Another question for Arne....

[Flying Dutchman]

Hi,

As you know I am seriously working on my form. I still have the following issue, I saw it on a video they made from me when training. I always assumed that my drawlenght was 29 inches.
This  is what happens: when I start the shot, I always draw to an amazing 30 to 30.5 inches. Then I anchor, aim and go back to 29. Then I release. So I seem to overdraw in the beginning of the shot.
Should I try to hold the 30 inches or should I see that overdraw and going one inch back as my normal form that works for  me?

[moebow]

Ad,

Without seeing, it is hard to give other than a "theoretical" answer.  It is GENERALLY accepted in the higher levels of archery coach's training that pulling back past your facial references then allowing the hand and arm to move forward makes the shooter loose back tension.  AND that once back tension is lost, it cannot be successfully regained without starting the shot over again from the beginning.  

Again, in general, we don't like to see someone pulling past their anchor then sinking forward to anchor.  It is a recipe for a collapsing shot.

There should be a place in your draw where you feel the bones pick up the lion's share of the bow weight (kind of like feeling the let off on a compound bow) -- that should be your draw length.  When you get that feeling (bone support for the bow weight)Your hand should be where it needs to be.  If you draw to "bone support," with your string hand SLIGHTLY low (No more than one inch or 2 cm) then all you do is lift the hand to the face and set the references.  The hand and string arm should NEVER move forward --again according to commonly taught theory.

You can see this movement in all my videos -- the draw then lift to anchor.

Another error common here is DECIDING that we want our string hand touching this place, that place and another place, arbitrarily.  Your hand on the face position is a RESULT of your draw (bones lined up) and NOT just deciding that that is where the hand should be.

Again theoretical answers, really need to see a recent video to help much more.

Arne

[Flying Dutchman]

Thanks again Arne!
All makes sense what you say.
So it looks like I am still suffering from collapsing, though much less.... More work to be done.... It is a bad form from which I suffer for years. Collapsing seems to be my middle name. It probably has to do with the fact I can't shoot for months frequently, because I suffer from MS. After a MS attack I have to build it up again.  I started training with rubber bands, hoping my muscles will gain in strength. Still I find it strange I start building up the shot at 30 inches DL.
Nevertheless, I hit my targets most of the time and always end as high placed in our 3D competitions. I became on regular base first, 2 nd and third. So there is hope for us sinners .... :!

[moebow]

Many of us have to work around various "obstacles."  Many times, trying for the "ideal" or "theoretical" optimum is NOT what we should do.  That will depend on the individual's obstacle(s) to be overcome.

We CAN fixate too much on "ideal" form at the expense of an already fully acceptable proficiency.  Experiment (?), absolutely (!), but reject that which doesn't work and go back to what does.  I'll add that "experimenting" is not a one practice thing, at least a couple weeks before the "reject" button should be pushed.

Arne

[Bladepeek]

And that answer exemplifies the difference between a coach and an instructor. Sure wish I lived closer so I could get some one-on-one.

[moebow]

If you are ever in the area, give a yell, Blade!  Or anyone else for that matter.  Let me know you're coming and I'll give you all the time you want.

Arne