LBR is the man ! Now if we could just bend some curves on the end of his bows[8D]

One thing that has helped me.Focus on pulling with the back muscles.Think of it as squezzing the back muscles together.It takes pressure off your shoulders and transfers the weight to the larger,stronger back muscles.When you get to anchor squezze your back tighter.Your bow arm will push forward and the string arm will come back.As you do this relax your stirng hand and the string will slip from your fingers.Try and keep the tension in your back.This will allow your bow and string hands to relax.Think of your drawing arm hand as a hook,relax from the elbow forward as much as possible.It takes some practice but you will be more stable at anchor.Of course some folks don't hold at anchor long,but that's a whole other can of worms.


CB

my 2 cents ....

I don't "hold" my draw. When I reach my anchor I release. I can hold for a bit if I need to ... but the smoothness of the draw/release upon reaching anchor seems to have a rythym to it that holding interupts.

I don't like Asbells push/pull method either. When I shoot its more of an upright, maybe a target form with a cant to the bow - maybe like Larry Yien shoots ? It works for me, thats all I know, and it doesn't look like I'm squatting and trying to poop each shot like Asbell does

Find what works for you. Theres never perfect form in archery IMO - everyone shoots differently, however there are key elements that must be in your form for good shooting. Your grip, draw, anchor and release must all stay very consistant for your arrows to go in the same place. Those physical aspects are what practicing engrains in your brain. The mental aspect ... well, I still aint got that down so i can't say much, but concentration will eventually become 90% of the reason your arrows go where you want them too

I'm still a raw trad hunter - my thoughts/ideas sometimes go against the grain of the way trad thinking goes I think. So I may be wrong and won't know it for another few years

I'm not sure what the asbel style of shooting is.The push/pull has nothing to do with how you stand.I see some folks who draw a bow then try to hold the weight staticaly if you will.This will lead to your bow arm wandering and your release arm collapsing.Even guys who shoot as they come to anchor are pushing the bow arm forward and pulling back thru anchor.I think the point is you need to keep pulling aginst the weight of the bow,thru the release,no matter how long you hold or how you stand.I stand upright,bow slightly canted and hold for just a second or two before releasing.And yes I am a gap shooter.However the gaps are becoming "instinctive" at close range


CB

Thanks everyone for the information. They definitely helped clarified my question and gave me a starting point to practice.

Good hunting,
Dave