Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Shooters FORM Board => Topic started by: bigugly1 on January 31, 2011, 09:38:00 PM
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So with all the snow I have in my backyard plus working till 8 it's kinda dark when I get home so I set up a bag in the basement. I'm getting myself aquainted with a new bow and commiting myself to hunting with it. All I have is seven yards and I have to get on aither one or both knees to shoot. Is it worth it? Im in frame of mind of shooting is shooting right now. I did nothing but form work and not really worrying about hitting a spot or I should say try. I did end up trying to group a few times... :) I guess I'm asking is it worth trying to work on groups at just 7 yards or work on form? Thing is I don't even now if arrows are tuned properly or bow is tuned cause really 7 yards is not much of a challange. Should I just work on anchor and release or pick a spot?
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BU1, YES! It is worth it! We have the same problem here with the snow but this is a great time to shoot blank bale and really refine your shot. Do not worry about "picking a spot" for this. In fact cover any spots on the target and just use it to catch arrows. Don't worry about groups either. Just work on your form. You'll be surprised how easy it is to hit a target if your form produces repeatable shots.
One suggestion I'd make though is to try to get your target up to shoulder level if at all possible. Working off your knees is doable but it would be much more comfortable to be able to stand.
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Be careful, though. I've been shooting a lot in my basement. Went out this Saturday to my 3-D and at 20 yards my first arrow was a foot low!
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Absolutely worthwhile. I shoot all winter in the basement at 10yds. I have shoot kneeling or from a three-legged stool, which is just fine hunting or awkward position practice. The key is really small targets and multiple spots to save arrows. I hang a golf ball size foam ball from a string with a small screw-eye in front of a block target and on a good night can hit it 2 out of 3 shots. Keeps me sane during winter! I do agree with what Stumpkiller said though. After a whole winter of shooting at ten yds. I went rabbit hunting last week, and the first few shots were a little squirrely. Anything beats not shooting all winter.
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I also find myself doing alot of basement shooting this time of year ( Up to 24" more snow expected with our next storm ).
I can shoot up to 14 yds. One thing for sure, it definitely taught me to "cant" the bow! Slapped a floor joist ONE time w/ my upper limb, no damage but scared the crap outta me!
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I just ordered a bag target and am going to try and get myself a decent lane through the basement. I have plenty of height at this house (9 ft to the rafters - rare and a first) and will be able to get 18 yards without endangering a fuel tank, feed line or electrical service. I've been shooting at a styrofoam block on the woodpile for our furnace that only gets me 10 yards. Looking forward to longer indoor practice! If I shield the fuel-oil droplines to the furnace I can get just over 20 yards! Another benefit of a long ranch house.
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I'm with Stumpkiller. I used to shoot in my basement all the time. When I was finally able to go outside & shoot my groups at 20 yards were horible. It really messed with my judgement. I got a big 2D moose target and started shooting at 30 to 40 yards and when I moved back into 20 my groups were the best I've ever shot. For me, shooting outside at longer distances was better help to me than the time I spent shooting 7 yards inside. BUT that's just me. Other people may & probably are different. My advice is try it out & see how it works for you. Either way you'll still have fun shooting!!!!
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Yes it is worth it. Unfortunately, I can not stand and shoot my bows in the basement since the ceiling is too short. I can sit and shoot 15 yards though and I practice as if I were shooting out of a blind. I also shoot upstairs,standing at a blank bail at 5 yards.
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It is worthwhile, ive been doing the same. I am able to shoot 15 yards in my basement. I have been shooting from my knee's because my ceilings are 7'. I dont want my top limb catching on a floor joist.
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The only stipulations I had with my wife when I built this house was 10' ceilings and 64' long shooting lane. My kids and I use it all the time (my son mostly). It was a good investment. 2 burlap bag targets,a broadhead target 2 foam blocks and a mckenzie bear :thumbsup:
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No basement, so I got the snow blower and made a 20 yd. path in the back yard right after the storm. Only problem is I went out to shoot today, and it was too cold after only about 15 shots, wish I had a basement !
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Try shooting while sitting in a chair, especially if you hunt from one or sit in a tree stand. It can't be fun shooting from your knee too much, mine aches just thinking about it.
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I shoot in the basement almost daily. I do try to get outside on the weekends (I am not at home during daylight) and I shoot inside at ranges 1-3 times per week.
I didn't do so hot last night at the indoor league. I think it's because I didn't practice all last week because I was out of town then went to K-zoo and shot a bunch of other bows.
So, tonight, I went down to the bag at point blank range and focused on form. I extended out to 5 yards for a bit. I will hit the range on Thursday and the outdoors this weekend.
Form work is great in the basement. Plus, if you have a spring turkey season you can work on up close seated shots.
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I can shoot out to 9 yards in my basement.
I like the fact that it keeps my shooting muscles in shape during the winter.
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i shoot in the basement every day. still working on my form. i have about 10 or 13 yds to play with.
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Guess I'll just keep working on form I don't think I could go a day without shooting. Getting this new bow is the best think I've done in a long time. Went to shops indoor range today that offers 15yards and I was amazed at how far I've came in just a few days of shooting form. I am just getting back into this and after doing so much research I had a lot of bad habits to correct but I'm a quick study and results are happening.
