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Author Topic: fixed crawl and the other side of the string  (Read 1219 times)

Online the rifleman

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fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« on: October 24, 2016, 08:35:00 PM »
I am left eye dominant with a very weak right eye.  I have learned to shoot left handed as right handed has never been an option for me.  Over the past year I have made the following changes which really improved my shooting on the 3D course:
I dropped bow weight from 50 to 42 pounds and discovered how to develop proper form.
I re-flecthed my arrows to move the fletching farther back toward the nock and burnt the backs square so I could begin touching the feather to my nose as a third anchor point and tightened my gaps.
I was shooting split finger--always aware of the alignment of my arrow under my eye, but focused on the target---whatever you call it...
Long story short I began hunting season this year with more confidence than ever---but it hasn't worked out that way.
Not happy with my shooting in the woods I felt that I needed to make a change and gain more control over my shot before I take the longbow back out there.  I spent the weekend setting the bow up for a fixed crawl, relearning to shoot three under (I never have gotten as clean of a release as I did with split) and in the process struggling to find the right head/arrow alignment and giving myself a fat lip.  My groups were about 3 inches to the right at 15 yards (bareshaft and broadheads impacting same as fletched field points).  I also worked to make sure the nock was touching my nose for a third anchor point in place of the former feather to nose.  Tonight after work I went back to the target and this time really concentrated on having my eye over the arrow.  I really got my elbow back and in line, and took a deep hook, and stopped hitting my lip most of the time, but the arrows still went to the right.  At one point I looked to the left of the string over the arrow (between the string and the riser--keep in mind I'm shooting lefty) released and began hitting dead on.  Even with more or less cant I need to look to the left of the string.  All of my previous shooting has been done lining up the arrow to the right of the string so this is very new to me.
With this set up I already feel more in control of the shot and am learning now to focus on the point of the arrow on the target.  I set it up to be point on at 20 and just a few inches high at 10 and 15 for hunting, but plan to use this for 3D also (and maybe string walk up as needed for longer shots).  I have been averse to shooting any way other than split for quite awhile, but am at the point now where I feel that I need to make this change to move forward in the accuracy and control department--I know I don't belong in the deer woods until I have control over every shot. I've watched the videos including the Push and they were very helpful in making this change.  Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Offline Caughtandhobble

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2016, 02:32:00 PM »
Good luck, sounds like you are well on your way my friend.

I watched "PUSH" great video, thanks for mentioning it.   :)


   :archer2:

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2016, 04:00:00 PM »
Thanks!  Recent update.  I found that by going from split to 3 under and moving my nocking point up a bit I can now hold at 6 o'clock at 15 and on at 20.  I at first had trouble hitting my nose on the string, but rotated Fletchings so cock feather is out, touch the feather to my nose, tilt my head, but keep it square with the target and am shooting better than ever.  Thanks for the encouragement!

Offline OBXarcher

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2016, 06:08:00 PM »
I have tried the same thing since I hit 12" left when point on. ( right handed shooter) it brought my group over but still not on the spot, about 3-4 inches at 20 yards. It really has me puzzled.

Offline OBXarcher

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2016, 06:08:00 PM »
Ps, thinking about trying left handed bow and shooting right handed .

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2016, 06:43:00 PM »
OBX are you right eye dominant?  I had a bow break during a shoot a couple of years ago and borrowed my buddy's rh recurve.  I had to hold about a foot and half to the left to hit the kill. I did solve my problem with hitting right after much time at the target this week a couple of revelations and changes have me shooting dead on--
First I went from a 496 grain arrow out of my 42 pound Whip and went to a full length GT 1535 with 125 up front=412 grains.
I then started shooting 3 under (I had been shooting split prior to trying the crawl).
I anchor index finger on cheek bone, thumb c under jawline and touch my nose to the cock feather.
Still hitting to the right I tried holding my face square with the target and then tilting (not turning it toward the bow) my head to the left further over the arrow and my left and right issues were solved.  I am finally smacking arrows and hitting dead center!!  
My gaps range from 7" at 20 to 3" at 30---with a 4" spread I can hold the same sight picture from 10 to 30 basically.
Did you bareshaft tune the arrows for your bow?  Hitting to the left could be caused by too stiff of an arrow for a right hander.
I hope this helps you.

Offline OBXarcher

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2016, 06:30:00 AM »
John, My arrows are tuned very good for the set up. I purposely tried weak arrows to see if I could bring impacts right (again right handed shooter)

We just moved to the beach and my shooting is now limited to under the house and that is packed with stuff right now. As soon as we clear it out I am going to spend the winter really working on this.

Thanks for this advice !!

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2016, 05:42:00 PM »
Good luck Mark.  Let me know how you're doing with it.  I shot tonight and would hit to the right unless I really forced myself to concentrate on getting my eye tilted over arrow.  This is not automatic for me yet and will take some time to ingrain.  My biggest enemy is shooting quantity and not quality.  Will quit shooting 4 or 8 arrow groups and focus on 1 or 2 good shots, pull and repeat.  Hope it comes together for you.
Btw I once had a bow delam during a 3d shoot and shot a buddy's right handed bow left handed.  I had to "aim" about a foot to the right to hit the kill zone.  So maybe you're onto something w trying a left handed bow.

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2016, 03:56:00 PM »
http://www.tradgang.com/pdf-files/aiming_the_arrow.pdf

Mark,  above is a good article that emphasizes the importance of everything aligning.  Today I dropped my anchor just a bit and used the string blur to help me stay in line.  This really helped my left and rights and if I did my part the head of a golf tee was in trouble at 12 yds.

Offline OBXarcher

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2016, 02:55:00 AM »
John, I just read that whole article. Good stuff.

Pretty sure I have the odd shaped head lol.

Working nights now. gonna try some things when I get home.

Thanks

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2016, 06:09:00 PM »
Hi Mark.  I've been working on this relentlessly and here is what is working right now:
Changed from 3 under to 2 under index and middle finger
I am focusing on keeping my face square to target
I tuck my chin in towards my bow arm and tilt my head over arrow until I get a good sight picture showing that nock and point are in a line toward target.
I'm using a very deep hook and anchoring very high on my face.
I'm not moving my head into my anchor, but I do touch cock feather positioned at 4 o'clock to my nose.
I make sure that I get my elbow behind me so it is in line w bow hand.
I know this sounds like a lot, but I'm working on " developing" my shot this winter and hope that once these parts become ingrained I'll have it.
Most of my shooting is at 15 yds and my misses to the right are getting less-- I am amazed by some of my shots-- actually hitting or near to a golf tee.
I shoot one arrow and pull.
Best of luck!

Online the rifleman

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Re: fixed crawl and the other side of the string
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2016, 02:52:00 PM »
Hi Mark I sent you a pm.

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