a lil help for a self taught hunter

[Slasher]

Folks... I have been struggling of late with my groups opening up with a bunch of L-R type fliers occaaisionally... First of all, I am a focus on the spot, draw, settle   (anywhere from a 1/4 sec to 2-3 sec...) , type shooter. I can't really snap shoot for some reason....

Well today I am out there shooting an 8in bullseye target and I notice that I am having trouble with my draw hand staying in-line with the string as I come to anchor... So I focus on vertical for a few shots... Well I had two arrows touching in the 9 ring and 3 arrows touching in the X-ring!!!! That is probably the best group I have had in quite a while! I only have really shot vertical when setting up a bow or tuning arrows... But I like my accuracy, but am wondering if there is something I am missing here? I know I should break out the video camera and check it out and also post on here....

Can someone explain this to me....

SIDE VIEW
   

REAR VIEW
   

[Terry Green]

Yes. Post a video.  Overhead preferably.

[Slasher]

Sorry Terry I have side and rear... I also seemed to be rushing and maybe exagerating the upright T for the camera... Weird how knowing there will be a critical audience. But Bring it all on... I need to figure out what I am doing wrong and what I can do better!

[eric-thor]

ok
first things first , slowww down ....

watch your vidio , you never stop moving anything bow arm is floating down and dropping upon release and it seems your not getting your back tension settled in place either pulling with your shoulder .

one thing at a time : draw your bow and dont shoot one arrow for the next two days . just practice drawing and getting to anchorand holding steady bow ard low and relaxed squeeze between your shoulder blades into and at full draw. hold first for up to 5 seconds and let down DONT SHOOT. once you are holding for a solid 5 seconds for 10 sets go to 8 seconds and repeat than 10 seconds. take another vidio of your drwn and post it ill get back to ya than .

my two cents      

[s_mcflurry]

Yes, definitely need to slow down.  Give yourself time to come into alignment and give yourself time to aim.  Your videos show you rushing, borderline snap shooting, and not your usual 2 to 3 seconds during casual shooting.

Your form looks good, though:  good release, low shoulders, good elbow height.  You just need a little more time so that all this snaps into place before letting that arrow fly.

[dtarbell]

You are also starting your draw high,coming back down and then up to the target,you might try pointing right at the target and coming straight back to anchor.

[Slasher]

Thanks guys... I claim stagefright!!! Actually,this is the 3rd try of the day at videoing... I usually shoot much slower I don't even think I was really so much even aiming but just trying to focus on form and not do something stupid.

I will make note and some some blind baling and see what I can do and if it really helps!!!

[eric-thor]

aiming has nothing to do with form. actually neither does speed . but i ask you to slow down so you have time to work on each part of your shot and so we can disect them all as well. and help get our form on tract so when its time to aim you can focus on aiming.          

[Whump]

Whump Sez: Watched your vids--this is what I saw right off the cuff. You are creeping before you release. Looking from the back your elbow is high, concentrate on keeping your elbow parallel to the ground. If you stick your elbow up it causes sting torque. When you draw, think about holding a ball between your shoulder blades at anchor, this will bring your back muscles into the draw and help stop that creep before you release. When you focus on your back holding the draw it will also help you keep your elbow parallel to the ground. Trying to draw with your arm muscles only, will sometimes force your elbow into a high position. You are also trying to get away from the shot too quick--hold your form a little longer after you release and this will keep you from starting a bad habit like dropping your arm.    Hang in there and good luck. Hunt Safe.

[reddogge]

My impression is you are shooting way too fast and there is a lot of movement going on getting to your anchor.  Try to streamline the draw a little and SLOW DOWN.

[Slasher]

UPDATE!!! I have been tinkering in the garage mostly trying to reach a more developed and consistent shot sequence and have been realing that it is mostly a problem of pulling through the release.... So I have played a lil with 3 under vs split finger...

I notice I am not bending at the waist so much as dropping my arm... I need to focus on that but i am shooting at about 8ft in the garage here... a bad habit I need to nip in the butt!! NOW!!!  

 

I do notice that the 3 under is much noisier even with another string same as the first except cat whiskers vs small wool yarn balls.. This string was  tuned with the nock about 5/8" higher till the arrows few true    I know it has only been a week, but am curious of what you guys see... Sorry with the rain no room for a behind shot today....

[s_mcflurry]

Your timing is much better and it looks like you're in better control of your shot.  Your bow arm looks more solid and your release still looks clean (don't lose that!  :D  ).  If you want to maintain a regular shot sequence and still shoot targets that are low, you can try bending at the waist first, then begin your draw.

If you've shot mostly indoor, that could be the reason your bow sounds louder.  A smaller space can lead to most of bow sound going right to your ear.  Compare it to outside shooting to see...that's the only thing I can think of.

[eric-thor]

wow you have made some significant improvement in a short time !!! id say for now just keep doing what your doing and get it commited to memory before trying anything new. 8 feet is a great distance for form work keep it up for about a week .than go shoot some targets say 15 to 20 yrds , but make sure you have those improvements comited to your subconcience so your not second guessing you shot sequience , but just aiming . and see how it goes . let us know and if your not happy with your result . lets get more fotage with better lighting.

[Slasher]

Thanks guys...  It was a matter of getting back inside as and blind baling... I was frustrated with the fliers.. I think with this light bow(42#),   (I think sometimes let it go vs pull through the shot...)  I have trouble with my release as I feel that when I pull through... I sometimes feel as though I pull to my ear...

Well I was doing well then it started to happen my groups began to open... an occaisional flier became 20-30% fliers.... The thing that started it was shooting a group vertical as I felt it was torquing/plucking the string that was throwing my fliers...

Well getting in the garage and lots of arrows later focussing on the whole shot sequence has been a wonderful help...

But I am now playing with 3 under vs split finger... I put on my spare string and put a new nock on... began tuning and settled on 5/8 an inch higher... But boy is it louder... Not just me... the camera on a tripod... inside and out side- I began running the videos simultaneously and having my son watch while I tell him wether I was shooting split finger or 3 under... It will depend on how i shoot out to 20-25 yds that determines which I finally go with... But wonder with which is better?    

It will be a matter of accuracy... If I ever get the time and cooperative weather... I'll work on some overhead shots when I can pop a screen out upstairs and have someone video from overhead...

Thanks everyone

[vernon]

couldn't view your video's damn computer said "vidoe not found".  If you took them off already no worries but if there is a magical key I need to hit let me know.  Thanks and keep up the good work.

[Slasher]

vernon I haven't done anything.... should be just double click on them... Just uploaded to photobucket...

[term]

To each his own, but I think at the high point of your draw. You must lose sight of your target. Bow hand, bow,and arrow all blocking view. That would kill my concentration. Good luck its not easy but its always FUN. TERM