Latest Bulletin From USA Archery

[Bjorn]

This is my first post in this section of TG so go easy on me please.    

This came via email March 5:

Dear USA Archery Certified Coach

Stance
We are now asking archers to completely lock their knees when they shoot. There is a universal concept that if you lock your knees you will pass out; however, archers will not pass out for the amount of time it takes to execute the shot cycle.
Locking the knees provides several benefits in terms of stability, including keeping the body still during shot execution. Archers should start locking their knees completely at the completion of the Set position, but can relax their knees after the completion of each shot.
As you know, archers “coil” – rotate the upper body – from Set position through Setup, and remain in this position through the shot cycle. We have seen that a lot of archers are having difficulty keeping their hip position as they coil when they do not lock their knees.
Losing the hip position will reduce the amount of tension the archer feels in their back, and will also cause the hips to move upon release. Keeping the knees completely locked through the shot process will allow the archer to keep his/her hips from moving as he coils to setup and as he releases the string.

I did not copy/paste the whole bulletin, just this salient part.

My question is "will you teach this style"? I think anything we can do to minimize movement between aim and release is important.
In the case of an advanced olympic archer, who has zero interest in any other archery pursuit, and who comes to me for coaching; I'm going to find them another coach who is completely into olympic archery.

I'd be interested in your thoughts.  

[moebow]

Bjorn,  Short answer is YES I will teach this, I can see value in the technique.

Longer answer and one I'm sure will be repeated by others.  It is a target technique and like the "sit down" maneuver of the bow hand, or adding the clicker, it is something to take in it's proper order and when the student is ready for it and will benefit from it.

Many here do not "coil," set the "barrel of the gun" or use other target (flat range) techniques and so will derive little benefit from this.

Many COULD benefit from expanding their "horizons" but many will not see any value in this.  Kind of a shame as learning new techniques can only help -- BUT commonly, "if it ain't bow huntin', I ain't interested."

It sounds to me that you have a good philosophy of handing off a student to another coach if you or the student have different archery orientations and goals.  Kudus!!

Arne

[alaninoz]

I'll start by saying that I'm not a coach in any sport, let alone archery, but I'm slightly surprised at USA Archery's recommendation. Standing with knees locked isn't as stable as standing with them slightly cracked, or so I've been told and I've found through other sports. This is particularly so if there's any outside disturbance.

Further, standing with knees locked would be a challenge on anything other than flat and level ground.

I'd be interested to hear any contrary arguments.

[Todd Cook]

I'm with alininoz on this. I'm certainly no coach, and yes, my archery revolves around bowhunting. However, I have been in the past very involved in football, baseball, and martial arts. I know that the key to balance and athletic strength is firm yet relaxed knees, not locked. Maybe archery is different, but it seems counter intuitive.

[tracker12]

I know it sounds strange but not wanting to discount the theory I tried it last night and was surprised at how stable I felt during the shot.  Not something I would think to use hunting but who knows.  Plan test it out during the next 3D shoot. I always try to keep an open mind.  What does not work for me I discard.

[mgf]

I don't teach but I guess I'll try it.

My main concern is hunting but shooting "targets" is one of the ways I practice.

Anything that works on the practice range and can be incorporated into shooting in the field is a good thing.

[McDave]

If it does work better, it would be an example of how we should never take things for granted, no matter how long they've been around.  I suppose one difference between archery and golf is that there is quite a bit of lower body movement in golf, but not so much in archery.

Since reading this, I've tried shooting both ways, knees locked and knees flexed, where conditions allow it, i.e. flat ground shot from a level shooting position, and I can't tell much difference.  Of course, there are probably lots of things an elite archer might do to get a 1/2" tighter group at 100 meters that wouldn't make any difference to me.

[moebow]

I worked with it at length the other day, and here is what I found -- for me.

Locking the knees at the "set" position definitely helped stabilize my pelvis in line with the feet.  Then the "coil" of the upper body at "set up" and "draw to loading" was actually easier to accomplish (pelvis didn't want to move so easily) and produced a better and more stable posture.  The locked knees seem to help hold the pelvis in an open position - consistent with the position of the feet and made a more firm base to turn against which is what is done as you turn your shoulders to align with the target ("set the barrel of the gun").

As I said above, this IS definitely a "target" technique and one that will be difficult to do "in the field."  IMO.  I am really not sure how applicable this will be for 3D, stumping or hunting (and can't test it yet, still many feet of snow on the ground here) but for practice, learning form and target, I think there is value here.

I wouldn't worry too much about this from a typical "trad" approach to archery but IF you are also a target shooter in the off season, you MAY want to explore this more.  If not, just write it off to those "target guys are at it again" and forget it.

Arne

[alaninoz]

Thanks for giving it a go Arne. I find your description interesting - it seems like locking the knees trades stability (in the sense of not falling over) for better, or more easily achieved, alignment. Looks like swings and roundabouts.

I think I'll stick with cracked knees as most of my shooting is in the field.