Embarrassing question re: bruised chest!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Well, I have been trying very hard to maintain proper alignment and use my back muscles, as my shooting was getting a bit sloppy. Happily, with this effort, my accuracy has improved. However, with my longbows, the string creases into my left shirt and chest, and after much shooting, a small bruise has developed. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong? I realise the angle of the string compared with a recurve might have something to do with it. Also, I wonder how you guys manage shooting with your jackets on? I try to shoot with tight-fitting tee-shirts, as loose ones get in the way. Any insights or advice greatly appreciated. Ben

[chris_qc]

I'll be checking in on this one since I also notice my string touching my left pec when drawing my 70" Hill style longbow.

[Scott J. Williams]

Allow me to throw in my two cents.  I have had this problem in the past, almost stopped shooting traditional gear because of it.  

I have closed my shooting stance a bit, which has taken care of the problem for the most part.

In other words,  instead of standing perpendicular to the target,  I point both feet at at forty five degree angle(roughly)toward the target to slightly more(experiement)this created more distance between the string and my chest.  This will result in a slightly shorter draw length, depending on how much you face the target.

You may find that this change will prevent you from cheating on the the back tension.  Remember to keep the elbow on the drawing arm in perfect alingment with the arrow extending the alingment to the spot on the target you want to hit.  

It works very well for me,  in fact I can wear some pretty bulky clothing and still shoot with minimal problems.  I hope this helps..

[Orion]

Leaning into the shot a little might also help.  It's a micro adjustment.  Scott's suggestion to close your stance can be more of a macro adjustment.  One or both should help.  Good luck.  Changing to a shorter bow, often a much shorter bow, can also get the string off your chest, but that's pretty drastic.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Thanks, gentlemen! I will go and try these suggestions! Cheers, Ben

[jhansen]

Ben,
What everyone is saying is correct.  It has to do with string angle.  Longbows tend to have shallow string angles and that causes their strings to come into contact with your chest.  There are four possible answers that I can think of.  
1.  Go to a shorter longbow.  This works until you get so short that the bow starts to stack.  Stacking (with a straight limbed longbow) hits at about double your draw length, more or less. R/D longbows and hybrids cheat on that a little.  So if you pull an honest 28" your minimum length of longbow should be 58" to avoid stacking.

2.  Go to a recurve.  Doing this increases the string angle while avoiding stacking at a given draw length.

3.  Close your stance.  In other words, face the target more.  This allows more space between your chest and the string.  Be aware that closing your stance also causes you to shorten your draw length and can also cause more strain on the rotator cuff of the bow arm.  A torn rotator cuff is not fun.

4.  Use less cant.  Canting the bow causes the string to form an "X" across the body putting it in contact with your chest.  The classic vertical or "T" hold creates more of a parallel line like "II".  Many shooters who think they cant their bow a lot are actually bending their body at the waist.  The angle of the bow to the body would be almost parallel.  The body AND the bow increase angle.

Hope this helps.

John

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Well, after trying those suggestions, I am pleased to report that I shot very accurately and that it was pain-free! Leaning into the shot slightly seems to work for me, and I can still keep my alignment. The result:
 
Thank you to all,

Ben

[Jim now in Kentucky]

I seem to recall turning the body more toward the target is called opening the stance, but ........
whatever, it worked. Good for you.

[jhansen]

I'm old.  I can't keep things like open vs closed straight anymore.  Thanks for correcting me.

John

[SHOOTO8S]

Close your stance.  In other words, face the target more.


Guys, isn't an OPEN stance whats recommended for creating more string clearence? Facing the target more, decribes an OPEN stance.

[SHOOTO8S]

Opps... should have read all the posts on this thread  :D

[Bender]

Square stance = toes of both feet in line to target
 Open stance = toes of right foot  slightly behind the line as defined by a square stance
  Closed stance = toes of right foot slightly across or in front of line as defined by square stance.
 All this in reference to a right handed shooter.

[SHOOTO8S]

Originally posted by Bender:
Square stance = toes of both feet in line to target
 Open stance = toes of right foot  slightly behind the line as defined by a square stance
  Closed stance = toes of right foot slightly across or in front of line as defined by square stance.
 All this in reference to a right handed shooter.

With all due respect...I disagree..heres how international coach Al Henderson defines shooting stance...
 

[Seeking Trad Deer]

Nice graphic.  I sometimes shoot I guess what you would call extreemly open stance with my bow straight up and down.  Mike Fedora got me shooting in this style.  Can also shoot closed stance and both seem to result in about the same performance on the target for me.  I just can't seem to stick to one  

[madness522]

I don't like to pick a particular stance and always stand that way to fling arrows.  It will be unlikely that your deer or whatever you're hunting will be where you are in that position when the moment to take the shot comes.

I will shoot from extremely closed to extremely open and everywhere in between.  I want to know I can hit my spot no matter which position my feet are in when the time comes.  I also practice shooting facing away from the target. See Terry's reverse cant videos for this one. Reverse cant is way cool to try!

[csbullseye]

I was taught an open stance is like Shoot08s picture. It gives the string more clearance from your body. That is how I shoot.

[laddy]

If I could add one thing to this so that the newer shooters don't get the information to clustered. When one is practicing it is a good idea to be able to shoot good form with any foot placement.  By bending the knees and not holding the body rigid and erect, somehow that almost sounds naughty, you can rotate on your footing without changing your upper bodies form.  To encapsulate, knees bent, waste bent a little, as you spread draw the body comes forward, the elbow remains bent, the bow comes up canted, as you reach the flat spot in your draw, the last  6'' the head comes forward, as you bite into your anchor you release, your follow through is the bow stays on target and your drawing hand stays connected to the side of your face

[Brian Krebs]

I practice as if I was hunting. So; some shots are on one knee; some crouched over; some standing up.. but a wide stance? I think that would require a really big treestand