been fighting this problem for a lot of years

[AkDan]

Ok, it's time I fix this.  Have been fighting it forever and a brother.

I've shot stickbow for 17 years now.  It doesnt matter how well I tune, how I tune, how much I practice form, I'm doing this consistently wrong.

Even on my old bow, that I could shoot by far the best I've ever shot, I still fought it.   That bow was one helluva bow, to bad it cracked.

YOu ask the problem?

I have a constant left right battle.   Doesnt matter how spot perfect the bow is tuned.   The bow I'm shooting now I know is spot on, bullet holes, planing groups, it shoots very nice.  but yet I fight lefts and rights.  

SO I know its me.  And I'm sure it can be anything.  Man alive I'd like to figure it out.  I dont have a video camera anymore, need to get our digital camera fixed.  That is out for now.  

Any idears?  Thoughts?  tips?  Advice?  

Might could use a bowhunting partner too, preferable one that can shoot better then I, Pack more then I can, and be a tad bit smarter  

[deermaster1]

it sounds like an inconsistent anchor.  press your drawing hand snugly to your face where you anchor and try to repeat the pressure every time.  also you may not have the arrow directly under you eye.  this will cause left/right problems depending on if your left or right hand.  a repeatable and comfortable anchor is probably what you need. hope this helps!

[deermaster1]

one more thing.  if its about half and half left and right hits it is an anchor.  if its consistently one or the other, it is your arrow spine and or the arrow is not lined up directly under your eye.

[kawika b]

hard to say without seeing your form. right/left usually (for me) come when i either peek or torque. peeking: trying to see the arrows flighl and torquing: bad grip on bow. this is for a right hander by the way,,,lefty would be opposite i guess. this is assuming that bow and arrow are well matched and tuned. hi/low come from an incosistant anchor,,,for me anyways. from what i've read,,,hi/low misses are a hit or a miss in the field,,,right lefts may end up with some unnecessary tracking time.

[AkDan]

I kinda figured without a vid camera it was foolish to ask this question....

Thanks for trying guys.   I'll keep plinking away at it.   I hope not for another 17 years, ugg  

[kawika b]

Originally posted by AkDan:
I kinda figured without a vid camera it was foolish to ask this question....

Thanks for trying guys.   I'll keep plinking away at it.   I hope not for another 17 years, ugg    

not foolish at all bro,,,just keep at it. you shoot open or closed stance?

[AkDan]

I shoot open, not to open, not to closed....

I'll try and get some video here.  Am trying to find someone who can fix our camera, ugg.

I guess what bothers me most is I'm pretty meticulous about the tuning stages and getting things right.   This bow is right on the money, as was my last bow, and older checkmate crusader that shot like a dream come true.   To put it blatently, when that bow sung, things died.   I've never had the confidence before or after that bow, but it's coming back albeit slowly.  Even then though I fought lefts and rights.  Doesnt matter what game I bring to the table I know it's shooter error, or shooter inflicted problem, not a bow or bow tune problem.   WHich means, it could be just about anything ugg!

[John 4]

Shoot a dead release and keep a bent bow arm.
Buy Ricky Welshes latest DVD.
I did this and I'm now more consistant than I've ever been,an the left right thing just doesn't happen any more.

[AkDan]

I have one of Rickys video, not sure which....which one is the new one?  I'm always up for good stuff  

[TSP]

Sounds like you are regularly getting BOTH lefts and rights...which suggests its not your anchor unless you are using a floating anchor (not a good idea).  

If you are SURE the arrows are properly matched to the bow, you may be either torquing the bow (your grip on the bow might need adjusting) or torquing/plucking the string at release (the way you hold the string in your fingers may need adjusting).  Or maybe both.  

Then again, maybe your target keeps moving.  

[Todd Hathaway]

I'd bet dollars to donuts that it's your release. One of the biggest tendencies is to pluck the string....to pull the string hand out away from the face. It's kind of a subconscious thing....a natural action for trying to "get the fingers out of the way."

I suggest concentrating on WHERE you want that release hand to end up. Do not think "release" or "let go"....just envision where the perfect release would make your hand end up. For me the perfect release makes my hand come back and down to end up at the back of my jaw. It feels as if my fingers never leave my face--brushing it all the way back to where they stop.

If, at the time you're ready to release,  you envision your hand ending up at the perfect spot, it will go there automatically.

[John 4]

Shooting instruction II,by Ricky Welsh.
The only thing he teaches that I couldn't get a complete grip on was "the totaly dead release.
I still brush my ear lobe after the shot.
This means my hand comes back about two inches on release.
I tend to belive Rickys advice on the release is good in that is stops plucking the string,but I feel that what I do achives the same end.
Cheers.

Like others have stated, it would be difficult to know what the problem is without watching you.  When I shoot left it’s because I’ve moved my bow arm/hand; when I shoot right it’s because I’ve moved my release hand.

My practice routine is something like this.  Draw, make sure my bow hand is solid and on the mark, push/pull with my back, hold my release hand tight to my face, then concentrate on my elbow coming straight back (just a little).

About every third draw I concentrate on keeping that “active” tension for about 5 seconds, then I let down.  It’s helped me a lot to make sure those arrows fly straight toward the mark.

Jim

[vermonster13]

How long are you holding at draw? If you are holding to long, you could be getting the stress jitter just before release.

[Quill Flinger]

Hi, accuracy comes from many things, tuning, riser grip fitting your hand, solid anchor point & smooth release, (whether a static or live release).
But the single most important thing I was taught, was that accuracy comes from the bow hand. Always push the "v" of your thumb & forefinger towards your "spot" & follow through. As Byron stated, be the arrow. Meaning imagine the arrow as a telephone pole that you are directing towards the target & push the bow hand "v" forward.
This is how trick shooters can shoot from the hip etc. Worth a try, hope it works for ya.
Good luck - Q.

[joebuck]

dead release for plucking prob.

[Terry Green]

I know you said you didn't have a camera....but if you could borrow one.....I think we could collectively figure out something.

Windage issues are usually alignment/lack of back tension/torquing problems.

[Problem Child]

You might want to borrow a release-aid from a wheelie guy and try it. If it stops,it's your release if not it's the bow arm. I have a decent release but I'm bad to "limp wrist" my bow arm and that causes me to shoot left or right.

[User Name]

Jay Kidwell's advice worked for me.  That advice was to only focus on the left/right, don't worry about up and down.  Rather than focus on a point, focus on a vertical line.  Any hit on that line is a success.  I use a vertical strip of tape on my target.  

Once you get that, focus on the point to get up & down.