drawing with back

[KeganM]

Thanks, Forest. It's tough explaining what you're doing behind the string, it's tougher to explain what you're doing between the ears! :lol:

[McDave]

Originally posted by forestdweller:
 

Originally posted by McDave:
 

I'm starting to question whether or not back tension is a real thing or is just made up to be honest with you. I have talked to one well known archer that believes that back tension is a myth.

.................

I'd love to see someone draw back a 70#+ bow using just arm muscles because I don't think it's possible unless that person is incredibly strong

John, probably I'm just dense, but your first and last sentences seem to be contradictory to me. [/b]

They were not meant to be contradictory. I was being dead serious when I said that I'd like to see someone draw back a 70#+ bow using just their arm muscles because it would be damn near impossible for most people and/or look very awkward if it was pulled off.

It would be the equivalent of someone single arm curling 70#. Something 99% of the weightlifters out there can not even do. [/b]

How could you question whether back tension is real, given your response to my post?

[forestdweller]

Originally posted by McDave:
 

Originally posted by forestdweller:
 

Originally posted by McDave:
   

quote: I'm starting to question whether or not back tension is a real thing or is just made up to be honest with you. I have talked to one well known archer that believes that back tension is a myth.

.................

I'd love to see someone draw back a 70#+ bow using just arm muscles because I don't think it's possible unless that person is incredibly strong

John, probably I'm just dense, but your first and last sentences seem to be contradictory to me. [/b]

They were not meant to be contradictory. I was being dead serious when I said that I'd like to see someone draw back a 70#+ bow using just their arm muscles because it would be damn near impossible for most people and/or look very awkward if it was pulled off.

It would be the equivalent of someone single arm curling 70#. Something 99% of the weightlifters out there can not even do. [/b]

How could you question whether back tension is real, given your response to my post? [/b]

I questioned whether or not it was real because I have shot decently without ever hearing about it.

When I did hear about it I figured it was just something made out to be complicated that was for the most part, natural (as in most archers already use their back muscles while shooting vs trying to strong arm it).

I watched an idol of mines YouTube video and he mentioned in the comments section that back tension is a myth in his opinion.

I'm really torn as to whether back tension really exists or not myself despite my previous posts in this thread.

I do believe in an arm draw and a draw in which you primarily use your back muscles with some arm muscles (you have to use your arm muscles to some degree) but I have a feeling "back tension" is just something made up by the FITA Olympic archers (and coaches) to over complicate something that is in all reality, very simple.

Just my take on it.

Let’s make it easy, shall we?  

The rhomboid is the large muscle in the back that we all use to draw and shoot our bows.  To shoot worth a nickel you have to keep (load) tension on the rhomboid.  Ergo the term, back tension.

[AndreasLundin]

Here is my 2c in regards to the physiology and biomechanics of drawing a bow.

In a draw you using 2 joints, the elbow joint and the shoulder girdle. Elbow is of lesser importance as the leverage (lower arm bones) should be online with the arrow hence leverage is minimized.

In the shoulder girlde we do a horizontal abduction of the shoulder joint (prime mover rear deltoid,  Latissimus Dorsi and Teres Major/minor. Think rear shoulder and side of back cluster. Alas we also move our shoulder blade which recruits More of the Latisimus as well as Rhomboids and Mid traps.

Rhomboids also depress the shoulder blade hence keeping low shoulder is preferred.

On top of this we also need our rotator cuff muscles to be involved to stabilize the shoulder joint so the other muscles can do their job.

In exercise we will use lighter weight, lactile stimulation, visual reinforcements (video) to teach the body the right movement. Repetition, repetition and repetition of quality, controlled movement. Does this all apply to archery? No idea but it works in theory