones. Measure your arm span tip-to-tip and divide by 2.5 and you should be fairly close to that number. If your an inch or more longer than that number your too long. You also suggestd yourself to lower your bow poundage and that is a great idea and will help while you are learning.

RE: Back Tension
 

I jsut measured my arm span. Came out to 75 1/4", and I'm shooting a 30" draw. I do have a Hoyt Havoc that I used in high school that is set around 55 lbs and 28" I may give that one a shot.

RE: Back Tension
 

With figuring back tension draw length I like to go a little on the short side. It makes it easier to pull through the shot. Terry Ragsdale has always made mention that one should spend the most time on adjusting the bow to the proper draw length. It is one of the most important issues when it comes to tack driving accuracy. I still shoot a caliper for hunting and for tournaments but use the back tension in practice to keep my game clean. I modified a scott little bitty goose to be shot with back tension. I lengthened the trigger and adjusted the setting so that when I pull through the shot and rotate my hand in the same manner as the back tension, the bow will fire without anticipation. Most of our shoots are in the open desert with ALOT of wind and there are instances where I need to pass shoot. If I were to use strictly back tension I may run into problems, especially when it comes time to let down. When I shoot indoor spot leagues I will always use my back tension release. One thing that may help in using the back tension release would be the use of a finger sling. A finger sling gives you extra assurance that the bow will not fly out of your hand. It is important to keep the hand in a relaxed position through the shot.

RE: Back Tension
 

Is that 30" draw measured, or what is written on the bow? It may actually be much longer than 30" if you didn't measure the actual draw length.

It took me a full winter of shooting back tension to get so I could shoot even close to what I can by trigger command shooting. I also found out it is quite easy to learn how to "command" any release. I ended up shooting best, when I learned how to get a surprise release on my regular index release. That took a lot of work and far less consistant in getting the surprise, but I am most comfortable shooting that way. I also have found that when hunting, I will miss opportunities if I cannot command a release in some situations.

RE: Back Tension
 

Also there are times when your just sitting watching TV etc that you can be practiceing back tension.
Get yourself a bow grip and put a cord or elastic cord through the grip where the grip goes on the riser and attach your back tension release to the cord and draw back, close your eyes and Practice, Practice,Practice.
Its a great way to practice when your not shooting and your entire focus is on back tension and not the target or pin.

RE: Back Tension
 

Josh,

Some good advice above. I can add a few points:
1) visualize a straight line from the point of the arrow through your hand and to your elbow. then imagine moving your elbow back in a straight line until the release goes off. Of course, if you are built with bones in your arm like most of us;) this is only mental imagery. You are really moving your elbow back perpedicular to the line of the arrow. This visualization works for some, maybe it will help you.
2) the draw length suggestion is a good idea. Most of the really good tournement shooters set their release up with a lot of travel so that they really have to get on it to make it go off. To do this they have to have their draw length set up exactly right. Here's a good link to a discussion on draw length: http://www.huntersfriend.com/drawlength.htm
3) Bernie Pellerite's book is a good resource for back tension. There's a lot of bs and self promotion in the book, but if you can ignore that, there's a lot of good information, especially on getting started with a BT release.
Hope this helps
Allen

RE: Back Tension
 

I think its pretty close to being 30" I'm shooting 29.5" arrows and the insert is only about 1/8" past the drop away rest prong.

RE: Back Tension
 

That sounds like it will work out to be past 30". The prongs don't usually go much past the berger button hole. Add 1 3/4" to deepest portion of the grip to get actual draw length. I'll bet you're near 31". Taking an inch off your draw length will make a big difference.