Am I holding to long.

[Junction hunter]

I've hunted with a compound for years. Last year stated with recurve. I tried to snap shoot and couldn't get any consistency so didn't hunt with it last year. So I changed my form this spring and have become much more consistent (enough to where I feel comfortable hunting with it this year).

I have a question:
Most of the shooters on videos are releasing as soon as they come to full draw.
I'm new at this and working on form so I've been going through a ritual of steps.
I use a strait arm technique with chin on shoulder. When I get to full draw it takes a second or two to set (string is on tip of nose, tongue on knock, right eye inside string and I know I'm at my anchor point). I count in my head 1 thousand 1, 1 thousand 2 at which point I'm releasing. This seems to draw my eye back to the target. However I'm holding longer at full draw (maybe up to 4 seconds or more).
Am I developing a bad habit?
Should I let go when I get back to full draw or keep counting?

[Black Gold]

If it works and is consistent.....DO IT!

[JC]

I agree with Cody, if you are happy with the results, why change it.

However, that sure seems like a lot of stuff to do...I would get wore out with running that checklist after just a few shots. You may find, over time, you can remove some of the things from your checklist because they are happening "automatically". Personally, I like to relax and enjoy the shot....

[aromakr]

I think you are trying to shoot your recurve like you did the compound and that might be your problem. chin on shoulder, I don't think I've ever seen a trad shooter do that. The difference between a recurve and a compound is about the same as a shotgun and a rifle. The rifle you bring to the shoulder and aim thru the sights squeezing the trigger. The shotgun you keep you eye on the target and bring the gun to the shoulder and slap the trigger when the barrel lines up with the target.
The recurve should be more of a fluid motion,getting the arrow under the eye after reaching full draw then the release. Yes you can pause for a moment until your brain tells you your on target but then get rid of the arrow.
Bob

[Yellowsnake]

My wife holds for 2-3 seconds and she shoots just fine.  If that is how you like to shoot, and you are getting good results, then keep doing it.

[Junction hunter]

Thanks guys.
I have found that the check list is becoming more automatic. However when I start shooting poorly I need to go back to the checklist.
I was moving my head to the string vs the string to the anchor point, which change my anchor point/draw length. When I put my chin on my shoulder it stopped that bad habbit.
It has been a tough transistion from the compound and I'm relearning everything.

[Tom A]

Keep doing it. I think your on the right track.  Most top shooters I know hold for at least a second or two. One of the best longbow 3D shooters I know, Ken Redding holds for a very long time. Just be aware that holding a lot of weight can do bad things to your shoulders.

[Tom A]

aromakr I have to disagree that there is that big of a difference between a compound and a recurve. These are the few things that a recurve shooter needs to deal with that a compound doesn’t.

1. Getting a consistent draw. Which = a consistent speed and arrow tune. This requires a good anchor point and a consistent bow arm and form.

2. Hold long enough to get on target. It’s much harder to do with a recurve than a compound because of no let-off. The easy fix for this is shoot poundage you can control. Or snap shoot real fast. Not the best solution.

3. Since trad recurve shooters mostly don’t use sights. You may need to tweak your form to get the arrow to a place where it’s more under your eye. But this depends on your aiming technique.

[Terry Green]

You gotta find what works for YOU.

For every good bow shooter that holds for a long time...I can show you a very good bowhunter that don't.

Consciously running through a regiment is more like a compound shooter, or a bench rifle shooter.....but that's OK if it works for you.

For other's, like me, the shot is more of an athletic manuver than a methodical process. If I'm on target, no need to stay there less the game dictates that I do.

 Some people can drive a rocket to the moon, other's calculate the path.....that's what makes the world go round.  

I'm more interested in your alignment....much more important.

[Roger Norris]

"1 thousand 1, 1 thousand 2 at which point I'm releasing. This seems to draw my eye back to the target. However I'm holding longer at full draw (maybe up to 4 seconds or more)."

That seems a little mechanical to me. I am not one of the "touch the corner of my mouth and release guys". I can't do it, I'm not consistent. I hold until I am focused and everything feels right,  like you reference, but I'm not counting. That seems like holding just for the sake of holding. If I am shooting at 10 yards, I release pretty quick. At 30 yards, someone counting may get to 3 or 4....but I'm not counting, I'm focusing on the target.

