Do you use back tension when you shoot?

[3-D Longbow]

Just wanted to know if you used back tension when you shoot with traditional bows? I do when I shoot competition, but I have also heard that most people don't hold at anchor long enough to use your back muscles.

[McDave]

If I would venture a guess, there have probably been more posts on the subject of back tension in The Shooters Forum than any other subject.  Well, maybe allignment, and Terry's clock, but it would be close.

While I'm no expert in the subject, I think it's universally agreed, both here and other places I've read, that proper back tension is essential to accurate shooting, regardless of how long you hold at anchor.

My understanding is that proper back tension is achieved as a part of the draw, and not after reaching anchor.  One of the problems that has been discussed here is how to keep from losing back tension when you hold at anthor, which would ruin your shot.

[Terry Green]

Yes back tension is paramount....and it is achieved through proper alignment.  Proper alignment adds to all the positives of the shot, and negates the negatives.

[Soilarch]

I'm very very new to the trad world...not so much the compound world.  (Granted, I never used a "backtension" release...but I sure did use backtension!!!)

And therein lies the problem, I think.   Everybody agrees on the general concept but everybody has a slightly different idea of EXACTLY what counts as backtension and how if feels.

Took me awhile to carry BT over to trad from the compounds.  Terry is right in that I find my alignment is better and my anchors *seem* much more consistent when I have good...um, decent..BT.  When one of those two things start to fail I focus a little more on BT and they are fixed.  That might seem like putting the cart before the horse. I wouldn't argue that point, but the point is it helps me get the cart and horse where they need to go...and that's all I care about right now   :D  

I hold at anchor for less than 2 seconds for sure.
I'll throw it in there that if my BT falls apart you can count on my release being horrendous. It's to the point now that I'll let down and do the whole process again if I must.

[BobCo 1965]

Question, in relationship as far as back tension goes, do you feel that the sides of your back muscles (spine being the divider) are:

1. Working equally?
2. The drawing side of your back is working more then the bow arm side?
3. The drawing side of the back is the only side working?

[Terry Green]

Bob,

1- No
2 - Yes
3 - No

The drawing arm is basicaly the side creating back tension.

[zetabow]

I shoot a lot of international IFAA tourneys (Longbow) I use a Formaster to keep back my tension in check.

You can get away with it on close range 3D shooting but if you dont use correct back tension on a IFAA Field\\Hunter (112 arrow at 28 targets 10y to 80y) course it really shows up in the scores.

[Big Ed]

I shoot with back tension. Makes for a cleaner release hence a better follow through.