Release issues

[Scrub_buck]

Been working on my shot lately. I experimented some this evening with a 'dead release' (static), instead of pulling through.

I have been a little 'off' as of late but I was shooting about as good as ever today letting the string just slip from my fingers keeping my hand up either at or very close to my anchor point on my face. I used to pull through and try to put my hand on my shoulder like Dale Karch suggested in Masters of the BareBow. What I was doing this evening was akin to what Ron LaClair suggested in the same video. I believe Howard Hill liked the dead release as well...

Any body out there care to comment? Anybody else run into the same situation? Feel free to shed a little light on the pros and cons of the 'dead' release.

[manitou1]

I only know my personal pros and cons.  Rick Welch is a proponant of the static type release... and it does present consistancy.  When I do use the static release, I notice I loose a bit of performance and my arrow trajectory suffers.  When I pull through, my arrows hit with more authority and fly flatter.

[bowslinger]

I struggle back and forth.  Some days, I shoot extremely well pulling though the shot and some days I am all over.  I think when I pull through, I have a tendency to pluck the string, rather than relax and just quit holding the string.  I think I am more consistent with a static release.

[cahaba]

I use a static release. The things that have helped me is just relaxing my hand so the shot goes off. I dont want to let go I want the string tension to take it out of my hand.
Shooting with both eyes closed or blindfolded close to the bale helped me really feel what a good release should feel like.
Also applying most of the string tension to my middle finger helped. And keeping that pinky tucked back and out of the way. For me getting a good release was the easiest part of proper shooting and being blidfolded is the one thing that helped the most. It also helped with me feeling back tension. Taking away your sight makes the brain much more accute to feeling....Good shootin Dave

[TxAg]

X2 on the majority of string tension on the middle finger. I shoot way better whn i do that....much less torquing of the string

[Kamm1004]

X2 on seeing better arrow performance when I pull thru but better consistency when I use a dead release. I go back and forth cuz I just love the extra speed and flatter trajectory of pulling through. But I'm slowly realizing its better to have the consistency of a dead release. It's a sort of love-hate relationship when it comes to those two releases

[mcgroundstalker]

I'm far from being the best bow shot East of the Mississippi, but... Don't forget your bow hand... Gotta keep the "push-pull" part of shooting in mind... A "dead release" may cause loss of back tension or what some call "creeping"... That's why I like the push-pull, or pull through the shot kinda thing... Works For Me......

... mike ...    ...

[Terry Green]

Howard did not shoot with a dead release.....you can find a lot of his clips showing his dynamic release on this site on the Vintage forum.....

   Here\\'s One...  


You can also see Ron LaClair shoot with a dynamic release as well.

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Thanks for that clip Terry, I had seen pictures of Howard Hill shooting with no shirt and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth but never seen the actual video.

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by Terry Green:
Howard did not shoot with a dead release.....you can find a lot of his clips showing his dynamic release on this site on the Vintage forum.....

   Here\\'s One...  


You can also see Ron LaClair shoot with a dynamic release as well.

I have been watching many of his vids and noticed the same.

I was shooting this morning before work and using my 64# HH style longbow. With a dynamic release things were more fluid and I did notice, quite considerably, a flatter trajectory and also a better shot placement.

When I shoot static release (as much as I'm capable) I notice tension on index/middle finger plays more of a role in the consistency of shot placement. For me, static releases cause me more worry and inconsistency. The dynamic, or pull through, with a semi swing draw, seems to be where I'm the most accurate. And I ain't all that accurate, unfortunately.

I notice with the lighter weight bow I shoot, the more accurate I am with a hold/static release.

Bowarm is key in both, obviously.

When I swing through I feel my middle finger touch my mouth corner and let it slip past. as the string also slips past. I would like to get a deeper touch (eyetooth style) like Mr. Hill but I'm not there yet, nor will I likely ever be to my personal satisfaction.

I also shoot two under.
Each shooter is different. This is how the two release styles affect me.