I would say drop the countdown, and start releasing "when it feels right". That measured hold seems like a path to target panic, if you ask me.

[Matt Fowler]

If I hold too long my whole shot collaspses. If I try and shoot quickly, I'm not consistent. Gotta find that happy medium.

[30coupe]

What weight bow are you shooting? I start shaking if I try to hold too long. 1-2 seconds are fine, but beyond that things go bad.

I think the chin on shoulder thing is going to be trouble in a hunting situation. You never know exactly where the critter will offer a shot. Last year, I shot a doe from a seated position in my ladder stand. I think I would have hurt myself if I'd tried to put my chin on my shoulder.

[cvarcher]

In anwering this question it depends ,and how long have you been shooting(you might have to break some bad habits). If you are new or trying to learn for the first time a longbow or recurve instinctive then you should take it slow and come to anchor so you memorize the spot and let the mind soak in all the subtleties like where the finger is and thumb and elbow at anchor as an example. Your not concentrating on the spot to hit mind you. Just the form you are trying to develeope. Do this several weeks to groove in or memorize all these fluid steps of the load ,draw, anchor and release. Do it slow ,hold at least several seconds, more may be better here so a low weight bow will help.Then as you start hitting arrows consistantly you can speed it up a bit to the point that you hit the anhcor spot and release without moving the hand away from the face.(This is hard). By then the hold could be one second.

[Dave Bulla]

Go up and read Terry Greens post a couple of times...JC's too.

They are two of the best shooters I've ever seen personally shoot.  Terry has amazing form and a flow to his shot that is an envy to everyone who sees it.  JC looks like he snap shoots because he is so quick but he just flat hits everything he shoots at.  He's into the consistant "minute of squirrel head" accuracy that I dream of someday achieving.  Ironically, both of them spend about zero time at anchor (as pecieved by a bystander) so that may be some kind of answer to your question in itself.

Personally, I had to get away from shooting quickly because it caused me to start snap shooting and short drawing and that is a habit that is hard to break.  It's also closely tied to the dread "IT" otherwise known as target panic.  I now shoot with a very deliberate anchor and hold for two to four seconds.  The length of time seems to depend on how well I'm able to hold my bow arm solid.  If it wavers off target, I need to hold a little longer to get back on.  I believe the guys who shoot quickly often have a good solid bow arm, therefore they know they are on target when they hit anchor and so can release quickly and still hit their mark.  After all, why waste time looking at the spot if you know you are on it when you hit anchor?  I, with my somewhat under control target panic, have difficulty shooting quickly because I'm afraid of going back to my old habbits.

As a mediocre shooter who has spent a lot of time trying to correct a "short draw-can't hit anchor" problem, I have to recommend continuing on as you are with the solid anchor and concentration on your form.  Just practice good form and alignment until it is ingrained then start simplifying your mental side of the shot and work on getting to where you can just concentate on the spot.  Speed will come with time if your brain works that way.  If it likes to shoot slower and more methodically, you'll still be able to speed things up a little but maybe not like some guys.  

Shoot the way that works, don't be afraid to try something new and be honest with yourself about the results.

p.s.  One of the best pieces of advice I ever got on shooting was from a mulitiple time winner of the Texas State Longbow Shoot Kieth Bain who said simply, "point the bow at the target and then DON'T MOVE IT until after the shot."

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

If it works, do it.

I'd hate to try listing the steps of my shot sequence. It'd probably be quicker to tell someone how to replace the head gaskets on a small block Chevy. But the reason I go through that step-by-step process over and over again is so that come hunting time, it flows together without much of any conscious thought.

You can't hope to run if you don't first learn to walk.

[Traditional-Archer]

Like terry said, look at terrys form clock on the shooters forum. Have someone take pictures and look for consistency if you like what you see stick with it. Terrys form clock has helped me. I am no expert by far. I work on my form everyday. I hope to perfect my form one day. It might take 50 years to make it happen but I hope not. Even though It feels that way somedays.