3-under and instinctive shooting?

[Benny Nganabbarru]

A question for those of you who shoot 3-under:

Do any of you consider yourselves to be an instinctive shooter?

I've just got a hold of Fred Asbell's DVD, and he doesn't seem to fancy 3-under much; but, is that based on tiller only, or is there something else to consider.

I'm fairly sure that on one of the Masters DVDs, one of the Wensel twins shoots both instinctively and 3-under (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Penny for your thoughts, both for and against.

Sincerely,

Ben

[RC]

Ben , I think Gene shoots three under but gaps. It for sure works for him.Rick Welch does also and is a super shot.RC

[fxe]

Ben,I shoot 3 under but sight down the arrow.For me I get better groups shooting that way.

[tradtusker]

i shoot three under also but i use the split vision described by Howard hill.

[threeundr]

Ben, I shoot three under and I definatly consider myself an instinctive shooter.

-Leonard-

[kodiakkid]

I also shoot 3 under and gap. It deff. helps with my groups. As far as tiller goes I think most bows are tillered for split finger unless it's a custom and is tillered for 3 under. I don't necessarelly think 3 under is any better than split. but it is more comfortable to me and I don't tend to roll the arrow off the shelf with 3 under. Paul

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Thanks lads, keep those preferences coming (please)!

[Big'n]

Ben, I started out shooting 3 under and instinctive but Fred made me switch at the Widow Clinic and I haven't switched back. I don't think I really shoot any better split but my bow sure is a lot quieter. I hate to miss quote him and I might be wrong but I think he said that with 3 under there is a tendency to begin to look at the arrow (for some).

I do tend to put torque on the arrow with my index and middle finger if I'm not carefull but I also put a lot of upward torque on the arrow when I shot 3 under. It seems that I can't win. I tried to switch back a couple weeks ago and it really didn't seem worth the effort. I couldn't hit anything.  DAVE

[laddy]

I believe that in some degree all are using the secondary aiming.  The biggest difference seems to be how much acknowledgment they give to the position of the arrow in their vision.  According to John Schulz, Hill never mentioned it to him, but John refers to his aiming as conditioned instinct.  That seems the most correct to me, what Hill describes is the fundamentalism of using everything your senses give can give you.  The secondary gets you in the ball park, your instinctive moderates all the variables and gives the timing.  An arrow as an aiming devise by itself makes for a really fat sight pin.

[Taiga Recurve]

I shoot three under and consider myself an instinctive shooter. I do have the arrow in my perifial (sp) vision, however, I do not take my eye off the spot on the target I want to hit. I think no matter what style you use, you will always have the arrow somewhere in your sight picture. I would like to learn how to shoot gap for the shots out past 50 yards.

[PastorSteveHill]

3 Under and Instinctive.  I look at a spot and hold the bow arm steady and watch the arrow land in the spot I'm looking at.  At least most of the time. hahah...

[bowtime]

If 3 under is not instinctive...what would you call it? I find much better accuracy since holding three fingers under the arrow,I also hold
the arrow up close to my eye using it to line up
my shot.

[ratgunner]

I shoot 3 under and have no idea wether it's considerd intinctive or not.I try not to think about such things,it can only lead to trouble.Unless your shooting really poorly of course.And yes Gene said in the video "Spirit of the Bow" he shoots 3 under and gap while Barry shoots instinctive.  

[L82HUNT]

Shoot three under and anchor middle finger corner of mouth.  I look were I hope to hit.  It appears if you watch me that I am sighting down the arrow but I dont.

[BLACK WOLF]

There can be alot of confusion over the different types of aiming techiniques because some meld into one another as an archer learns his particular techinique.

True Total Instinctive Aiming - is where the archer isn't CONSCIOUSLY using the arrow, gap or any other object besides the target within their vision as a reference while aiming. The aiming is primarily done within the subconscious using proprioception and muscle memory. It's very similar to how a well trained athlete performs a specific movement to achieve a specific goal without having to analize it or think about it.

If an archer is CONSCIOUSLY using the arrow to line up the target...they are not aiming TOTALLY instinctively...even if they are not analizing the gap.

If an archer is CONSCIOUSLY aware of the gap between some reference and the target and is CONSCIOUSLY making adjustments to the gap in relationship to the target...they are not aiming TOTALLY instinctively.

My primary aiming techinique is basically Gap aiming. I've been aiming Gap for so long that many of it's techiniques have almost become totally instinctive. I no longer consciously analize what my exact gap needs to be for a certain distance. I feel it...yet I am CONSCIOUSLY aware of my arrow in relationship to my target. I CONSCIOUSLY recognize the correct sight picture for a specific target and distance but I couldn't tell you exactly what it is. I know it when I see it. I can tell you what it probably looks like...but a True Instinct Aimer couldn't tell you at all.

Many archers, who use 3 fingers under, use it to decrease the gap between the target and the arrow tip and use the arrow as if they were looking down a gun barrel.

When an archer consciously uses the arrow to line up the target and/or create a specific gap between the target and the arrow tip, they are basically Gap aiming even when they aren't analizing exactly what the gap needs to be or exactly how far the target is.

There can be a fine line between Gap aiming and Instinctive Aiming especially when an archer has mastered their Gap aiming techinique.

Ray