Form question

[Kx199]

Bow hand. Is it best to lock your elbow or have a slight bend? I try both but feel that I have a hard time duplicating my shot cycle with a slightly bent bow hand. I have decent results with it, but it's easy to bend too much, not being consistent.
Thanks guys!

Loving the forum and the 70 degree weather we are having today!

[jt85]

Not an expert by any means but I personally keep a slight bend in my elbow.

[longbow fanatic 1]

I lock my elbow, then rotate my elbow to 9 o'clock (right handed shooter). It's very repeatable.

[moebow]

My take.

Locked joint = willing to sacrifice the joint to the task at hand.

Bent elbow, bow held with muscle alone = less consistent.

Elbow straight BUT NOT LOCKED = bone on bone and most consistent.  (yes, elbow pronated (rolled in).

Arne

[McDave]

+1 elbow straight but not locked.

[njloco]

It's bent but not locked, like what Arne and McDave say above, you'll just have to play with it. If you have a fixed vertical bar, like on a metal fence. Grab hold of it, lean on it. You'll notice if your using your muscle's it will get uncomfortable pretty quick. Now while your holding it straighten your arm out but don't lock it, now just slightly rotate your elbow so it's horizontal to the ground. What you should end up with is a slight bend in the elbow, but the pressure is really resting on the bone !

Good luck !

[slowbowjoe]

Been working with bow arm straight but not locked, like Moebow and McDave are saying also  (I listen to those guys a lot).
I have my anchor fairly consistent, but I'm still trying to establish consistency with my bow arm - straight but not bent is what I'm working with presently for that.