Why Am I Shooting to the Right?

[Ibow]

Why Am I Shooting Right?

I am really struggling. I’ve been a Black Widow recurve shooter for nearly 40 years. This year I have really, really struggled with my shooting, shooting as much as 5-6” right and slightly high, even at distances such as 10 yards. I just cannot figure it out.

I have perfect arrow flight – nothing has changed in my set up over the years.

Seemingly, nothing has changed in my form. I don’t seem to be collapsing my bow arm. I seem to be holding, releasing as I always have, solid anchor, same spot. Not gripping the bow any differently than I always have.

I’ve built my rest out a bit in an effort to “move” things back. I’ve always shot off the shelf but in an effort to gain control of the shooting woes, I tried a Bear Weatherest. I adjusted my nock setting along with it. Still shooting right. Beautiful arrow flight and very tight groups – it’s just that they are all to the right. Brace height is where it’s always been – I’ve been checking it right along.

The only thing I can think of that changed was that I had rotator cuff surgery this past winter and I may not be getting back as far as I have in the past. I have absolutely no pain at all in shooting now and I “feel” like I am there at full draw, but today’s “full draw” may not be what last year’s “full draw” was. But in trying to think it through, if I wasn’t coming to the same “full draw” I had in the past, wouldn’t that show a weaker spined arrow and cause my flight to be left of my target as opposed to being right of my target?

Any thoughts? Suggestions? I’m about ready to quit. Anything would be appreciated.

Thanks, Chuck

[moebow]

Chuck,

Missing critical information!  Right or left handed?????  After your surgery, things MIGHT have changed and you don't "feel" the change.  EVERY pocket camera and cell phone has video capability these days.  You MAY not think you are collapsing but... maybe???

Take a video and look at it closely!  Post if you want help, but just looking at yourself shoot will be revealing.

Arne

[Gregg S]

This is just a suggestion of what may be going on. For ME,   I tend to get a high right miss if I pluck the string. It doesn't seem to me like I am plucking it but I can tell that I am because my hand comes away from my face by a few inches. Since you mentioned that Your "full draw" may not be what it used to be, it's possible that as you are trying to get the string back that last bit you pluck it. Just try to take notice if your hand is flying away from your face on release. I tend to do this when I start getting tired. This may or may not help you. I went nuts trying different arrow spines and moving things around only to finally realize what I was doing.

[Ibow]

Arne - I'm a right handed shooter and the surgery was on my right shoulder. I'll try the video thing. There's got to be something I'm missing.

Gregg - It's definitely a possibility that I may be plucking the string a bit. I may be tiring quicker than I think.

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.

[moebow]

Let us know what you find out!

Arne