Cant and form?

[Soilarch]

I discovered this when I had a really bad string of shooting trying to keep everything vertical.  Went back to a 'natural' cant and if felt so much better, and sounded so much better, that I figured I'd push the limits...

This is crazy, but my releases are generally much better when I cant heavily.  I'm talking nearly horizontal.  Release sound and feel better, which is something I'm having a fit with.  Don't have any video of me shooting horizontal but the videos I have of vertical shooting ain't pretty at all.

Is this an indication of something I'm doing wrong?  Is there some common form problem that can be covered up or 'bandaid' fixed by horizontal shooting?

[Terry Green]

Good form and proper alignment should be achieved no matter the cant.

If you are properly aligned and have good form, you should be able to take that with you to various cant angles.

I saw you video that you sent me....and you didn't look all that bad...needed some more work, but I've seen much worse from a new trad shooter.

Any way you can get an overhead view of your normal canting shot?

[Soilarch]

Yeah, I've watched the DVD.  That's what had me asking...no one position should be better than the next IF everything's right.

I tried to get an overhead shot today.  Didn't really show anything since my housemate couldn't get up high enough.  I saw some of the same problems on release though.  So I'm workin' on that.

I'll try to back my truck up to my shooting area tomorrow and have Jake stand in the bed to video tape.


EDIT:  Terry, the rearview shot today DID show something...and that is that I am most definitely "collapsing" at the shot. That elbow is a big tattle-tale.  Everything lines up good and solid...then I collapse, elbow goes out about 2", and my hand is forced out instead of back.  I'm still closing my eyes at the shot also.   :rolleyes:

[Terry Green]

Colapsing is not good.  Maybe some work close up on the bale with no aiming is in order.  Work only on reaching full draw and releasing with rearward tension....do not let yourself colapse on the bale.  Shoot the bale only for a couple of weeks fixing THIS problem, and don't worry about aiming or accuracy.

You will feel how much smoother your shot is, how much quieter your bow is, and your release will slicken out.

Don't give up.