Creep before release

[fnshtr]

Arne, McDave, others: you have always been great help and have given great advice. Thanks up front.

When I video myself I can see a slight forward movement of my string elbow just as I begin to release. I cannot feel it, therefore cannot seem to overcome it. It is as if I'm relaxing my back in anticipation of release.

When fatigued, it becomes worse.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[The Night Stalker]

Are you shooting to the right a little? Probably loosing back tension.

[fnshtr]

Thanks Tim. Not always to the right, just inconsistently. I'm beginning to think that is it.  I'm anticipating the release and for some reason relaxing the back instead of just my fingers.

I wonder if it could have to do with my wrist position?

[moebow]

I'd suggest that you are not getting or maintaining bone support for the shot.  IF!!! your bones are supporting the bow weight, then just back tension will maintain it.  All you have to do then is relax the fingers.  Look for a perceived reduction in bow weight as your bones take over the bow weight, maintain that then relax the hook.

Arne

[McDave]

It's a difficult issue.  I've observed the same thing in videos I've taken of myself.  The best I've been able to come up with is to view back tension as a part of followthrough.  I have three components of followthrough that I monitor: alignment of my bow arm, back tension, and head position.  I try to actively feel back tension AFTER release of the arrow.

I'm a Rick Welch dead release shooter.  Because of that, I would imagine I have a worse problem with creep than a dynamic release shooter would.  Maybe Rick creeps a little himself on release, I don't know; they say everybody does to some degree or another.  But in my last session with him, that is the main thing he noticed, and focused on, so I must have been doing it more than he does.  When I got the idea of making it a part of my follow through, it helped.

[fnshtr]

McDave,
I shot with Rick and I too use a static or dead release, at least that is what I try to do and seem to shoot best when I do. I cannot seem to be consistent with a dynamic release. I will try your advice, concentrating on back tension during follow through.

Arne: thanks. I will take some video from different angles and try to determine if I'm getting bone on bone support.

[nhbuck1]

how does he teach his release style? and what is creeping mean? trying to see arrow in flight and lifting head?

[fnshtr]

Originally posted by nhbuck1:
how does he teach his release style? and what is creeping mean? trying to see arrow in flight and lifting head?

No. That is usually called peeking. Creeping, in my case, is a slight forward movement of the string arm just prior to, or at the beginning of the release.

When I shot with Rick he taught that the release should be a subconscious action. Do everything else right and it should "go off".

[nhbuck1]

i think this happens to me when i start getting fatigued

[Bowwild]

I almost never post on this forum. So please forgive me my detail and commitment to what I describe below.

A dead release (draw hand) or leaving the bow arm "up" until the arrow hits the target are like stopping the baseball bat when the ball is struck or the tennis racket when the ball is hit.  

The only way you can perform those unnatural movements is to allow your body to prepare for the "stop" before contact (release) is made. to keep the bow arm "up" until the arrow hits the target promotes collapsing (inward folding of the bow arm shoulder). The dead release is just a smidgeon away (if you are lucky) from creeping.

The bow arm and drawing side back muscles must remain active throughout the shot.  This results in a highly animated follow through, one that prevents you from messing up your shot.

When done correctly, the draw hand will slide along the face, under the ear (if anchored at the mouth) and the thumb will end up on or near the shoulder. The bow arm will jump towards the target and fall to the side and drop. The arrow is long gone before this animated follow through begins.

To execute such a shot you must "set up the shot" by keeping both sides active and initiate a slight movement of the draw side scapula. When that scapula budges, relax the back of the draw hand and fingers at once. The reaction will be instantaneous and involuntary follow through.

I've trained more than 7,000 adult archer instructors in the past 16 years, 8-48 hours of instruction for each.   I am not a coach.  I've found that bow arm follow-through is much more difficult for most people that the drawing side.

Doesn't matter what type of vertical bow the archer is using, the form, execution, and follow through are the same.

The 16 million kids through NASP® who have won $926,000 in cash scholarships are taught the process I've described here.

[Bowwild]

Sorry, one more thing.

I think it is very important for the instructor, teacher, and coach to stress positive instruction and motives.  Tell the archer to focus what to do correct rather than highlighting or naming what was done wrong or incorrectly.  

In this vein, the common phrase "aim small, miss small" is inconsistent with positive thinking.  I think it is much more helpful fir the archer to think "aim small, hit small".  Missing should be the furthest thing from one's mind.

As I write this I've taken a look at my "signature"...."If the mind wanders, so too will the arrow."  To be fair, my signature should be more positively stated as well.  Maybe, "A process focused mind will tighten arrow groups."

[fnshtr]

Roy,
Excellent observations. I watched the entire "wedge" video series that Arne referenced above. I've struggled with both the dynamic release (getting consistency) and the static release (avoiding creep/collapse). I am now working on correct alignment as my primary focus and hoping I can find that "natural release" and the resulting follow through (natural as well).

Thanks,
Wayne

[fnshtr]

Oh yeah. Also wanted to say that it appears to me that Terry Green has nailed the most important thing, proper alignment.