Looking for input on form

[Marquero]

Hey All,

I'm very new to archery (aside from some childhood experiences with a compound).  I started shooting a recurve about 5 months ago, and I'm an addict.  My wife is seriously worried because all I do is read about shooting and making bows etc.  It's an obsession, and I love it.

Anyway, I don't have many folks around that can give me feedback on my shooting form and I was hoping that some of you could help me out.  Here's a link to a youtube video that I just posted.

 

Looking forward to any constructive comments.

Best wishes,

Mark

[Ujio]

Have you ever watched Masters of the Barebow 3?  I think breaking down the steps of your shot would be really helpful.  One thing you will hear a lot is to keep pulling through the shot by using back tension

[moebow]

Mark,  I think you are looking pretty good for just 5 months and no local help!  What I see is a pretty good shot sequence and a pretty smooth release.  I do have a few suggestions for you though that may help.

1.  Try to close your bow hand fingers lightly to the back of the bow before you draw.  Part of your inconsistency is "catching" the bow at the time of release.  If your fingers are down to start with, the bow is already caught and you reduce unneeded movement there.

Your full draw alignment is pretty good but you are drawing with your biceps and upper deltoid muscle rather than your back.  Watch your string shoulder.  It starts back then stops and you complete the draw with arm.  Try to continue pulling that shoulder straight back at a 90* angle to the arrow line.  Think of pulling that shoulder back so it lines up with your bow shoulder AND your bow wrist.  Doing this, you should be able to substantially reduce your string arm tension.  The less arm tension the better and your release will allow your string hand to move more back along your jaw and flip out to the side less.

Another idea here would be for you to try, during the draw, to rotate your shoulders to the alignment I mention above.

Masters of the Barebow 3 is a good DVD to get and watch but also you can check out Terry's form clock here in the Shooter's From Forum.  Also Ranger B and I have videos posted that may give you some visual references to watch.  Do a Search for a thread called "release tips" here and for Ranger B's videos -- Some of those are listed as "Tip of the Day" I think.

You are doing very well, glad you are "addicted" and keep working on your good start.  Let us know how it is going.

By the way, one of the BEST videos I've seen posted by someone asking for advice.

Arne

[raghorns]

moebow,

Thank you for all the great coaching (free, might I add)to so many here and through your utube videos. I have watched and benefited much...I just wanted to express my appreciation.

Lyle

[moebow]

Thanks Lyle.  Glad that I can help in some small way.

[Marquero]

First of all, I'm in total and complete agreement with raghorns:

A HUGE thanks to Moebow for all of his great coaching here in this forum and for posting his informative instructional videos on youtube!


Moebow,

I really appreciate you taking the time to check out my form video and give me some feedback and coaching.  

I really liked your advice about holding the bow lightly.  I think that I may be overcompensating for an over-tight bow grip that was messing me up when I first started shooting.  Unfortunately, now my bow grip is too-loose (or non-existent).  I watched my videos again after reading your comments, and I can see exactly what you are talking about when you say that I'm "catching" the bow after the shot.  I guess that this interferes with a good solid follow through.

I'm also trying to incorporate your suggestions about bringing by string shoulder back completely towards the end of my draw and getting my shoulders in alignment with the arrow.  I'm going to re-watch MBB3 along with the excellent coaching videos that you and Ranger B have made available on youtube.  I'm also going to try to get a hold of a copy of MBB4 and re-read the entire thread on Terry's form clock.    

One thing I'm running into when I try to incorporate these ideas in my shooting is a feeling that I'm already reaching a good anchor point on my face (fingernail of middle finger against first molar and corner of cock feather touching the tip of my nose) before my back muscles are fully engaged, and before my string shoulder gets far enough back.  This leads to a feeling that if I continue the draw by increasing back tension and bringing that string shoulder back further I'll either pass my anchor point or I'll have to move my head back or turn my nose into the string too much.  Is this because I'm drawing too much with my arm (biceps and deltoids) and not enough with my back during the earlier stages of the draw?  I'm not sure if this is making sense, but if you have any ideas about what might be going on here, I'd really like to hear them.  

I'll keep working on my form and then post another video to see if folks think that I'm "getting it" and/or see other ways for me to improve.

Thanks again Moebow, and thanks to everyone who makes the TradGang community possible.  What a great resource!

Best,

Mark

[moebow]

Mark,

Sounds as though you are making progress.  There are a lot of "moving parts" when you are first learning this stuff.  Try to take it one step at a time.

There is a common misunderstanding about the final step after anchor.  Your hand and string does NOT move on your face when you pull that shoulder back.  If it does, you are still pulling your string elbow back directly away from the target rather than perpendicular to the arrow line.  As Terry says, think of the motion as a "J". So as you reach anchor, the elbow moves less and less away from the target and more and more 90* to the arrow line and towards your back.

Another way to think about it is as you reach your anchor, think, "Stick my chest out a little."  The string hand will not move from its already established references.

See if those ideas help.  As with all things, you have to play with it to find what works best for you.

Arne

[Marquero]

Thanks again Arne.  I'll try thinking about it that way when I practice later today!

Best,

Mark