Switching to Three Under

[BD]

I've shot split for over 25 years but just cannot maintain any consistency anymore and I'm not sure why. It's gotten to the point where I am considering selling my 5 recurves. Before I do that however, I want to at least give 3 under a fair shake. I've only been shooting this way a couple of days but it just feels so incredibly awkward. How long should it take for this to feel "comfortable" and can anyone talk about their journey from split to 3 under? I also do not see the gaps like others do. When I hold the tip of the arrow on the bulls eye at 10 yards it goes in the bullseye or low but it sounds like it should be going high for a gap shooter. Any thoughts on this? Also- is a three under tab necessary?

Thanks!

[DarrinG]

Brady, I feel your pain.

After shooting "gap-stinctive" for years (meaning I shot "instinctive, but was sub-consciously aware of where my arrow tip was at), and having one day where I couldn't seem to miss, then the next day I scattered arrows on the target worse that a skeet-choked shotgun. It was frustrating. I even had success in the woods hunting with my split-finger - gap-stinctive shooting method but the consistence  was frustrating and caused me to pass on some shots at game because my confidence level was not there. I was close to the point of looking at wheel bows again because of my inconsistencies with my recurves. Last spring in a final ditch effort, I tried 3 under and gap shooting....full on gap shooting. Not just subconsciously noticing my arrow point but using it as my aiming device. I decided to stick with it a couple months and if it didn't work, well, then....

The first month of shooting 3 under and gapping felt really odd. My bow aint as quiet, but still not loud. I moved my silencers around on the string to find the sweet-spot and it helped some with the noise. I also had to lower my main nock point from 5/8" down to 1/2" and my bareshaft flight was perfect. After a month or so I started getting comfortable with the method. Then I watched a couple videos of Jimmy Blackmon on YouTube about the fixed crawl. I had to try it. Once I found my point on and set a tie on nock point at 15 yards, I found I was spot-on 15 yards and under with that nock set. Then my main string nock was dead on at 21 yards. Anything between just hold a wee-bit high or low and my arrow is in there. After a couple months I was shooting better than I ever had in the years before. I was stacking arrows into  a tennis ball at 15 yards and at 20 yards (my max range for hunting live critters), my accuracy was WAY better than it ever was split finger - gap-stinctive. I cant see myself ever switching back to split finger or not using a crawl or gapping. I know a few guys who shoot split, instinctive that are fantastic shooters, but it never worked consistently for me.

Good luck if you switch. It didn't come "normal" for me overnight, I had to shoot 3 under and crawl/gap for a couple months before I was really happy with it.

[McDave]

There's nothin wrong with trying 3 under, but frankly, that's probably not what's causing your problem.  Something in your form has slipped, and you haven't been able to successfully self diagnose it.  If you would video yourself shooting and post it on the shooting form forum, Arne or somebody might be able to help you.  Not being able to self diagnose is a very common problem that I’ve faced myself more than once.

To answer your specific questions, it shouldn't take long to adjust to 3 under.  The first day, I shot a little low, after a couple of days it seemed normal.  You can use either a tab or a glove shooting 3 under.  Make sure whichever one you pick is snug, not sloppy.  You can use 3 under either with gap or instinctive.

[mec lineman]

i shot bows as a kid split,so in 2005 when i started hunting with a recurve I naturally shot split. I have always hit my arm when shooting, i noticed most of my buds who shoot 3 under dont wear an arm guard. I have helped 7-8 guys switch over to trad and have started them  owith 3 under. They have all done well. this summer i switched to 3 under and it was awkward and seemed noisy at first. i am very satisfied shooting 3 under and not hitting my arm as bad or in most cases at all. i dont know why i dont hit my arm by changing my grip on the string i just know i dont. i have been wondering what would happen in the woods if i would remember to grab the string 3 under. Well Saturday evening i made a beautiful shot on a nice 8pt.  I am sold for now.

[SuperK]

I too shot split for years but switched to 3 under after hunting season ended last year.  I had developed a bad dose of target panic and needed to do "something different" to get out of it.  With 3 under I now come to anchor and I feel in control of the shot.  My accuracy is vastly improved and my confidence is back.  I'm not gap shooting, I still shoot by just focusing on the target but I am aware of the arrow.  To me it's kind of like shooting a shotgun; you focus on what you are aiming at but you are aware of the barrel.  It took me at least 4 months to get where I'm at today.  I still don't shoot too many arrows at one time.  I still need to stay "focused" and not get sloppy with my form.  I ain't going back to split fingers.

[Roy from Pa]

I've shot 3 under for 48 years.

Most accurate way to shoot in my opinion.

[BD]

Super K. That's just what I needed to hear. Thank You!