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Open or close stance
I have read several books on traditional shooting. Bryon Ferg's book talked about open and closed stance. He said if too open, you can hurt your shoulder.
Ok, what is too open and what is too closed? Is too open when your right foot (right handed) is little forward? Is too closed where your feet position is 45 degrees away from target instead of 90degrees? |
RE: Open or close stance
Honestly I've never thought much about it--I position myself so I am as balanced as possible. At practically all of the tournaments I shoot, there areshots where you have to get in all sorts of odd positions. Ideally, my shoulders are perpendicular to the target, but that's not always possible either.
Chad |
RE: Open or close stance
For me, it's too open when my draw length starts dropping. It's too closed when I start getting too much string slap on my arm.
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RE: Open or close stance
 What works for one person may not work for another. Personally, I shoot a little more closed. Kind of inbetween the pictures above. Try to find the correct stance that matches your draw whille keeping in line with the target. For example, look at your target, now pull your bow back to full draw. See where the arrow is pointed, do you have to adjust left/right? Remember that you should not move you bow arm, to make the adjustment needed (use your waist to adjust). You can use your stance position to correct this left right adjustment if needed. If you pull back your bow and you are right on target (left/right), then do not worry about your stance position. |
RE: Open or close stance
Excellent diagram. I was thinking the opposite. I started with the open stance like I had a compound, and my muscle at the corner of the shoulder hurt something awful every once in a while. Sharp pain that would come unexpectily. Guess that explaines it.
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RE: Open or close stance
You need to be flexible to shoot in ANY position. If you're a target shooter than pick one and go with it, I suppose, but in hunting situations, you better be able to shoot open stance, close stance, on your knees, all bent over and crunched up, off to one side ......... I watched a Fred Bear shot on a video and he only 3/4 drew the bow on a fast walking muley buck - but because he had shot so often like that I imagine, the arrow went where his mind/body told it to go.
That said, when I practice, I shoot more of a square stance I think, I don't hunch over, I don't push/pull like Asbell does, I shoot more target style I imagine than anything. |
RE: Open or close stance
ORIGINAL: Big Red Porkers You need to be flexible to shoot in ANY position. If you're a target shooter than pick one and go with it, I suppose, but in hunting situations, you better be able to shoot open stance, close stance, on your knees, all bent over and crunched up, off to one side ......... I watched a Fred Bear shot on a video and he only 3/4 drew the bow on a fast walking muley buck - but because he had shot so often like that I imagine, the arrow went where his mind/body told it to go. That said, when I practice, I shoot more of a square stance I think, I don't hunch over, I don't push/pull like Asbell does, I shoot more target style I imagine than anything. |
RE: Open or close stance
I finally realized that my stance really didn't matter that much at hunting distances.. I kept battling my stance to get good flight, but that was just a cover up for form issues and bad tuning....
A hunter needs to be prepared to shoot from all positions.....I practice all, but my typical stance is open.... |
RE: Open or close stance
Messed up; "X" it.
Try later. |
RE: Open or close stance
ORIGINAL: Big Red Porkers You need to be flexible to shoot in ANY position. If you're a target shooter than pick one and go with it, I suppose, but in hunting situations, you better be able to shoot open stance, close stance, on your knees, all bent over and crunched up, off to one side ......... I watched a Fred Bear shot on a video and he only 3/4 drew the bow on a fast walking muley buck - but because he had shot so often like that I imagine, the arrow went where his mind/body told it to go. That said, when I practice, I shoot more of a square stance I think, I don't hunch over, I don't push/pull like Asbell does, I shoot more target style I imagine than anything. It has improved my stocking and kill ratio by 80% |
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