Perfect Bad Form

[Bear Heart]

I was watching Hill shooting and can't help but think that his form would be terrible for most to try and emulate.  Did he perfect bad form to the point where it became his method for successful shooting?

[Terry Green]

I don't think his form is bad....if you watch the clips, he has proper alignment.  All his energy was going toward and away from the target, and his shoulders were on the same parallel line as his arrow.  He had a solid bow arm as well.

There is one clip here where he throws a rock in the air, and if you freeze the clip at full draw, you can see what I mentioned above....all the lines add up like the clock image I've posted before.

[Curtis Haden]

Don't know about Hill, as I haven't watched very many clips, but I have watched some really good shooters who don't do everything "perfect".

Take a look at Master's of the Bare Bow Vol. 1.  There's a guy on there who (to my eye) has a visible collapse, every shot, and still shoots lights out.  The key is "every shot".  He does it the same way every time.  He's got consistency down to a science.

I wouldn't presume to criticize anyone else's shooting, or say anything less than "good" form is desirable, but repeatable form is probably just as important.

Can you shoot very good with less than perfect form, as long as you're consistent? -- Yes.

Could you shoot better with very good, consistent form?  -- Again, yes.

Should you strive to use good form on every shot?  -- Absolutely!

After all, the more things you do right will tend to minimize small aiming errors, and the things you do wrong can't help.

That's my theory, and I'm stickin to it!       ...until someone proves me wrong, anyway...    :p

[Bear Heart]

It just looks like he has his shoulders real hunched up and his arm seems to shoot forward.

[Terry Green]

His bow arm moved forward towards the target because he shot with a bent elbow.  Nothing wrong with that, just as your elbow should be going directly away from the target.

I've never 'noticed' hunched shoulders...I'll have a look again...but check out the rock shot and pause it at full draw.

[dan ferguson]

Bear Heart, I think he purposely learned to shoot this way to maintain a 28" draw, I think to keep his arrows at 27" or something like that. For better and more consistant arrow. and also we must remember the weight Howard was pulling, alot more force is going foward upon release than what most of us shoot. When I drop down to my 60# bow it feels like it doesn,t even move, then when I go up 8 to 10# I really notice a difference. The grace in which he shot still amazes me and it what I strive for.

[Bear Heart]

Don't get me wrong I am not trying to criticize his shooting.  He was a master archer.  I do remember reading something about him purposely shortening his draw because of the limited amount of cedar shafts that spined correctly at his longer draw.

[Terry Green]

Yep...I remember reading something along those lines as well.