Who has the best form in this family?

[dposalski]

So, I was wondering who here has the best form, and why.  Just looking for some help on getting us all moving in the right direction form-wise.

 

 

 

[vermonster13]

Your wife(?) and son(?) appear to be over-bowed. They aren't reaching full anchor and your wife is leaning backwards. Elbows are a little high but nothing too bad(the boy has the best elbow alignment), a good start overall. Others may say different.

[vermonster13]

Just a note. I noticed in your stumping pictures that your boy canted his bow in the wrong direction. It may be a little longer than he is comfortable shooting at his size also.

[dposalski]

Yep, that is my wife and son.  Thanks for the advice.  She has only shot about 20 arrows, so she is still trying to keep the arrow on the rest.

[vermonster13]

It's great to see the whole family shooting together. Keep up the good work.

[dposalski]

Yeah I saw that in the picture of him, too.  I hadn't noticed him doing that before.  I almost wonder if it is some illusion of the camera angle, but I don't think so.  I think you are right.

[ber643]

First of all - IMO I certainly don't see any "slouches" in that family, for sure. If you keep heading the way you are going you are gonna be very well off indeed as a "fambly". That having been said, I did see the very same things VTm did - to give some very fine point, constructive critique. It looks like they have a good example to follow in you (but don't throw it up to them too much - LOL thay'll come to see that - if ya don't fall apart while they get better   :D  )

[dposalski]

I am new too, so I am looking for the critique for sure.  Bring it on as I want to learn right.

[Molson]

Dave,

Your drawing hand appears tense and your elbow is not back all the way.  You are using your arms and not getting on the back muscles.  Try this to get a feel for the back.  

Take your bow arm and put an big bend in it, as if you were going to shorten your draw by two inches.  Now draw back as far as you can, pushing with your bow arm just enough into the bow to maintain the bend.  Keep pulling with the intent of reaching full draw even though your bow arm is bent.  When your elbow is back as far as it can go and you are locked in to anchor, keep it locked in by pulling as you push your bow arm forward slowly.  No doubt your bow arm will be shaking but as you push forward and pull back, the shake will fade and there will be a point of absolute steadiness.  That is the point where your muscles and bones are lined up and you are both pushing and pulling equally.  

Hopefully this came across right.  It's kinda difficult to explain in writing.  If you take it slow and get a feeling for good back tension, the timing will work out and everything will flow together.

[ber643]

Since you are working on it as a family, and want to improve, I'll be looking for some new Full Draw pics from your family for my Traditional Bows Drawn pages - in about a month. Deal?

 http://residents.bowhunting.net/bsdunn/index.htm  

(click on TBD Section in menu)

[Molson]

Dave,

I didn't mean to imply in my last post that this is how you should always draw your bow, although some people do use a similar shooting style.  It is just a technique that can help you get a feel for what push/pull back tension is.  I use it from time to time to help remind myself of the feeling I'm looking for.

[dposalski]

Molson, I will give that a shot this evening and see what I can come up with.  

Bernie, You got it, just drop me a line of what you need.

[ber643]

Pretty much like the pics above (I can resize them down if they are big, but those are fine in that area too). Then bow stats, and any names, state etc. you'd like me to post. You can tell by the others on my pages - I do whatever little write up comes to mind from what folks give me. There is well over 600 Full Draw pics there of traditional bows and shooters. (Try it, you'll like it - see a lot of good forms there too at the same time.)

[styckbow]

I agree with the previous comments and would like to say good on you for getting your whole family involved I would like to add I think you all may be a little overbowed so keep practice sessions short and fun also good choice with the chekmate you will look long and hard for as good a bow for the price Delin