Bows torque to the right upon release

[Ralphie]

My bow top torques to the right about 3-4 inches when I release an arrow .
I shoot a RH longbow.
It seems to happens with all my long bows, (Toelke Whip, Miller, etc) ...
So I think it is in my grip.
Any ideas ?
thanks
Ralph

[LongStick64]

Ralph,

could also be coming from your arm, especially if you are locking out. You might be pushing the bow out to the right.

[SveinD]

Sounds to me like you may be holding to tight a grip on your bow, making the bow torque towards your body upon relesing the string
Have you tried shooting with a relaxed, open grip?

[Ralphie]

Originally posted by SveinD:
Sounds to me like you may be holding to tight a grip on your bow, making the bow torque towards your body upon relesing the string
Have you tried shooting with a relaxed, open grip?

I need to have someone really watch me. I have tried relaxed and firm, paying attention to heeling the bow. Sometimes it is less, but seems to always be there. An Olympic recurve shooter, friend, suggested a relaxed grip along with using my forearm as the aiming device. Pointing my forearm, with less emphasis on the hand/grip.
I am going to keep trying/observing.
R

[SveinD]

If you have access to a videocamera, it might be easier to check  

[snakebit40]

From what I can understand the bow should move to the left for a right handed shooter. It could be your using your back muscles right. I'm no expert but watching Masters of the Barebow, thats what they said should happen. Hope that helps

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would bet that your not coming into full alignment on the shot.  If your out of alignment it forces your bow arm to move on the shot.

[mochasam]

Try bending your bow arm slightly with your loose grip pulling your shoulder blades together and really holding on the spot your shooting untill the arrow hits. Theres alot more but its hard to say without seeing you  shooting

[George Vernon]

Longbows, especially those with straight grips, can be sensitive to how you place your hand on the grip.  I get my best results when the pressure stays on the base of my thumb.  If you turn your hand, palm up, the crease that goes from just above the middle of your wrist to the middle of the webbing between your thumb and forefinger is called the lifeline.  Try to keep the pressure of the grip on the thumb side of the lifeline.

I've heard some refer to this as the 'luggage' or briefcase grip.  If you hold your grip like you would carry a briefcase or piece of luggage, you'll find it will rotate your thumb clockwise, when viewed from above, around the grip for a right handed shooter.  Opposite for a lefty.

It will feel strange at first, but it's a way to insure the pressure line from the grip is on the base of the thumb.  Pressure on this location puts the grip in alignment with the neutral position of the wrist and bones of the forearm reducing or eliminating torque on the grip.