Shooting better from kneeling or on knees?

[J.Nordwell]

Well the early hunting season has come and gone in Washington. But have figured out something great. While at elk camp I was shooting while in camp and was DN while shooting from my knees or one knee. Does this make since?? Also today I was dinking around and tried to shoot just one arrow. Now mind you I haven't shot much since the end of Sept. So I knocked a arrow and went outside and dropped to a knee and let one fly and I was shocked at the out come. Just off by a few inches. It was 36 yards to boot. Does anybody else shoot well from your knees??Might make ground hunting a little difficult. Thanks

[non-typical]

Josh,

I find I shoot better from a kneeling postion or sitting on a low seat. I get better extension with my bow arm..lean into it more, a steadier bow is the result. Also, shooting only 1 arrow is a great technique to improve concentrating on your target thus consistent accuracy.

[Shaun]

I shoot better from my knees. I think because my upper body does not move around as much as standing. Pair of cheap foam knee pads in my pack for times when I need to crawl or ambush on my knees.

[mcgroundstalker]

That is what the Art of Traditional Archery is all about. Shooting under, over, between stuff. Most of all it's fun! Down on one knee is rock steady for me. Kinda "makes" you follow through and keep your bow arm up.

... mike ...

[Deadsmple]

I definitely shoot better down on one knee or sitting. I have always hunted from the ground so I almost always practice shooting from a kneeling position. Personally I don't see it as a handicap while ground hunting.

[GingivitisKahn]

I practice shooting while sitting cross-legged on the ground and the one thing I have noticed is that I tend to shoot just a little lower than I do while standing.  An inch or two isn't bothering me much, but I can't decide if my anchor point changes up from the ground (don't *think* it is) or if that few feet of vertical distance on the shooting end of the arc really makes that much difference.

[George D. Stout]

Usually, when you are kneeling or on your knees, your body is more steady than in an upright position, that lends itself to a steadier hold.  You're eliminating two moving joints..ankles and knees..from the equation.

[GingivitisKahn]

That makes sense, George.  Too bad you (or I anyway) can't shoot a bow prone.  That would be cool.  :-D

[Allan Hundeby]

I saw a video of champion compound shooter, Randy Ulmer, saying studies show THE most important physical attribute of accurate archers is strong LEG strength for the reasons cited by Shaun and George.  Why?  They provide a solid platform from which to shoot.  If you're sitting/kneeling, you're relying even on less on your accessory muscles to stabilize, and more on... the GROUND.  Makes sense: kind of like using a sand bag for gun shooting.

An easy way to test is... Look through your binoculars from different body positions.  Check which position provides you with the steadiest view.  I found sitting-shots to offer to most stabilization, followed by kneeling on both knees, followed by standing, followed by kneeling on one-knee.