Critique My Form

[buckeyebowhunter]

I'm not really sure why but I've struggled off and on throughout my entire journey through trad archery with not getting my anchor buried where I want it. Whether it be light bows or heavy. You can see a small gap between my mouth and fingers in this picture. I also know that because of this problem my back tension is often not all there causing me to release and result in bad shots. I don't struggle with getting to full draw and anchor if I'm not focused on my target; however when I begin to focus on the spot I want to hit my form begins to go awry. I also seem to get worse at long ranges. My shooting is not awful, but I always strive for perfection and probably am more often than not too hard on myself. Any tips?

[macbow]

Concentrate on getting your string arm including elbow in line with the arrow.
Get close to a.target and work on that and getting the back to pull together. Don't worry about aiming till this is ingrained.
When actually shooting at a,animal or target aiming should be the only thing you think about.
The rest has to come from muscle memory and that takes repetition.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Robert,

You'll get more replies over in the shooters forum where this belongs, but looking at your form and what you said....Your going to hate me for this so have a seat.

You appear and from what you state to be experiencing a form of Target Panic...I have the same symptoms.  Shoot all day at a large target butt or the ground or some other target that doesn't require me to really focus. But as soon as I attempt to pick a spot I can't get the bow to full draw and my hand tends to float away from my faces like your picture.

If you look at the picture and were to draw a line down the center of your elbow to your wrist and then from your bow hand to the bow you will see your not aligned.

Look at Terry's form clock on the shooter forum and you will see what I'm referring to.

[buckeyebowhunter]

John,

Thanks for the reply,have looked at terry's clock numerous times and I am definitely not aligned. However If I were at full draw (which i'm not) I should be aligned (correct me if i'm wrong). Looking for some tips on how to complete that last little bit of draw, Like you said I can do it all day on a blind bale with no probs but if i try to concentrate on a hair at 25 yards things start to go south.

[JoeM]

X2 on what South said throw this up in the shooters forum.  Not being mean I'll just tell you what I see.  You look to be a fit, strong guy so this is probably more of a mental thing.  Since you are having problems with consistency and form you kind of need to strip it down and reprogram.  Stand up straighter don't hunch so much, you loose alot of strength and draw length when you do this.  Now practice burying that anchor, I MEAN BURY IT and don't shoot, just hold it and prove to yourself that you are in control then break down.  Practice getting that elbow back behind that arrow, when you start to get it right the arrow will just jump off the bow straight away from you. Once you start to get things on the right track you can start practicing hunching, awkward positions, etc.  In the beginning it will be more beneficial to practice form and holding or blank bailing than it will be to start shooting.  Boring but worth it in the long run.  On a day when I'm struggling i will very often draw, anchor, aim, hold and then break down. I might do this 3x for every 1 shot, I even do it some times on the #-d course just to settle myself.  Hunting I draw on almost every animal that comes into range to practice.  Keep with it, patience helps in this game, don't get frustrated, enjoy the little improvements and enjoy the ride.   Good luck Joe

[JoeM]

Buckeye, pick out that hair at 25 yds and just hold on it.  Try concentrating more on perfect form than aiming.  I go back and forth some days my form is real strong and I can put most of my effort into aiming.  On days my form is a little loose I'll concentrate more on just seeing the spot and getting off a perfect shot.  Larry and Rod discuss this in MOBB

[DennyK]

Back in my right handed days I had the same issues you are having now, at the time I was shooting 65+ pounds. What cured it for me was dropping to 55 pounds and under in draw weight.

[Lefty]

Unfortunately you have target panic.  You are unable to reach full draw when concentrating on your target regardless of bow weight, but have no trouble reaching full draw when not aiming or concentrating on your target. This is one form of target panic.  Look over on the shooters forum for information on target panic and how you can cure it.  
  You can continue to shoot with it (many do and won't admit it), but you will never find the consistency you want, until you address it and cure it.
  At least that is my opinion and it is from someone who has been there.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Thanks guys, maybe a mod can move this to the shooters forum, I'm not sure how to move it or if I even can? Great tips so far though.

[sheephunter]

I had a lot of the same problems. The Masters of the Bare bow DVD's helped immensely, especially the  3rd in the series. Everything that has been said here is laid out to where you can see it. Just my  2 Cents...

[South MS Bowhunter]

One more thing Robert when you go to the shooters forum look into the Target Panic topic started by Joel Turner.

Even though I'm still fighting mine many have been helped by trying Joel techniques.