Long Shots Left

[Drewster]

I've been practicing at some longer distances recently and am having a problem with arrows hitting consistently to the left when I shoot beyond 25 or 30 yards.  I need some help to get this corrected.

I realize that plucking the string on release could cause this, but I've been conscience of trying to get good clean releases.  Although it could still be my release, what other things could cause this?  Bow set-up?  Arrow spine? Point weight?

Hope someone can help enlighten me and get me "on target".  I was aiming about a foot to the right of center @ 35 yards this morning and was pretty well on target.

[moebow]

Drewster,

Very hard to diagnose without a video.  My first suggestion would be your form is not allowing the arrow nock to really get under your eye the same each time.  A very small error in placement can easily explain a foot at 35 yards.

To test this, place a strip of blue masking tape vertically on the target from top to bottom.  then start close (say 10 yards) and work back in 5 or 10 yard increments.  The idea is to aim at and shoot at the tape to hit it.  Your "aiming" alignment should not have to be offset left or right to hit the tape. Shoot as close to the same as you can at each distance.  See if you have a "trend" that is slowly increasing your left hit error as you go back.

At 35 yards a change of placement of your string hand as small as 1/16th inch can easily cause a 1 foot error.  This MAY happen because of the longer range and what you are doing to see the target.

I strongly suggest that you do not change spine or tune while doing this -- at first!  Be sure that it is or is not your form before you mess with your equipment.

Arne

[Drewster]

Thanks Arne, I'll definitely try your tape exercise and see what happens.

Drew

[ollieacs]

I notice this as well.  It happens mostly when I am not keeping good back tension on the bow arm.  I think this causes a slight alignment error to the right which is compensated for by shoulder muscle tension.  As I loose the arrow, the bow will move to the left and the arrows will hit left.  I try to keep the bow arm still and the arrows center up at longer ranges.  I also notice an over draw tendency at longer ranges which puts a kink in my form!  I shoot blank bale and look at my arrow on the bow to see which way my bow arm jumps when I loose.  If I can figure out what is causing it, and correct it, I shoot straighter!  It really seems to help with my form.  Good luck!  Moebow is right on track as always!  Ollie

[smokin joe]

Do what Moe says. 99% of my shooting problems are caused by very small form/alignment errors at the back of my arrow at full draw rather than at the front.

My 2 cents worth.