Women archers

[J_M]

This is an odd question but one I hope the members here can be of assistance.  My 5 year old daughter is shooting a recurve and loving it. All the other kids have training wheels on their bows.   My wife loves archery and shoots most every day and really enjoys shooting bow.  Due to a problem for her we can only find shooting forms for her shooting under 30 inch bows.  The problem for her is she is large chested.  I have yet to figure a shooting form that will allow her to shoot a long bow or recurve.  I am hoping someone might have a solution to this problem.  I would love to see her be able to traditional equipment and have fun shooting aerial and moving targets.

Well if anyone has an idea I would like to hear it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I live in the Fargo ND area.

[McDave]

I've seen women shooting from a closed stance such that the string touches the left side of their breast, without crossing over it in such a way that the string would hit it when the bow is shot.  I've seen men who are well endowed in the stomach area do the same thing.  In one of the Masters of the Bare Bow series of DVD's, one of Rod Jenkins' students shoots this way, very effectively.

[Orion]

There's a gear item/piece of clothing called a chest protector that might work.  It compresses (a little) and covers the string side of the chest.  A shorter bow, with a more acute string angle when drawn, also helps keep the string away from the body a little more, as well as a change in stance, as McDave suggests.

[Tom Leemans]

I have been trying to work with my wife on this for years now. Getting her to buy into it is another deal. I keep telling her to stop standing like a soldier at attention. She also seems to be unable to cant the bow. She also pays no attention to how her feet are placed. You can eliminate a lot of undesirable lack of string clearance just by changing the position of your feet.

[iohkus]

Orion's suggestion about the chest protector is probably the best. I think most all women Olympians or pro-shooters use them.

[Big Ed]

Close her stance up a bit and use a slight cant. Also helps to relax the holding elbow a bit with a slight bend.

[Big Ed]

Definitly use a chest protector also.

[J_M]

We have the chest protector.  I am hoping in the off season to try some foot work with her.  I hope we can get it figured out before she buys her new bow.  I would love to see her next bow one with only one string and no training wheels.

[Paul/KS]

Heck, I've seen guys with "that problem..."  :eek:  
 

[Killdeer]

Me too!
Killdeer  

[FerretWYO]

Originally posted by Big Ed:
Close her stance up a bit and use a slight cant. Also helps to relax the holding elbow a bit with a slight bend.

Exactly. Also taking the aggresive posture toward the target. in other words make sure her torso is straight of pushed slightly to the target. Many ladies shoot leaning back slightly bringing the string into the body.

[J_M]

Thanks guys we will give it another whack after our deer season is over