In need of a coach

[Onestringer]

Ok, I am not a great shot.  I hear admitting that is the first step to recovery.  I need some help and will try and give enough information so I can get the help I need.

My problem is I shoot to the right consistantly (note to moderators, we need spell check here). I don't know if it is my release, anchor, bow hand, or if I am just going to stink some days.

I shoot right hand.  I shoot a black widow. Its 48lbs at my 29.5" draw.  I shoot 400 spine arrows with anywhere from 155 to 185 grains up front.  

One more thing I could not get a bare shaft to fly straight if my life depended on it.  

Thanks,

Scott

[SteveB]

Unless your form, release and tune (including nock fit to string) are perfect, trying to get straight bareshaft flight is an exersize in frustration.

[SHOOTO8S]

Scott...consistently missing right can be a result of a consistent pluck    But, the first thing I'd look at with your setup(according to what length your .400 deflection shafts are)is too stiff a shaft, getting interference with the riser and kicking the rear of the arrow to the left with resulting right arrow impact at target.

Bareshafts flying perfectly straight isn't the best indicator of correct spine, only where they impact in comparison to identical fletched shafts. Many of those perfect flying bareshafts are in reality too stiff.

[sdpeb1]

Are you grouping well,but the groups are just to the right. I know when I don't get a clean relaxed finger release I miss horribly to the right. I find it interesting that Shooto8s suggest that those 400's are to stiff. I would think that at your draw, length of arrow and the wieght up front that they wouldn't be that bad. I really don't know that much though, but if you find out they are would you post it here? Also you can download a free spell check and then you just have to right click and it will check spelling-- Steve

[SHOOTO8S]

Might want to check out this thread and the bow weights a lot of shooters are tuning .400 deflection shafts to.

 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=070991

[Diamond Paul]

Yep, Rod is right, .500 spine sounds like the ticket.  Unless your form is really good, perfect arrow flight w/out feathers is probably a fantasy.  Check out O.L. Adcock's site for the bare shaft planing method, which works w/ good or bad form.  Good luck, Paul.

[Renaissance Man]

One String, hope you get it worked out, after you have checked all the recommendations above, especially the one about too tight a fit at the nock(which would cause all kinds of problems, like yours) then it is time to try some self diagnosis. If you got a friend with a video camera, digitial or whatever go outside for ten minutes with him, pay no attention to the camera, focus as you would normally when shooting alone and have him film you shooting a dozen arrows from the side, then from the rear right behind the arrow, have him zoom in on this one. And do some from your left side too.Take this inside and sit down and watch, look for your form mistakes, look for what you might be doing with your bow arm at release(torqueing etc) and look closely at your release and arrows as they leave your your bow. I am willing to bet you will find out what the problem is.
Also confirm which of your eyes is dominant, I have had customers in the past that have had this change as they got older due to a stigmatism or other eyesight complication. If you wear glasses confirm there is no problem there.
Good arrow flight is important, but a modest over spine with todays cut past center recurves especially is probably not your problem.

[Onestringer]

Thanks guys, I was at a shop I frequent while on the road.  They had 1 easton excel 500 shaft.  I shot it full length with a 125 grain tip.  Surprisingly it shot well.  My bare shaft 400's with 185 grains up front were hitting 2 ft to the left of center.  

So I guess I am overspined.  So the question is, buy a new bow or new arrows.

Scott

I will get my wife to video me and see if we can  upload it.