How blasphemas is this to "traders"

[Migra Bill]

Just learning to shoot trad bows. Being right handed and left eye dominant I am imploying the "point of aim" method.
Being as my shooting is in its infancy and I am concentrating so hard on point of aim - I think I am having consistant release issues. I was kicking around the idea of shooting my trad bows with a mechanical release to insure a more consistant release each time - at least while I am still this new and then, when I have point of aim down - I can work more on release/form.
My question is - how blasphemas is it to the sport of Traditional Archery to use a mechanical release? If I go to some shooting events with my mechanical release will people throw rotten fruit at me?

[McDave]

Don't worry about whether it is blasphemous or not; think about how you are going to learn to be a traditional archer.  If you were going to learn to ride a horse, do you think it would help you to start by riding on a motorcycle, and switch to riding a horse later on?

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Release pre-date wheel bows (Non trad)and most Trad archers.. If it works for you, go for it and don't worry about it. However it sounds like you are working very hard at it,, You might just try having fun with and not stress on small groups and hitting the mark for a while. Form will develope then accuracy comes with practice.. Haveing fun with it is the first priority

[Gunney]

That's right. If you really want to freak them out, get really traditional on them and use a thumb ring.

[Brian Gillispie]

Hey there,


    I seem to have the same problem that you have in reverse.  I am Left Handed.  I am Right Eye dominant.  Thus, I shoot Right handed.  I also shoot a handgun with my right hand.  I may be wrong here but doesnt eye dominance dictate which hand you shoot with?  I ask this cause of all the really messed up stuff that happens to kids who are forced to write with the Right Hand in elementary school.  I suspect you may be making the task of shooting harder by attempting a rewire of your brain at the same time you are learning a new skill.

    How does one use a thumb ring anyway?  Is there any video online showing somone shooting with a thumb ring?

Hope this helps,

Brian Gillispie

[Migra Bill]

Brian-
     Eye dominance is a topic that we could talk about in a 1 week seminar. Like I said I am left eye dominant. I shoot my bows righthanded, my rifles and shotguns righthanded, and my pistoils righthanded. They key is that I must close my left eye to do it. I CANNOT shoot with both eyes open. Kinda sucks for perpheral vivion. I have tried to shoot a bow left handed - disaster - definately not going to happen.

[Molson]

It would seem to me you are putting the cart before the horse.  Getting your form down first is step number one.  Accuracy will come with consistent form.  You will never aquire consistent form unless you develope it. That takes work. There are major differences in how you shoot with a release vs fingers.  Shooting a release will not help you develope your ability to shoot fingers.

As for eye dominance, unless you have to wear that patch to walk a straight line, there is no reason you have to wear it to shoot straight.  Change your style of shooting to take advantage of the dominant eye.  It is not very difficult if you're willing to experiment and think "outside the box".

[TFM]

wont the arrow (archers paradox)flex up and down and not right to left? so then when you go back to using finger release, you still will have an accuracy problem. Dont know just throwing it out there.

[Steve Gabriel]

Migra Bill,
    Try using a Formaster to help with the drawing arm. It helps improve you're release.

    Usually Trad shooters have a tendency to draw the bow using arm strength rather than their backs. The Formaster will help you focus on using your back muscles rather than your arm muscles and you should see you release getting better.

[mike g]

Bill....
    I'm like you Left eye Dom and Right Handed.
I shot for years by closeing my left eye, your right depth perception sucks....
    I eventualy taught myself to shoot with both eyes open, At first you get dizzy and the target jumps around....
    After a while it settles down, Now I can shoot right or left handed with both eyes open, Go figure....
    Keep at it it will happen....

[Terry Green]

Earl, what mechanical release pre-dated wheel bows.  Got any pics?

[AllenR]

There are several photos on ArcheryHistory.com

 http://archeryhistory.com/releases/releases.htm

The earliest ones that I saw on there were from the early 50's

[Bowana]

I'm left handed and right eye dominant. I look at what I want to hit and pull back and let it fly. When I miss it's because my form got sloppy, not eye issues.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Thanks Allen, T.. I was playing with release in the late 60's early 70's.. Most were home made copies of stuff on the market and I never found any to improve my shooting, but they certainly were around. Bought one of the first PSE's with training wheels mid 70's.
It didn't help either.

[Terry Green]

Interesting.....thanks!

[doublewhopper]

would the korean thumb ring thing be considered a release?  If that is then that is one old release.

[BPS]

I am left eye domanate and Right handed. I switched to shooting left handed and it made a Great deal of difference. It takes about 3-4 week to get use to using the other side of your body. It was worth it for me.

[Stinger]

Not totally off topic, but my brother has a circulation issue in his hands which pretty much prevents him from shooting without a heavy glove on when it is cold (i.e., most of the hunting seaason).  No problem for the wheel bow, but he would like to switch back to trad and has been wondering if using a release would be a problem.  Is there any problem with string torque on a recurve from a mechanical release that would be an issue?  Could you use a string loop?