Why am I not consistent?

[McDave]

It is interesting for me to see this post re-surface that I posted in February, 2008.

Probably the most significant thing I've done to improve my shooting in the 2+ years since I posted this is to learn how to use back tension, as mentioned by Clay.  The tools to learn how to do this were provided to me in a class by Rod Jenkins that I attended in Hood River, Oregon, a little more than a year ago.

I learned a lot about using back tension in the class, but it has taken a year of practice since then to learn how to put back tension together with a relaxed bow hand and relaxed string hand. The combination of those three things has gone a long way to answering the question I posed back in 2008.

[SHOOTO8S]

Dave..congrats on sticking with learning to use BT! I always say its simple....but not easy  

BT is paramount to becoming a consistent archer, but sadly, so far in 9 clinics this year with approximately 100 attending, I have had a total of 2 shooters that understood BT...and a bunch using the wrong muscles and calling it BT.

[McDave]

Those two weren't in my class.  About a dozen people attended, most of whom had been shooting for several years and had a serious interest in shooting as well as they could.  As I remember, everyone agreed that none of us had been using proper back tension prior to attending the class.

[Jim Keller]

After watching MOBB#3 and seeing Daryl with the formmaster, I don't know if I'm using proper bt but I do know that when I'm getting eractic groups I really concentrate on bt and my groups tighten right up. Somewhere I heard that it's like trying to squeeze an egg between your shoulder blades.

[Cecil]

Masters of the bare bow three is a great video. it has helped me alot. but the hardest part of my shot to put togeather is back tention. I have had target panic along time so I decided I would cure it. have tryed this and that. on june the 6th I started keeping a diary  of my shooting and shooting close bale every day sometimes morning and evening. the shot came togeather good all but the back tention and on july the 7th is when I got it. took me that long but when it happened I knowed it. I am ingraining it in now. I have the strongest shot that I have ever had.

[RocketDog]

The secret of good form is to learn it.  The best thing you can do is carefully learn the process of shooting from gripping the bow and nocking the arrow to letting the bow down after the shot.  Notice and learn everything you need to know to incorporate good form in all your actions, then practice it enough that you can do it without thought (instinctive).  That is why blind bale work is good -- the only thing you have to work on is your form.  (Shooting instinctively simply means you have done it enough you don't have to think about it to get it right.)

Although most of "good form" is mechanics we all learn, there are some things that are personal about it.  Do you shoot better after exhaling or when you hold your breath; do you squint one eye, have both open, curl your tongue, wiggle your ears or whatever.  Whatever it takes to make your "good form" work, learn that and practice it.

Once you have that form instilled in your muscle memory, if you start having a bad day, it doesn't take long to go over your form from start to finish to see what you're doing wrong.