longbow drawing technique??

[pamike]

I am really struglling with neck pain when I shoot my longbow for any length of time.  I was shooting at 48# bow and I purchased a 40# bow to make it easier.  that really helped but i still am getting neck pain.  I see all these people shooting 50 -70# bows and am just wondering am i doing something wrong.  any pointers - good videos to watch, etc??

note - I am 6'2" 200# with a 30"draw.  

thanks for any ehlp you have.
Mike

[BowsanAiros]

Sounds like you may be bringing your head into the string, twisting your neck maybe to get to your anchor point?
A video of you shooting will help in that assumption.
Shooting any bow should be comfortable, no matter the weight.
"Crunching your shoulders will cause problems as well."

[ncsaknech1ydh]

Hi Pamike: Thanks to Tradgang I have really improved my shooting over the past few years, I may catch some flack for this, but if you get the latest video put out by Rick Welch, it helped me alot, not to say I do everything as he does, but I have implemented some of his practices into my shooting. One thing that he promotes is keeping your bow exactly vertical, no canting, I now do that and it has helped me alot to keep everything equal as far as form goes from shot to shot, I also anchor as close to what he promotes as I can, everyones facial features are different so I don't do it exact, but using an anchor towards the back of my face (he uses earlobe I believe, I use thumbknuckle to rear of jaw bone) This has increased my draw length by a few inches and has helped my alignment and back tension. One of the things I don't do is tuck my head down nose to string as he teaches, I keep my head completly vertical as I have large rimed glasses and no matter what I used to try they would always hit the string when I would try to tuck my head. So in my opinion if you practice keeping your bow vertical along with your head it should help your neck pain situation. I just wanted you to know thats what I do and it works great. By the way I do shoot BobLee TD Longbows. DK.

[atatarpm]

My neck starts hurting when I get tired and start to use my neck to help hold the bowstring in place. I have a 31 inch draw and anchor thumb knucle to rear of my jaw.

[Jake Diebolt]

No matter how you hold your bow, neck pain means your form is messed up somehow. Unless when you say neck you mean your trapeziuz (god I hope I spelled that right), in which case that's one of the back muscles that gets used in proper draw.

[targets3D]

Originally posted by ncsaknech1ydh:
 latest video put out by Rick Welch, One thing that he promotes is keeping your bow exactly vertical, no canting, One of the things I don't do is tuck my head down nose to string as he teaches, I keep my head completly vertical as  

Not to hijack the thread, but I have tried to emulate Rick Welch style which seems to work for me but also have a issue with tilting my head to the right (RH shooter) nose on string as it tends to make me want to cant the bow and throws off my back tension and aim. Anyone else have this issue?

As for the neck pain, you may be tilting your head forward in an effort to sight down the arrow, try to make a conscious effort to pull your head back for all shots.