Drank some Welch Cool Aid - got a ?

[Rossco7002]

Hi Guys,

I've just registered to this site recently but have been browsing it for a while. I post on the other one often but noticed that there are more 'students of Rick' on Tradgang so thought my question would be best presented here.

Anyways, I've just watched the Accuracy Factory and it has made a noticeable improvement to my shooting almost immediately. One thing I'm struggling with though is the holding for a couple of seconds. Seems like that arrow jumps out of my fingers too quickly after hitting anchor (this has been an issue before I switched to trying Rick's techniques). I shoot a Toelke Whip longbow that draws 50lbs at 26 inches and I love it BUT do you think it may be too heavy for that fingertip grip Rick advocates. I'm a pretty fit guy (ex-Army, Police Tactical) and I weigh in at 180lbs - 5'8 tall so I'm really hoping that I'm not overbowed. What do people think?

This is my only trad bow and I really had to save to get such a nice one for starting up with a longbow so I desperatly don't want to part with it. I did buy an older recurve off the auction site which draws 40lbs at my length. I'm thinking this would be good to practice with but don't want to loose strength for my Whip.

I've been shooting for a just under a year and really want to build up to a solid 15-20yd hunting range for this season.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Ross

[s_mcflurry]

It's hard to say if you're overbowed or not.  Fatigue and premature release aren't always the same thing.  If you struggle to draw and fatigue quickly then you're overbowed.  However, if you come to draw easily but the string is loosed once you hit anchor, that's another issue entirely and is likely a psychological one.  I would recommend coming to anchor and holding for at least 5 seconds and letting down.  Repeat this for several sessions to overcome the tendency.  The aim is to train yourself that you have full control and that you can decide to release or let down at will.

[McDave]

Rick doesn't have time to say everything he would like to say in a DVD.  To expand on the fingertip grip, use it if you can draw the bow with a relaxed hand without feeling like the string is going to slip off your fingers.  It is much more important to draw the bow with a relaxed string hand than it is to draw with the string on your fingertips.

For example, with bows under 50#, I draw with the fingertip grip.  With my normal hunting bow, which is 55#, I put the string in the first joint.  With my 65# bow, which I don't shoot much anymore, I really get into a deep hook.

Check your string hand frequently that the back of your hand is flat and relaxed, to ensure that you aren't torqueing the bowstring.

You're not overbowed; your 50# bow will be fine for you.  Everybody has trouble holding.  Practice holding without firing the arrow.  When you do fire the arrow, make it the most important thing you do in the shot until you get it mastered.  In other words, promise yourself that even if the entire rest of the shot falls apart, you aren't going to release the arrow before you hold it for two seconds at full draw.  Easy for me to say....

[bubinga]

Agree with McDave.  Only thing that I will add is that the fingertip grip is not a sticking point for Rick like the hold before release is.  What I mean is that Rick showed me the fingertip grip, but said that my first joint grip was fine.  He said I wasn't having any release issues so he wasn't worried about it.  For me when I release to quickly it is all up in the noggin.

[hunterbob]

Jay kidwell has some great drills for short drawing in just one day it has helped my anchor out big time.

[HUNT 24/7]

I'm glad to hear that a finger tip grip isn't all bad. That's how I shoot my bow the best but I always hear that you should have a deep finger hook but I don't shoot very good that way.

[Cromm]

I would draw the bow without an arrow and hold, then let down and do this 5 to 10 times and try and do that a few times a day. To get it into your head.
Do you shoot right away with the 40lb bow or is it just the 50lb??
Thanks for your time

[Rossco7002]

McDave, thanks for the insight. I don't have the $ to go to Rick's class so it's helpful to get some insight from someone who has.

I really like this new grip. I've tried a couple different ones and this one provides an easy to get to and consistent anchor for me. I also get off the string clean way easier than the deep hook I was using. I wish I had someone to shoot with so they could spot for that hold and count it out for me.....

[Friend]

To extend your hold time you may wish to try this. Don't start bareing down(extreme focus) on the target until you start increasing you back tension once at anchor.

[Rossco7002]

I went to the range this morning and seem to have found a good solution. Shoot at longer than average distance. This slowed me down considerabley because my mind had work harder to figure out the sight picture it needed (subconcisously).

Anyone elese notice this?

[Mitch-In-NJ]

Yes.  It also makes short yardage seem so much closer and watching arrows fly long distances is just plain fun.

[Ranger B]

I've experienced the exact same thing. I would shoot long targets with no problem at all. I'd hold 3 or 4 seconds and then let her fly. When I'd step up to a 15 yard shot I'd hit anchor and away she went.  I still have to focus on the shorter shots to make myself hold but when I do I generally hit where I am looking with a much higher percentage.