new shooter needs help

[Jeff L.]

I recently acquired a 62 inch lofton longbow.  I am trying to learn to shoot it, but am getting very frustrated.  The problem I have is when I start to draw the arrow back(1 over 2 under grip),I get the arrow half way back, and it falls off the rest.  However when I shoot 3 under, this rarely happens.
What am I doing wrong???

Thanks

[toddster]

Common occurance to someone new to drawing. Likely you are not getting a deep enough hook on the string and/or pinching the nock.  Just mount the string in the first grooves of your fingers, then as you start to draw, allow your hand to open up a little, this rolled the string and keeps pressure on the arrow against the riser.  Also you can preroll the string before you draw.  Nothing wrong with shooting 3 under if you prefer, just see if the bottom limb is little longer than the top.

[Terry Green]

You are curling your fingers back at you as the bow weight gets heavier, and with split finger, you are pinching the nock and pushing the arrow off the shelf.

Point your fingers straight back at you, and when the bow gets heavier in the draw, they will want to uncurl instead, and the nock pinch will keep the arrow on the shelf.

[Bradd]

Could be you are torquing the string with the third finger as you draw back.  Gotta keep the back of the hand as flat as possible to the face.  You can do this by canting your head a bit more and by drawing straight back using the back muscles instead of the arm.  

The hand is only supposed to be used as a 'hook' around the string...everything else relaxed.

[sdpeb1]

Had the same problem when I started, keeping your hand flat as Bradd suggested will probably correct it and improve your shooting. Take your two hands and hook them together with your fingers and pull, do it once with your hand flat and one not flat,feel the difference? The biceps are taken out of the equation and you are able to isolate the muscles between your back, commonly know as back tension. This is what you are striving for.

[Mo. Huntin]

Good advice Gentlemen.  Good Luck Jeff

[Jeff L.]

Thanks everyone for resoponding!!