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I've shot in the basement for years and it's helped quite a bit. I've had the same problem as others due to a low ceiling and only a ten yard distance but it beats doing nothing. Good practice for shooting from kneeling and sitting.
Makes you really concentrate on your shot too. I have a hole in the front of my bar from one shot when I apparently didn't pick a spot. :)
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I have only a 4 yard shot in my basement. When I moved into town 6 years ago I thought my shooting would suffer. I was wrong. I am working on form for the most part and that has help when I do shoot outdoors.
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I had an 18 yd range in my my basement but just had most of it finished so I now I am down to 8yd. Better than none. I actually spent lots of time at the shorter ranges working on form anyway because I also have the luxury of shooting as far as I want in the backyard or roaming the woods stump shooting to practice for hunting. Weather using not too bad here so I get out a lot. Good luck working on your form. Being able to shoot anytime is awesome.
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Well I have moved from the basement to the upstairs hallway and it has me shooting 13 yards now, thankfully I also have a very understanding wife. I am totally addicded to shooting my new bow I can't get over how well it shoots, if I do my part it shows me the results every time. Funny how as soon as you release you can tell if your form was off! No holes in the walls yet...I'm sure that will change.
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My ceilings are nine feet tall. I shoot almost daily in my basement. Especially when weather doesn't permit me to be outside. Mainly work on form and keep muscles limbered up.
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Sitting on a chair or stool works well and is what I have to do. I have 9 yards and I'd advise 2 shot groups unless you like to replace knocks a lot.
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I just started shooting a few weeks ago and have been confined to my basement at 7 yds. Got out yesterday and shot at 15 and did well.
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I can shoot 18 yds. in my basement. I shoot shorter yardage than that to practice my form and follow-though. Really helps me. Because of my 64" bows, I have to make sure that my top bow tip is between the floor joists.... no problem so far. But, to be on the safe side, I slipped some foam copper pipe insulation pipe wrap over the bottom of the floor joist beams just in case my bow tip might make contact. No problems after many months of shooting this way.
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I shoot at 7 yards in my shop all winter. I do some form work, then switch to 1 inch bulls eyes and tune up for squirrel hunting. It's very realistic to me. I draw a small bull on a paper plate and shoot till it's totally gone.My goal is to have the smallest group and fewest wild shots on the plate when the bull is totally shot out. I also shoot outside in the cold with shooter's mittens. Just my shooting fingers stick out through the flap in the mittens. Sometimes I can shoot for an hour if it;s not too cold, and sometimes I only get 10 or so shots before my hands are froze, but it's only the first shot I really worry about anyway. Anything to keep on shooting is good, at any range, in anything that resembles a hunting situation. Alex
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Yes! defiantly worth it. Up in wisconsin here we still have plenty of snow and in the last few months i have been shooting in my basement at about ten yards. in the last week there have been some bearable days to go out and shoot, and man did i notice that i had stayed consistent from last year and had some improvement.
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Basement shooting helps you from going nuts during the winter, the only negative aspect is having to patch up drywall and the occasional door frame.
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I first started shooting trad in my basement during the winter. I think that my 10 yard basement shooting was a solid start for me. Kept me from trying to shoot too far too early.
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My basement doesn't work for me, but I've shot from my garage across a portion of my (hand-shoveled) driveway during the deep and long-lasting snows the past couple of winters. Reduced range, etc. but definitely worth keeping the muscles toned and being vigilant about form. Above all, more fun than waiting forever to start shooting again.
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In short....well worth it!!
I shoot in my storage building that provides me with 8yds to target. This winter, I worked on form, but the most important aspect of it, my children were able to shoot with me in complete comfort. We had a blast. Warmth and good lighting extened our shooting times and I have noticed all of our shooting abilities grow tons.
My best investment in my storage building was a stall mat to protect the walls....from my children :laughing:
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This winter I put up a target in my basement to work on form. I can get twenty yard in my basement but haven't shot over 5 just working on form. Looking forward to 3D shoots this summer.
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I was hoping to start doing more outside shooting. We have one more winter storm coming today and tomorrow. Oh well, I guess the basement will have to do. :-)
Actually, I do enjoy using it for form work and for shooting a heavier bow to develop strength. I find I can do that along with my other workout.
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It's still in the low 20s here every morning and afternoon winds will carry you off to who knows. So I'm shooting in my store. Aisle 2 (there are only 2). I have 11 yards but I have to shoot through a doorway through the "office" and into the backroom. When I leave the door open I get some comments on the pin cuschion, but most folks are cool with it. Of course, I don't shoot when anybody else is in the building. And it helps that the target wall is concrete. I use a Rhinehart block.
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I got my first bow about 6 years ago (Im only 22 now) I knew little about traditional bows and of course as a result I was terribly over bowed (60#) Last fall I couldnt really hold a group together very well at 15 yrds and at 20 i was a mess. After shooting my bow all winter I saw my groups tighten at the ten yards I had to play with and my back muscles definitely got stronger. After adjusting a bit to shooting longer distance I am now hitting the bullseye 4 out of 5 shots from 25 yards!!!!! From personal experience if you are not shooting in your basement through the winter your losing valuable practice time! I know what I'll be doing in my basement next winter..