beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Greetings! I just pick up traditional archery as a hobbie and have enjoyed every minute of it! I recently purchased an used Browning Nomad I 46# 54" and have been struggling with it. I can barely hold the bow steady at full draw for more than couple sec. The gentleman who sold me the bow says that I should keep practicing with the bow and build up the strengh. Is this a sound advice? Would I develop poor form if I keep practicing on this bow? I see myself doing mostly target shooting vs hunting. I am about 5'7", 155lb, what size and pound bow would fit me the best? Any advice would be appreciated!

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

I'd try to find something about 10# lighter and 6" longer to practice with. You are definately starting with too much weight, and that will lead to bad habits that are a devil to break. You may eventually work into the Browning, but if you just plan to shoot targets a light weight bow will work fine.

Chad

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Definatley what LBR saib. For shooting targets you don't need the weight and some added length would sure help. A short bow like that is normally pretty picky about form also. If you can find a lighter bow that suits you to learn with and keep the heavier browning in case you decide to hunt with it in the future would be the cats meow.Good Luck

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Thanks for the advice, LBR and Troy n Oh. I will make the proper change. Just curious, what effect does the length of the bow have on the accuracy of shooting?

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Thanks for your advice.

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

I can't give the formula explaining it, but a longer bow is generally more forgiving. How long depends on the style/design--if you go too long you will just loose performance without any real gains. Shorter bows are generally more picky about tuning, torque, release, etc.

Chad

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Yep that about summed it up ;) I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short on answering a post lol. A shorter bow normally makes all your shooting errors such as poor release or torque and what not show much more. BUUUUUT ( yep always has to be a but ) don't let that scare ya off the short bows, If that is what ya like. I shoot a 56" chek mate hunter and love it. What works fantastic for some folks may not work worth a flip for you so play around with as many bows as you can and see what really flips your switch. The most important part is having a bow you can handle and ENJOY shooting.

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

Thanks guys. That is very interesting.

Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

Thanks Chad and Troy for your help. I was able get a Martin X200 @ 60" 35#. It is much more comfortable.

I have been reading Instinctive shooting II by Asbell. He talks about the simultaneous push-and-pull technique for releasing the arrow. Other references suggests simply let go of the string. Can someone put these different techniques in perspective for a beginner? Any tips or suggestions are appriciated.

RE: Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

I much more prefer Byron Ferguson's "Become the Arrow" and/or Rick Welch's Instinctive Archery video (Volume II) over either of the two books or video I have seen of Fred Asbell's.

I can't say that Fred's techniques don't work for some people, but I know at least two people that have tried them and wound up struggling to overcome bad habits they developed trying to follow his style. I haven't seen or heard of any other well known target archers or hunting archers that use his technique, or even folks I see winning at different tournaments I attend.

I don't agree with everything Welch or Ferguson says, but the fundamentals are there and they are much easier to follow. No one style is perfect for everyone--don't be afraid to experiment and develop your own style using what works for you.

Chad

RE: Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

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

RE: Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

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

RE: Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

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 :eek: 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 :D:D

RE: Beginner seeking advice on release technique
 

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:D


CB

RE: beginner seeking advice on recurve
 

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

Good hunting,
Dave