Where is your elbow?

[Donnie]

Well... at long last I have figured out why my perfectly tuned arrows will hit to the LEFT of where I am aiming.
1) I'm plucking a little.  (This is easily resolved by making sure that everything is "In-Line" with the arrow.)
2) My bow hand is Janking (torque) to the left upon release.

So... I've been playing with my elbow, trying to figure out a good position to have it, so that I don't torque the bow to the left. I have found that if I have the tip of my elbow pointing directly to the left (which is the most comfortable position for me,) I will torque the bow to the left. (I'm right handed,)  But... If I turn my elbow towards the ground, at around 45 degrees (this is very uncomfortable for me,) the bow explodes directly towards the target upon release... and I don't torque the bow.  Also... when I do this... even though I am hitting dead center of the target... my elbow REALLY starts to hurt!!!

So... I was just curios... how does everybody position their "Elbow" (on their Bow-Arm) when they release?  Also... any advice on the pain in the elbow of my bow arm would be greatly appreciated.

Take care!

Donnie

[bowdude]

You shooting a longbow?

[Donnie]

Nope.... a Recurve.  It's a "Chek-Mate"... and I believe that it is considered to be a "medium" grip.

[McDave]

Whatever you do, don't shoot in a position where your elbow, or any other part of your body, begins to "really hurt!"  When these things start hurting, they have a tendency (which is a word that kind of sounds like tendons, doesn't it?) to hang around a long, long time.

Instead, hold your bow in a natural position, and learn not to torque it by gripping the handle loosely and alligning your string fingers with the cant of your bow.

One possible reason your bow hand is "janking to the left on release," could be that your shoulders are lined up to the left of the target.  Terry's clock, some of his discussions about proper allignment have helped me in this regard.

[PigStikker]

For a while I was shooting left a LOT and found that I really had to concentrate on making my bow arm push toward the target and follow through as opposed to moving it left upon release.  I use a pretty open stance, as opposed to a perfectly aligned stance like a target shooter, so my bow arm naturally wants to swing left upon release.  Just repeat to yourself, "stiff bow arm, stiff bow arm, stiff bow arm..."  Now I just have to figure out how to get some consistency in my release!  

Matt

[SteveMcD]

Here is an interesting link -
 
 http://www.theweebsite.com/tempus/archery/index.html

[jmar595]

What McDave said. Check where your shoulders are pointing, and if you can find Terry's clock u can see what we are talking about. I found this out recently, I was shooting excelent on one knee with the bow canted way over, when I attempted to shoot standing up with the bow up and down, Not so good. That is what I found was happening make sure your shoulders are lined up with the arrow.

[whitebuffalo]

Steve, nice link.

[Donnie]

Thanks for the tip on the shoulders!  I was just curious about the elbow because when I shot my "Other" bow (the one with wheels,) my arm was slightly bent and the elbow was pointing more toward the ground than anything.  But... It hurts doing that with Traditional equipment.

Thanks again!

Donnie

[cjones]

Here is what mine looks like. It may not be right but i have had good luck with it.
 

[Woodduck]

Yep, what I think; step seven in McD's link.

[Kingstaken]

Right in the middle of my arm.. Thank you for asking   :D

[Donnie]

:D    :D    :D  

(I guess I asked for that!)

 

[joe skipp]

Two positions of my bow arm....front and side...

 


 

May not look it but my elbow is slightly bent and my drawing arm straight back...

[Kingstaken]

Donnie  Actually a good topic, and Joe Skipp appears to be doin it right. Besides he tells some of the best stories I've heard yet..

[Donnie]

Excellent input guys!  

I took McDave's advice and positioned my elbow in a manner that it was most comfortable.  And then worked with THAT.  What I ended up with is my elbow position that is very similar... if not exactly like "Joe Skip's" form.  And... Its working.  In fact... My shots are now slightly to the "RIGHT", instead of to the left.  (Not quite sure how THAT happened...)

I think one the problems I have (and probably a few other's,) is that I keep trying to transfer almost 30 years of compound experience over to Traditional... when in fact... and in many ways... I'm kinda having to learn how to shoot all over.   I'd bet all you gurus will probably run into a lot more of us who are switching back over to Traditional... and are having to re-learn those things that seem second nature to Y'all.    

I really appreciate your input!

Take care!

Donnie