Question for gap shooters

[TradBowyer]

I have a question for you gap shooters. Can gap really only work for center shot bows? reason i'm asking is that I'm messing around with trying it out on a longbow that is not center shot. I find that since the bow is not center shot, the arrow tip is pointing off to the right a good bit (i'm a lefty) so when I try to shoot by aligning the point under the target, I'm way right. I had someone watch my arrows and they aren't kicking or anything they just flight right a good bit. I bareshafted tuned these arrows so they should be close. I'm just wondering if i need to go with a weaker spined shaft so the arrow can bend back but then I'm worried about being under spined then and having flight problems. Thanks in advance?

TIM

[bmb]

i would say weaker spine is needed. i have shot longbows like what you described and did fine. your arrow shouldn't be so stiff that it throws it off. and also, i only shoot two bows now..they are both hoyt gamemaster 2's, they are cut way past center. i build the sideplate out so that my arrow is a little left of the string when i center it up( right hand shooter) and the arrows shoot perfect. you should paper tune some bareshafts...start at 5-8 yards...and fine tune out to even 15-18yrds. good luck

[bmb]

btw- either way it would be the same whether you gap( like i do) or you shoot instinctive...you are saying that whatever you are looking at, which you should be lined up with, you still hit right. i think it is the arrows

[Paul WA]

My bow is not center shot and I do fine as long as I take caution not to let my weak right eye take over ( left dominant, right handed )...PR

[McDave]

Your arrows are probably hitting way right because you haven't got your eye over the arrow.  If the arrow seems to be flying to the target from the left to the right, that means your eye is to the right of the arrow, and you will miss to the right.

Try canting your bow and canting your head to match the bow cant.  At some point, your eye will be over the arrow and your arrows will seem to be flying directly at the target.  Or, with the bow upright, just tilt your head until your eye is over the arrow, although if you do it this way you will have to get used to looking through the string.

[tmccall]

One of my bows is not center cut.  When I shoot it I simply cant it more and it shoots the same as my others.  It took a little trial and error to discover this, but once I did it worked like a charm and I was super pleased with the way it shot.

[pete Darby @ home]

I shoot gap. With a non center shot longbow and I have no problem.  I cant but not much (10 or 1030)(I'm a Leftie).  As I have worked on my form canting isn't something that goes into the equation very much.  Now of course if I am kneeling or lying down I cant lots with a 68" bow. I have found that for me, the various points of form can mean shooting left or right. IMHO bow hand, release, back tension, and focus are the real components of a shot not canting, gapping or instinctive. I would recommend the three Master's of the Barebow if your interested in really improving but watch it in slow-motion to see what they really do.