Committing to a style of shooting...

[huntsfairchase]

Most have heard the story of the chicken and the pig and breakfast. Just being involved as the chicken was is a whole lot different than being committed as was the case with the pig.

25+ years of shooting traditional, 10-12 years ago, I found myself, for no good reason,  constantly "involving" myself with different styles of bows and occasionally different styles of shooting.
Something I had never done until I met the internet.    

For years I have been in awe of Howard Hill, John Schulz, and others that shot/shoot Semi American Longbows. To me they have a way of making shooting look "easy". Sort of relaxed. It wasn't until just about 2 years ago that I noticed something while watching Howard's "Cavalcade of Archery". I noticed that it was something I WANTED TO DO! I had never seriously considered "committing" myself to a completely new style of shooting until then. Sure, I had picked up Longbows and shot them. But with the same style I had always used with recurves. I would shoot them a little and go back to the recurves. So, 2 years ago I took what I could really understand out of John Schulz video and Hill books and went to work in earnest to adopt a new shooting form. In the beginning there were plenty of bumps in the road, but gradually, little by little, it started to make sense. 2 years later, I have by NO MEANS have it licked, but can say that I am completely committed to it.

Now the hard part, what do I do with all these other bows I've collected over the last decade???  

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by huntsfairchase:
went to work in earnest to adopt a new shooting form.  

I use the same form for shooting selfbows, longbows and recurves.  So, I don't think you have to sell any bows.

Maybe I missed something, not sure, but I don't change the way I shoot depending on the bow.

Sounds like you are having fun anyway, and that's the main thing.

   

[Orion]

Gotta agree with Terry.  I've been shooting sticks for more than 50 years-- self bows, recurves, longbows, etc.  Some require different grips, but I shoot them all the same.  Well, I did change my anchor point a bit.  Shot with the index finger in the corner of my mouth for more than 20 years.  Then, for some unknown reason, maybe a book I read, I changed to the middle finger in the corner of my mouth.  Just switched back about a year ago.  Has made a whale of a difference in my shooting.  Able to get more of my back into the draw and hold, elbow is lower, release is cleaner and accuracy, though never bad, has improved.  Though the split vision gap (as used by Hill) is larger, it seems easier, more accurate for my brain to compute. Whatever works is good.

[two4hooking]

I am with you.  Became totally committed to the Hill style about 2 years ago after many more years shooting recurves. I spent several months just shooting blind bale as Mr. Schulz instructed.  Learning a new style takes commitment. Lots of bumps in the road but it is paying off for me as well.

I am a firm believer in what John Schulz says in Straight Shooting:
When you shoot the same bow (design), and the same form, basically the same arrows, day after day, month after month, year after year, you develop a keen hand to eye coordination.

"If you use improper or varied form, or a change of tackle, all those will work against sharpening this method of shooting.  Work at it - "condition" your instinct."        

I just traded my once coveted Bear TD for a Schulz Tembo!  Look for some trades    

[Charlie3]

While I don't think you have to overhaul your shooting form just because you switched bows, I do think there is something to be said for focusing on one style of bow. I have used one bow for 10 years, and I go on complete autopilot when a critter walks by. That wasn't the case when I shot multiple bows in the past. I'll continue to use one bow. Will buy a backup that is almost the same. No need for more.

[huntsfairchase]

No, I wouldn't change form just to change bows. The reason I did an overhaul on my form was because after 25+ years, I was never completely satisfied with my shooting. I fought with target panic issues on and off for almost the entire time. Not on animals, thankfully, but practice could get frustrating.

What I changed, was to go from a static draw and hold at anchor for 2-3 seconds type form to a swing draw and anchor and shoot in a fluid motion. Sure, that form works just fine with my other bows.

[Roger Norris]

When I change bows, the only variable is the grip. Nothing else changes.

[Orion]

I understand huntsfair, but I'm not certain there's a great benefit to limiting oneself to one way of shooting the bow.  I use mostly what might be called a static draw, but I also practice the swing draw for those instances in which I might be required to shoot quickly.

A slow static draw is less likely to be detected by a close in animal. And, of course, because one usually holds a few seconds, holding a few seconds longer if the animal moves or needs to move, isn't much of a problem.  Obviously, a swing draw creates much more movement, and holding it throws off the timing considerably.  

Finally, I'm just not as consistent at longer distances with the swing draw as I am with a static draw.  And, in truth, I've yet to see anyone else who is either.  

Hill's shooting style is interesting.  Yes, he did use a swing draw.  Works very well on small game and moving critters, and he hunted a lot of small game.  On the other hand, I've also observed him using what might be called a push/pull draw, much like Fred Bear's, in a lot of Hill's videos.  In short.  I don't think he held himself exclusively to the swing draw either.  Regardless, it mostly all works, and it's all fun.