I dont know how to aim!

[Elusive One]

I am shooting right handed and I am legally blind in my right eye.  Since there is no looking down the arrow or looking at the point what constitutes aiming?  Does anyone else shoot like this?  How do you handle your bow arm?  Is there some kind of position you can lock it into?  I really have no idea if I am holding it in same spot every shot and I have release or anchor problems or if my bow arm is just pointing in different spot each shot.  Before I spend months practicing just to find out there is some way to lock in your bow arm I thought I would ask.

Elu

[jhansen]

Elu,
What you have is really just an extreme form of cross-dominance.  Cross-dominance is where the archer is right handed but has a left dominant eye or vice-versa.  There are two possible solutions.  You can learn to shoot with your other hand to get your working eye over the arrow or you can keep shooting the way you are and practice until your brain learns to compensate.  There are some very good shots who are cross-dominant.  Which solution will work best for you is something only you can determine.  Either way, you can get there.
John

[Elusive One]

I am going to stick with shooting righthanded even if it takes me alot longer to learn.  It always irratated me to have to shoot rifles lefthanded so I am going to stick this one out.  I guess the things that affect my aim up front are my grip the rotation of my arm and the angle of my arm in relation to my shoulder.  So if I get the grip the same and the rotation the same then I can just change angle at shoulder?

[jhansen]

Elu,
I'd guess that everybody is tired of hearing about "form" but that's where it's at and in your case it's more important than for most.  You need to get up real close to the target and shoot with your eyes closed until you can do everything just right and just the same for each and every shot.  Then, when you shoot with your eyes open, your brain can learn what it needs to see to put the arrow where you want it.  Your biggest problem is going to be learning trajectory at different ranges although even this isn't a really big problem as long as you keep your shots at 20 yards or less and use a bow/arrow combo that give you a fairly flat trajectory.

Good Luck!
John

[Elusive One]

jhansen here is what puzzles me.  When I do this form shooting up close how will I know when I am doing everything just right without putting arrows in same place?  Will I get to where I can feel it?....Because I cant as of yet.

Thanks,
Elu

[McDave]

I'm assuming you would like to shoot instinctively, which means you don't use bow-sights, the point of the arrow, or any other point of reference on the bow or the arrow to aim.  When you shoot instinctively, you aim by focusing on the spot you want to hit.  Your rear sight is your eye, which I guess in this case is your left eye, even though you are placing the nock of your arrow under your right eye.  This will probably work out fine for you.  The instinctive part is your front sight, which is really your bow arm.  It is instinctive because you are not paying any attention to where the bow arm is pointing.  You say you "have no idea if I am holding it in same spot every shot."  That's okay!  All you should be consciously doing is focusing on the target, pushing with your bow arm, pulling your string elbow back until you come to full draw, and releasing the arrow.  I'm not even sure I'm consciously aware of releasing the arrow - I think most of the time I'm only aware of that after the arrow has been released.

The important first thing in instinctive archery, all archery really, is developing good form, because good form allows you to do the same thing shot after shot.  If you can do the same thing shot after shot, your brain will eventually learn to put your bow arm in the right place to make the arrow go where you want it to go, without you having to think about it.

Good form dictates how you hold your bow arm, how you draw the bow, how you anchor, and how you release the arrow.  You may be able to learn this from books, or you may be able to find someone who can show you, but you have to do this or you will never be able to shoot well.  You are right to ask questions about your bow arm, because how you hold the bow and push with your bow arm as much as you pull with your string arm is critical to good form.  It's just not important that you worry about where your bow arm is pointing; if you shoot enough arrows with good form, that will take care of itself.

[Elusive One]

McDave or Someone,

Can you elaborate a little more on the "push with your bow arm".  I have read that and I am kinda confused about it.  Does it mean going from more bent to less bent...kinda straightening your arm out.  And are you still pushing when you release?  Or are you guys talking about more of a stretched out but not moving type of thing?

[McDave]

As you pull with your string arm, the pressure will increase on your bow hand.  You can do one of two things at this point: you can either push with your bow arm to resist the pressure, or you can allow it to collapse.  Usually, allowing it to collapse is the result of lack of awareness that anything is going on, rather than a conscious decision.  Because if you aren't aware of your bow arm, it will collapse and your shot will get off; it just won't hit what you're aiming at.  You don't have to straighten out your bow arm to push.  You can push with a slightly bent elbow, if that's the way you want to shoot (it's the way I shoot).  You can push correctly by just being aware that you need to maintain the same allignment of your wrist, arm and shoulder throughout the shot, and not allowing anything to collapse.

