Pre aiming

[Lee Lobbestael]

Does anybody here "pre-aim." What I mean is to sight down the arrow before drawing back. I do this and it seems to make a huge difference.I don't know why tho because by the time I reach full draw my arrow has to have shook around a great deal. Maybe its just in my head i dunno but it seems to work for me. I also focus 100% on the target(if I Can that is)

[FerretWYO]

Originally posted by Lee Lobbestael:
Maybe its just in my head i dunno but it seems to work for me.

That is all that matters I would say.

[Wapiti Bowman]

I have to agree with FWYO. Anything you do that gives you confidence of a successful execution is good for you; and it doesn't matter if others use the same method. However, I have seen other shooters lining up on the target in the manner you described.

Your mention of focus "(if I can that is)", is an entirely different matter. Absolute focus on the intended "impact point" is paramount in this sport. You cannot be thinking about anything else during the aiming and execution of the shot. That's why blind/blank bale work is so important: to make the mechanics of the process automatic so that no thought process is diverted from the all important "FOCUS" on the spot, during the execution, IMHO.  

[Green]

I know that once I've focused on the spot I raise my bow at an angle appropriate for the shot and draw the bow keeping a straight line to my spot with the arrow pulling straight back in my vision along my point of aim.  That's the easy part.....making sure I hit my consistent anchor and getting a clean release so that the arrow goes where my pre-aim wants it to go is what I'm working at really hard right now.

[Don Stokes]

I draw that way on game, because I think it reveals the least movement while drawing. I raise the bow while the animal is approaching and draw when it gets to the right point.

[Roy Steele]

Green the way so get a clean release every time is to start by releaseing your bottom finger first the other two just follows suit you can't stop it and its the same everytime.Most people try to release either the first finger or all 3 at once.My way it just comes natural.Well it's not my way Howard Hiill also used it.

[Green]

Thanks Roy...great tip and I'll see how this works.  Right now I'd have to say I"m in the all at once mode but trying to make sure my form is right and my drawing hand ends up coming straight back at release....this may help clean things up.

[Roy Steele]

This willhelp with your form.Releaseingwill be one part of your form.You'll so do and not have to think about it.
  Afteryou get your form down.Try not to antalize each step.This comes from standing on line at the range.Institive meams not not thinking about going through the steps.The less you do this the better you'll shoot.
  I'll bet you when that deer walks up and you shoot you don't remember a thing.Iknow your me if I pick the spot and touch my ankor.BAM the arrows in the buck and I hardly if at all rememmber the shot.
  PM me and let me know how your doing.

I have a friend that has the worst form in the world.  He should have a nearly 31 inch draw, but he doesn't.  From a tree and from the ground he is two different people and they both short draw.  He shoots three under, has a 45 degree open stance, anchors with the side of his thumb sort of around his cheeks bone, cannot hit a moving target at all, draws the bow in a straight line to about 26 inches more or less and one of these years he is going to miss a deer.  His frustration is, he cannot get a good arrow off when shooting at a flying pheasant.  I hesitate to try to teach him anything different, whatever it is, it gets him deer out to 18 yards from his tree stand without a single failure.

I think my buddy started this way because the bow he got was too stiff for him and he did whatever he needed to do to hit.  It all comes down to the fact that we don't have to be all the same, although I wish I could have helped him when he bought his first bow those long years ago.  I was shooting some serious weight back then, 85 to 100 pound bows and I have a feeling he pick the bow with the bigger number, 55 lbs., because of that.  In twenty years he has shot only two bows, both 55 lb. 52" Bears.  I recently bought a 52" recurve and I can honestly admit that I cannot hit the broad side of a barn with it.

[Green]

Originally posted by Roy Steele:
Green the way so get a clean release every time is to start by releaseing your bottom finger first the other two just follows suit you can't stop it and its the same everytime.Most people try to release either the first finger or all 3 at once.My way it just comes natural.Well it's not my way Howard Hiill also used it.

Works very well Roy....just got home from work and was shooting just at dark....best time for me to work on form.  Letting off the ring finger first is a great shot cue for cleaning up my release.  Thanks for the tip.