Back to split

[the rifleman]

i have spent the past two months dedicating my practice to 3 under.  I have continually struggled with arrows hitting mostly to the right of my target ( I am a lefty), I had poor horizontal groups, but verticles were good.  I played around w bareshafts that were tuned for split and even attempted to retune, but kept getting mixed results-- one time stiff, the next weak.  I started trying to move shots in line w string blur w limited success.
Today I went back to split (Toelke anchor-2 under and index finger resting above the arrow but not pulling).  I noticed immediate improvement- arrows were now in line w my target w no lefts and rights.  Bareshafts showed consistent results.  I'm not sure what my main issue w 3 under was-- I tried focusing on anchor, release, form, but could not get it to work.  I really like the small gaps it provided and the idea of having better visual control of the shot, but I could not get it to work for me.  Fixed crawl gave me the same issues.
Of course when I switched back to split today I knew I'd hit a mile high if I tried gapping off the arrow, so I put a rubber band around the riser 2" above the arrow and started to nail the target.  
Has anyone else had similar results?
Anyone else use a reference on the riser?
I have no interest in using a sight, but having some reference on the riser may help my vertical consistency--especially important to me when hunting.

[Pine]

I knew a guy back in the 70s that had masking tape next to the sight window and would mark that for different yardages .
Trouble with that is , same as sights pins , you have to hold the bow virtual in order to be accurate .

[Sirius Black]

Don't feel bad, I gave 3 under a try for 2 years, and went back to split.

[Mr. fingers]

I waffle back and fourth. I prefer split. But have shot 3u for a few seasons I have been shooting split the last 2 seasons. Tried 3u this summer and was amazed how tight my groups were. Then the wheels fell off and I was all over the place. I went back to split. Quieter and faster for me and I feel I have more control. So a couple of weekends ago I came out of the woods with all my warm clothes on an figured I would take some practice shots into a burm with my blunt tipped arrow. I was all over left and rights. So for giggles I took a shot 3 under and plop right where I was looking. Tried a few more at different distances. And i was way more consistent. Tried a few split and was all over again. So I'm going to finish my season 3u. I still prefer split though    

[Shadowhnter]

I dont have any problems with how somebody holds their string.....I have never shot 3 under, because I've never felt I had any reason to. Ive shot split for over 30 yrs, and in all that time, if I missed, it wasnt because of how I held the string. Call me boring, but I dont believe in fixing unbroken things.

[Gordon Jabben]

Once in awhile, I will make a wonderful running shot on a rabbit or a squirrel that has baled out of a tree and I know I would never have time to make the shot shooting three under.  That alone, keeps me shooting split.

[Red Beastmaster]

I shot an arrow with three under once. It was weird, I didn't like it, never thought about it again. Same with gapping, only a shot or two. I'm more of a hunter, rover archer and not so much of a target shooter.

To each their own but if I want to shoot more accurately I just bear down and concentrate harder. I don't look at anything but the spot I want to hit.

[reddogge]

Shot split with a middle finder corner of mouth and the arrow will be in the same relationship with your eye as a 3 under shooter shooting with his index finder in corner of mouth. Besides your bow will be much quieter.

With a 50" Cobra I shot three under, my point on was 28 yards.  There was a 14 point giant around, he gave me several chances at over 30 yards I did trust myself enough.  Then years later I tired three under with a 52" Pearson, I had trouble lifting the arrow when I drew.  The only way it would work is if I slowed it down to less than my old target tempo.  I forgot myself once and just shot, the arrow went way up and way right.  there is now a hole in the 8" boards that separates my two up stairs windows.  I sometimes think it would be nice to shoot a short bow, but I have round finger nails and get that finger pinch inflammation very easy and would have to shoot three under, which I find is too limited.

[Yellow Dog]

I've shot split since I started shooting a bow in the mid 1960's as a kid. About four years ago I spent a summer trying to change to three under. My problem was when it came to taking a quick shot, without thinking about it, regardless of how much time I spent shooting three under I would fling an arrow split. Finally gave up on that experiment and went back to shooting what came natural.

[KeganM]

It took me something like four or five months to get used to three under. It's taking two months or so every time I adjust my anchor (higher anchor). Pays off every time I do it, though.

After sticking with it and putting the time and effort in my shooting has improved across the board. Near targets, far targets, moving, you name it.

It was a lot of work but I'm glad I stuck with it. However, if you're getting the results you want it might not be worth that kind of effort to you, and there's nothing wrong with that! Archery is all about making compromises for our personal goals.

[Sam McMichael]

Back in my youth (a long, long, time ago), I learned archery using split. I have always used it. I tried a few times to use 3 under, but it never felt right. Whenever my release gets bad, two words immediately comes to mind - BACK TENSION.

[the rifleman]

I started playing around w 2 under last night-- index and middle finger-- this may be my solution.  It seems to have cleaned up my release and my arrows are more consistently on target.  I think this may be the best of both worlds for me---clean release like I was getting w split and arrow closer to my eye for closer gaps.  Since my bows are 42 and 43 pounds it does not seem to strain my fingers.  Anyone else shot this way?

[forestdweller]

I can't blame you.

I tried out 3 under a few times when my shooting went to hell and at first I thought it was better (like all quick fixes) but I noticed that it felt very unnatural to cant the bow with 3 under, the trajectory is not as flat 3 under and leads to a fast perceived drop off, and I was giving up a lot of arrow control and smacking my nose.

I feel as though 3 under is better for string walkers and GAPPER's and split finger better for instinctive and split vision.

[stillhunter]

Shot three under for a time in the eightys but what Reddogge said being spot on and that I wear glasses I went back to split.

[gvdocholiday]

I've had the same epiphany, literally three days ago while in my treestand.

I worked since last January on shooting 3 under and saw what I perceived to be immediate progression in my shooting.  I liked it , stuck with it, killed a deer early November with it.  

For some reason though, while getting situated the other day I took a few practice draws down my shooting windows.  For some reason I could not get comfortable, could not get a repeated anchor, and my sight picture seemed very out of focus...if that makes sense.  

For giggles, I wrapped my finger overtop the nock and drew back the bow again.   This time, my forefinger found a solid anchor on my boney ridge right below my eye and my sight picture cleared right up.  It just seemed natural.  I quivered my broadhead arrow and grabbed my small game arrow and found a oak leaf ontop of the snow about 14yds away.  I drew, anchored, paused briefly and let the arrow go...I ripped the leaf in half.  The shot felt effortless.  I grabbed my other small game arrow and found another leaf at between 20-25yds...well outside my set hunting range max.  Repeated the shot process, and my arrow landed just under it, with one of my feathers pulling the leaf down partly into the snow.  

I'm liking this.  At least for now...who knows what I'll like in a few months.  

[the rifleman]

Bryan,  I can relate to your last comment-- I think I've found the magic bullet and then am later searching for another/ better solution --  part of the fun for me.  I've got to admit that since I posted this orig.  two whole days ago, I am now also experimenting with 2 under ( index and middle finger).  My split style was actually 2 under ( middle and ring) w index resting on arrow and not pulling so I figure-- the new adaption may work-- gets the gap tighter and seems to help w my release.