[Elusive One]

Ok thanks for clarifying.  I will pay attention to that.  I think I will set up my two haybales higher and try the no eyes thing.

Elu

[jhansen]

Elu,
Buy a copy of Byron Ferguson's book "Become the Arrow".  There are other good books but that is the one that seemed to help me the most.  For now, I'll try to explain as best I can.

If you are right handed, your left foot should be forward and your right foot about shoulder width back and slightly to the right of your left.  This should allow your shoulders to align with the target.  Your bow arm should be extended toward the target but should be flexed slightly instead of locked.  Push toward the target.  The back of your drawing hand should be flat to the second finger joint and then bent 90 degrees to the third joint which in turn is bent.  The string should lie in the crease of the third joint.  Draw straight back and anchor firmly in the corner of your mouth.  Continue the draw by pulling your shoulder blades together and taking a deep breath.  At this point your bow hand, drawing hand, and drawing elbow should be in a straight line with the elbow over your left foot.  Push and pull.  Now loose the arrow by relaxing your drawing hand.  You were holding the string and now you aren't.  Let it slip away.  Keep your bow arm still.  Let the drawing hand collapse beside your face.

I hope this helps.
John

[mcgroundstalker]

Elu...All your questions are good ones...All advice was right one the money also...I have only two things to add...

First: Please get hold of "Instinctive Archery Insights" by J. Kidwell...

Second: Shoot "bright color" arrows/feathers!!! Your brain will remember the arrows path and set your bow arm for the shot. That's what "become the arrow" is all about. As you draw, in your minds eye, see the arrow fly to the target...All the trajectory imagery will come from memory...

Good Luck!

... mike ...

[Terry Green]

Your brain will learn the site picture needed to execute the shot whether using an aiming method or instinctive.....it may take a bit more time, but it will.

That's my measly 2 cents.

[GroundHunter]

For hunting instinctive shooting -

Don't "aim". Shoot.
Yoda - "Not try - do!"
Obiwon - "Use the Force, Luke".

Really, stare a hole at your spot. Draw up in good form and shoot. Your groups will get tighter, if not on target. Don't worry about where you hit 'til you get the groups tight. Then work on moving the group to the spot.

Helps to start out at 10-15 yards for form/group work. When you are busting knoks, shoot a different spot each time, or move back.

Above all - Don't aim - 'less you want to be a target shooter. If you do, get books and videos on target form and methods. Get a fita bow and sights. Go Olympic, or become a strng-walker. I don't know nuthin' about that stuff.

[Elusive One]

Great now I have to add Star Wars to the list of videos I want to get!!!    :eek:  

Ok guys Thanks for the input I am going to find R2 and work on my form.  

[Van/TX]

Elu, unless there is some compeling reason, why not switch to left hand shooting.  It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. You can shoot pretty good with what you are working with.  I did it for many years. At some point in time you will switch.  Do it now and save some time.   Good luck....Van

[jdupre]

Elu, just try this and see if it works for you. Imagine the arrow tip is the nozzle of a garden hose and "spray the target".  Visualize the arc of the arrow going to the target. Start at close range and gradually move back as you become comfortable. Focus on "making" that arrow go into the target.

Try different styles, and if they don't work for you, you might want to try switching to left-hand shooting.

Joey

[poekoelan]

I've also heard of cross dominant people shooting with only one eye open. Both remain open at the beginning of the shot, but after distance is judged, the dominant eye is closed. Just something to try.

[Faith In Flight]

Im right handed left eye dominant. This bothered me at first, but I got through it. You can shoot how you are currently shooting, just practice, a lot. Like has been stated you will adjust to the sight picture. Heres how I aim. My super secret method. I draw my bow, hit anchor, look at what I want to hit, and release using back tension. How do I hit what im aiming at? I dont know, I just do. You will eventually get this way through hours upon hours upon hours of practice. My eye dominance doesnt bother me, because I find when I look at where my arrow is at in relation to the target, I usually miss. Your subconcious will pay attention to the arrow, while you watch the target. Just keep at it, you'll get there.