How long until you figured yourself out?

[rybohunter]

How long did it take you guys to come up with a draw/anchor/aiming system that you were comfortable with? Even if that “aiming” is instinctive.

I’ve been at the trad thing for a year solid now, and I’ve run the gamut of trying things. I watched DVD’s to get ideas and read books. I shoot both longbow and recurve. I think I am finally settling into a system that I think I can leave alone for a while. I never shot horrible, but I never was really able to drill them in there consistently with all the different things I tried. Now I am happy, that it seems I’ve made things much more consistent and easier to maintain proper (for me) form. One last item I haven’t completely figured out yet is the glove or tab? I probably shot about 90% this past year with a glove, but I put a tab back on the other day and really saw no difference after a couple shots to get the feel. I wish there was more of a difference in comfort and/or performance to make the decision easier.

[longbowman]

45 years, give or take.  It just keeps evolving.  I really don't do things much different than when I started other than make sure I hit and hold full draw for a micro second but I'm twice as accurate now as I was when I first started.

[joe c.]

sound's like you have a lot going on,I know I shoot my best when I slow down that is not shoot as much think about thing's.
It all come's with time,As for your question I doubt I'll ever completly figure it out.
This is where A journal come's in handy keeping note's can be benifical.

[Gatekeeper]

Three years and counting…. I have really good days and days when I am wondering who is the guy shooting my bow. I think I always will be trying to figure it out. If it were easy I would get bored because everything would become too predictable but I find traditional archery a challenge and that’s one of the things that keeps me going.

There are some shots that I know are going to be perfect and I can feel it from the moment I focus on the target and then there are other times that I know the shot will be off because my mind is not 100% focused.

I too am reading as much as I can and watching all of the DVD’s I can find to soak in as much information as I can. I have improved a lot in these two years but I am not satisfied nor do I ever think I will be satisfied but I will strive to achieve as close to perfection as possible.

I shoot all the time with a glove. My anchor point is consistent, my finger pressure on the string varies and I think it affects my shots. I am working on my grip of the bow. I shoot a recurve and before I was holding the bow tight but, here lately I have switched to a light grip using my thumb and index finger and allowing the bow to rock forward in my hand after the shot. This seems to help quit a bit.

Bad habits that I have and am constantly working on are:
1.   Plucking the string - I am trying to use a dead release to solve this.
2.   Dropping by bow arm too soon - I am making myself hold my form for at least 1 second after the arrow hits to solve this.
3.   Flinching – concentrate on holding my form.
4.   Collapsing my bow arm – concentrate on holding my form.

One of the things I blame numbers 2, 3 and 4 on is getting in a hurry. Shoot this arrow and see if I can get the same shot on the next arrow. "Slow down and focus!" Is what I tell myself.

Another problem that I feel like I have has to do with my eyes. I am left eye dominate and I shoot left handed but my arrows consistently hit just to the right (1 or 2” at 15 yards) of the mark that I aim for. I wonder if my right eye try’s to take over sometimes.

Anyway you’re not alone.

Tom

[mnbwhtr]

48 years later still figuring.

[Dustin Waters]

about year till I figured out what made me the most consistent.  It took Dale Karch from Three Rivers telling me to watch a video with our own Ron LaClare in it.  I remember watching his old grizzled mitt get deep on the string and and he would pull it right in tight to his cheek.  Well thats what I do now....
SO I guess I owe him a big thanks.. and no disrespect for the grizzled hand comment either.
 

[BodarkOkie]

Been working on it for about 50+ years....

If you think you've got it down pat, just wait until you go shoot
again!    

[pseman]

I've also been at it for about a year and have certainly made some helpful changes that have helped me become domre consistent, but I am very much still "working on it". Target panic has been the worst thing and remains the most prevalent reason for poor shooting. I have made much progress in the last month by changing to a deep hook and practicing in my garage at night at only 5 yards. I have gained a lot of control over my release by doing these two things.

Other than TP, the hardest thing for me is to concentrate and slow down so I don't shoot too fast. It seems that holding for a few seconds(2-4),  allows me to get a solid anchor,steady my bow arm, acquire the sight picture, and release more smoothly.

[just a bit outside]

It's like anything you do and want to do well. You will never be perfect day in and day out. I shoot a lot of pool and pistol/rifle as well. The same as archery, you have to maintain a certain level and the only way to do that is to constantly practice. Miss a couple of weeks because something is going on and your game can go to hell (or so it seems). That's why the golf pros practice so much. Locking in a specific form only works for as long as it works for you at the time. 5 years from now, you might have to change something. The beauty of traditional archery is it is completely about instinct and feel. You get everything locked in as tight as you can and you just have to trust yourself and your gut. Remember, you don't have to be perfect in a certain amount of time.... you just have to enjoy what you are doing while your trying to get to that perfection.

I myself have only been shooting for a few years but luckily, I've already attained that level of perfection. It just sort of runs in the family or something!

Greg