Snap Shooting...PRO'S and CON'S???

[hawgslayer]

 

I was shooting today and another archer, who I met for the first time today, asked me to teach him how to snap shoot. He said he liked the way I didn't hold at the anchor and released upon the touch of my finger to the side of my chin,jaw line.
I need some opinions from other trad shooters on this issue. I have just gotten back to shooting trad. I have been shooting just 10 yards since last month when I bought my MAMBA and my shots are all in the 3,4 and 5 ring. I figure in a few months I'll move the targt back to 15 yards and then on to 20.
Thanks to all who reply.  

[pete Darby @ home]

It sort of depends on what you mean by snap shooting.  Many people equate snap shooting with shortdrawing, lack of accuracy and generally not being in control of the shot.
If by snap shooting you mean the ability to be on target and releasing when you get to anchor then I think it can be a good thing (watch Howard Hill shoot in slow motion). You kill no game nor get any points for spending time at full draw pointing at the  target.  As someone who is a recovering target panic sufferer I have foundthat if you have to release when you get  on the target you probably shouldn't.  But if you can hold or not then a smooth draw releasing when you hit anchor (if you are anchoring your hand on your face rather than your face on your hand you will probably eventually end up with problems.) than go for a touch and go style of shooting.

[buck-tamer00]

i snap shoot, and i'm pretty accurate,
never shortdrawed.

[mike g]

Howard Hill did not snap shoot....
He used the swing draw method....
He just did it quick....

[Molson]

The key is whether or not you are in control of the shot (release). If you're not, things are only going to get worse the farther back you go.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

work on all types of form first, go thru the steps. find target.....pick a spot......breath....draw....breath....come to ank-errrrr...breath....relax, then work on bulls ( aim small...miss small ) Everyone is different in style of shooting a trad bow You will find Your's in time... The best tip I can give is "Have Fun Shooting"

[SteveB]

JMO - learn to shoot a fully controlled shot first.
You can always speed up the process later.

Steve

[Tim Fishell]

I have a habbit of doing the same thing when I shoot. I come to full draw and as soon as I feel my anchor point I release. This is an alright way to shoot but you have to concentrate on other parts of your form when doing this. I try to hit my anchor count to 1 and then release and I get a much more consistent group when doing this. The only problem I have found when I dont hold and count to 1 is I peak.  When I hit my anchor and I dont hold for that split second I dont take the time to think ok is my bow arm locked and then just relax the fingers. So what happens is I end up plucking the string or dropping my bow arm.  If you can be thinking about your form and hold everything after release it can be great but I do shoot better when I lock into my form for 1 second and release.  Hope this helps a little but it is what I have found with me.

Tim

[Minuteman]

Don't EVER let it get away from ya. I'm strugglin' my way back to being able to hold at anchor after years of a downward spiral of so called snap shooting. It got so bad that my buddy's 12 year old son was out shooting me.
 I'm tearing my whole form down and starting over this spring.Can't believe its come to that.
Like they've been saying, always stay in control of the shot .

[Terry Green]

Howard Hill was known as a 'snap shooter'.  Only in recent years it seems that snap shooting has been given a negative slant due to people miss-using the term for other shooting problems like target panic, short drawing,etc....  Snap shooting is a 'style' not a term or label to describe shooting problems.  Least that's the way I see it for what ever that's worth.

Most of the guys I hunt with are snap shooters.....and they are certainly in control of their shot let me tell ya.

Hold for 10 seconds or don't hold for one....once again, both ways work....you just have to find out what works for YOU.


Best of luck to ya, and most of all - have fun.

[hawgslayer]

   

Thanks gents for all your suggestions and opinions. I knew I came to the right place. I read all the replies and I'm confused. I draw and as soon as my fingers touches my jaw line I release. I have only been shooting maybe 7 or 8 times since I bought this bow. At this time I keep most of my shots well within the 4 and 5 ring. (example, LAST WEEK I SHOT 42 ARROWS @ 11 YARDS. 3 IN THE 3 RING, 39 IN THE 4 AND 5 RING WITH 16 BULLS).
Now I'm wondering if I should try to hold at anchor or just continue shooting the way I'm going?????????  :confused:    :confused:    :confused:

[ChuckC]

Hawg.....There are as many styles of shooting out here as there are archers.  The best answer, in my mind, is...if it works for you, do it.  I shoot as you do, however, for a while there I released when ANYTHING touched my face, that would have included my elbow if I coulda done it.  That was hard to overcome, however, much as many folks want to think that everything has to be exactly the same every time, I believe that some variation is not so important, especially if you are not in it for x-rings and gold trophies.

As I said, do what feels right to you if it is working.

As a game. try something in a safe spot.   Try drawing to your chest, to your forehead, to your waist, then point at the target and shoot.  Keep the ranges down to like ten yards.  I think you will be surprised how well you can hit with absolutely no additional practice, because you are pointing and you are used to pointing from your original practice.  Aim small, hit small !
ChuckC

[MMilin]

Hawgslawer:

Experimentation is the key to finding what works best for you.  Try:
- 3-under vs. split finger
- to hold at full-draw for 2-3 seconds vs. what
   what you're doing now
- different anchor points
- etc.

[Dave Lay]

Seems if you are getting a consistant anchor each time thats not a problem. Watch fred Bear, or as others have said, Howard hill and others. Its just a diffrent style. I shoot quick, but I am getting on target as I draw, and by the time I get anchor there is no reason to hang around there. Works great for me. Fred Asabell said somewhere that "a anchor is not a resting place" Again its just a diffrent style, and not a out of control mess that some will lead you to believe. Some forms of target panic seem similiar but are really worlds away.. good luck, and find what works for ya..

[Doug S]

IT doesn't matter how long you anchor. It does matter that you come to anchor. Everytime. Same spot. The time there is irrelevant. Just make sure you touch the same spot everytime.