Can't cant

[R.W.]

Having a bit of hard time with consistently canting my longbow. I tend to change the cant angle, which in turn, affects my arrows impact point.

I was thinking about placing a small spirit level on my upper limb, right above the shelf cut-out. If I set this at which ever angle is best for me, and I can get consistent with my bow cant, my shooting should really improve.

Once I 'train my brain' the level can be removed. (I will stick it on with bath tub sealer (silco-set)

What are your thoughts on this, and any pointers on how to be more consistent with cant?

(Yeah, I know! Practice)

[Tom Leemans]

I try not to think about how much I can't it. It's usually enough to hold the arrow on the shelf. (not hard to do with a patented Ferret's Floppy Arrarest) I just try to be comfortable. Just keep shooting, just keep shooting....

[Bowmania]

Why do you have to cant?  Your obvious not comfortable with it.  Olympic shooters don't can and they'll beat the pants off cantters.

Your better off with consistant bad form, than good form 50% of the time.

Bowmania

[BobW]

Each has to find what works best for themselves.  I also prefer (read: I shoot better) straight-up.  Yet I know of some who cant (no pun intended).

Remember, this isn't modern techno gagetry, and each of us is a little different.  There is no "one size fits all" here.  You have to find a mix if what works for you and what techniques are necessary to "correct" the issues with your comfortable form.

I too thought I had to cant the bow to keep an arrow from dropping off the shelf.  After reading a segment in TBH by G. Fred, I realized it was my hand form imparting a torque on the string.

Shoot, shoot, shoot.  If you are having problems that are constantly repeating, seek the correction for that aspect.

As far as "teaching aids", do what you see fit.  Unless it is something dangerous (like bare shafting broadheads), nobody should tell you that you are wrong to try it.  I also used things like a clicker and a thumb sling to gain a comfort and teach my brain.  Your approach is correct, help get the basics engrained in, and then move on.

Good Luck!

BobW

[Jim Godden]

Randy, I had a similar problem when I switched from recurve to longbow.  I used to cant the recurve way over, almost 45 degress and shot comfortably.  It took me a little time to figure out that I shot the longbow better if it was upright or with a slight cant.  

I found that if you stick your bow arm out and relax it, your wrist falls into a natural cant of about 10 or 12 degrees.  You'll notice that I cut the thumb groove lower than your finger groove to take advantage of this.  I find that is about the right amount of cant for accurate shooting.  

You've noticed the first difference between a longbow and recurve and that is that the amount of cant does effect your accuracy, especially if you use the "low wrist" grip.

Try shooting with this relaxed, natural cant.  Try not to force your wrist into an upright position, but by the same token don't try to force it way over.  It seems to work for me.  I do practice shooting at different cants as hunting season approaches, including tipping the bow right over to horizontal and reverse cants 'cause you never know....

Good luck with the bow
JIM
Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt

[Steertalker]

R.W.,

As mentioned above...Why do you feel the need to can't?  You're having trouble with it because it is not natural.  Keeping your shot simple is the key to good shooting.  Everytime we add something to our shot it must be practiced and maintained to keep it consistent.  Remove the cant and that is one less thing you have to worry about.

There is a reason the olympic shooters shoot the way they do      

Brett