Form critique welcome!

[Sarah]

Hey folks - after discovering the origin of my string slap shoulder issue from my previous thread, I figure it's a good idea to start a new thread to request some form critique. It's been a few months since I've shot regularly, and years since I've had help with my form.

I am most comfortable shooting my 36# recurve, but I wanted to up the poundage for hunting, so a second video shows me shooting my 48# longbow. My draw is right around 28", and I obviously shoot left handed.

Anyway, I have found that as long as I concentrate on my form, the arrows are going pretty much where I look. While shooting today I was getting 3" groups at 10 yards. Always looking to improve!

Hope these work!

   

   

[McDave]

When I click on the pictures, it takes me to your photobucket acct, but there aren't any videos there. There are albums, but seemingly nothing inside of them.

[moebow]

Sarah,  Over all you are looking very good!!

The big thing I see is as you raise the bow to draw.  Watch both your shoulders as you raise the bow, can you see both of them coming up in a "shrug?"  You start out with your shoulders in a very good position but as you lift the bow both are coming up a lot.  Then as you reach full draw, your bow shoulder comes back down a little.

See if you can lift the bow (bow hand and string hand) but NOT lift your shoulders at the same time.  Think, "down and back" for the bow shoulder!!

You handle both bows very well but that shoulder movement is adding complication that you don't need.  Set your shoulders before you start the draw and then try to keep them down.

Try this in front of a mirror so you can see what your shoulders are doing.

Last, watch your head as you draw.  Again, you start out in REALLY good position but as you draw, your head is coming back quite a bit.  Hold the head still and bring the string/arrow nock to your face, don't let the head move back and then "go get the string."

You are really very close but as you are finding out, archery lets you know when something is a little off.  If you are getting hurt, or something is hurting, something is wrong.

Arne

[moebow]

PS.  Videos came up fine for me McDave.  A

[McDave]

Had to switch to my computer; wouldn't come in on my iPhone.

In addition to what Arne said, the point of contact of the bow with your bow hand should be between your thumb and your lifeline, the pressure should be on the meaty part of your hand below your thumb.  It looks to me like you're getting too much hand into the bow.  This can cause the string to hit your arm, and also promotes torque of the bow handle. (You may already be doing this correctly; I'm just guessing from the video).

[Sarah]

Thanks McDave and Arne! I'll work on my shoulders and double check my grip on the bow.

[Paul_R]

Not sure if it means anything being a re-beginner myself but I notice the recurve tips up slightly with every shot. Do you tend to shoot high with that bow? The longbow stays dead steady in the follow thru.

[Sarah]

Not that I notice... not sure what that's about.

[mahantango]

Looking really good! Nice release and follow-through. It may be a function of the higher draw weight, but with the longbow I can see a slight creep just before release. Where in central Pa are you?

[DennyK]

Sarah- Thanks for your thread, inadvertently it helped me out. Moebow made me aware I was slowly starting to shrug my shoulders slightly as well- fixed it over the weekend.  Thanks!  

[Terry Green]

What Mobow said...about the shoulders...

Don't see a problem with moving you head back as you reach draw though cause your are ending up straight up....moves your anchor back for full extension...could be worse if it was the other way around,...i.e., leaning into the shot.  

I actually move my whole body back slightly as I draw, kinda like a 'wind up' I guess before the shot.  I start out a little forward, and end up vertical at release.

You are handling he weight very well.  And your form is over all really good.

[Sarah]

Thanks Terry.
Working to keep my shoulders down, seems like that is the most important thing.

I'm finding that the heavier bow wears me out very quickly, I just hope that I can adjust to it and that the weight isn't too much for me.

[tracker12]

Always nice to see the comments on these videos.  I really never thought to check what my shoulders were doing.  I will now.

[Arwin]

Cool video! Love watching people shoot.    :cool: