The benefit of being there

[McDave]

I just returned from a two-day workshop with Rick Welch. This is not meant as a specific plug for Rick, although many of you know that I favor his style.  This is meant as a specific plug for having any expert, whether it is Rod Jenkins, Arne Moe, or whoever you might have confidence in, watch you shoot.  Not just when you're on your "best behavior," but over a period of time long enough for you to get a little fatigued and start making some mistakes.

I'm really pretty happy with the way I've been shooting lately, but I always enjoy seeing Rick, and it was convenient to build the two days in Abilene, TX into a trailer trip my wife and dog and I were making of the Southwest.  I didn't even know going in if he would find anything specific to comment about, although I assumed he would, but I wasn't aware of any specific problems I had, other than that I wasn't as accurate or consistent as I would like to be.

What Rick discovered is that I have a tendency to raise my head at times, making me miss high.  When he pointed this out, I found that I was unable to feel myself do it.  It's just a slight movement, not a jerk or anything obvious, at least to me.  This means that I could have gone years doing this and wondering why I have the occasional high flyer.  He gave me some keys so I could know when I was raising my head, since I can't really feel it directly, at least not yet, and I learned to control it.

There were several other things he pointed out to me during the two days, but this was the most obvious thing I would never have caught by myself.  I know this, because I shoot with the same two guys several times a week and we all have high flyers at times and we have discussed it without coming up with the right answer.

I'm sure Rod Jenkins or Arne Moe would have seen the same thing that Rick did, because they have developed their powers of observation over many years and students.

If you really want to develop your shooting so you approach your potential, hands-on expert observation is something you owe yourself.

[SteelyDan]

Like you, I prefer Welch's style of shooting as well. I knew the need for a still bow arm but I never gave any real thought to the effects of raising your head, even if ever so slightly. Certainly something else to consider.

Your posts are very helpful. Thank you.

[Hawk2]

McDave, I am always interested in your posts, you seem quite knowledgeable. I also had a 2 day course with Rick Welch in Feb.
I was very fortunate as he came up here to Wisconsin and stayed with a friend about 60 miles away and he actually came to my hometown and we met at the archery club I belong to which is 10 minutes from my house(I could hardly believe my good luck)
Rick said I had good back tension which was a real surprise, I had no idea if I did or not.
What he did find was I had a slight pluck & at the same time I would move my head away from the bow at the shot, I had no idea this was going on

[Hawk2]

McDave, Somehow I ran out of typing room on the last post so to continue: Rick gave me one thing to practice which was to come to full draw standing with a wall at your back and bring your string elbow to the wall, than at release the string arm/hand CAN NOT go to the rear or really move at all. The other thing I have to practice is to shoot blank bale(no target) and concentrate on keeping my string hand glued to my cheek bone at the shot. I do this for a few shots every time before I start shooting at targets and it is working wonders, my shooting is much improved and I am a happy camper. Now when I make a not so good shot I know why and can correct it. And Rick is a great guy and the master of his craft.

[McDave]

Hawk, that is exactly what Rick did for me.  The two exercises you describe have all but eliminated my pluck and lifting my head.  Rick recommended that I practice pulling to a post or a wall for at least two weeks, to break my old bad habits, which I am in the process of doing now that I have returned home.

I didn't put this in my original post because I wanted it to be about the general benefit of working with an expert, not my specific problem. But since you mentioned it, glad to add my X2

[longbow fanatic 1]

Great stuff, McDave! Thx!