Impact 3" low

[mooseman1967]

Hi guys see if anyone can help with a little problem that is driving me nuts! First off a bit about me been shooting trad equipment for 18 years now and everything so far has been self taught. Was not really dedicated (as in shooting year round) until about 3 years ago but anymore it is my true passion and have been able to correct alot of my problems since I have learned of this wonderful tool called the internet here the last couple of years.
Now for my problem: It seems no matter what I try my point of impact at hunting distance is almost always 2 to 3 inches lower than my spot that I am looking at.I do feel my form is pretty good and that my bows are tuned well for good arrow flight. I have tried everything I can think of (nock height,brace height,different spine,split finger,3 under,different weight arrows from 480 grains to 610 grains) and the only way I can hit my mark is if I pick a spot 3" above where I want to hit. It is something I can deal with when I shoot at targets but I'm afraid that when it comes to a live animal with all the nerves I'm gonna forget that part and hit low. Am I worrying to much I have had very good success on almost all animals I've taken. I can even move my anchor one finger on my face and within 5 shots I'll be doing the same thing but like I said before look 3" high and the arrow is where I want it. Also after 20 yards I lose enough accuracy that its a little hard to tell but generally the arrows are lower than my spot. Forgot to mention last 2 months been working on a steady bow arm thru the shot in case I was dropping and that helped with windage issues but not elevation. Thank you for any advise you guys can give me.
Dave

[mooseman1967]

Don't know if it help but my main bow is a hybrid longbow 60" tip to tip and pulls 52# @ 28" and my draw is 28 1/4". But I have the same problem from 35# up to my 70#.

[SHOOTO8S]

Do you struggle to raise the bow to a higher elevation , or seem to get locked on target too low?

[mooseman1967]

I'm not real sure about struggling to raise the bow but some times I will try to gap the arrow a bit. When I do that my bow arm must move back down where it was once my spot comes back into focus. So I guess get locked lower than I want to be. Sometimes if I shoot fast (almost snap shoot) the elevation is better but the groups aren't near as tight. Of course what I'm looking for is the most consistant repeatable shot when shooting at game but it puts doubt in my head if I know its going to be low.

[Three Arrows]

I switched back from a longbow to a recurve yesterday and had my intitial arrows hit low by 6 inches or more.  After working on my back tension and relaxing my drawing hand, I had to reprogram the brain to focus on the target more.  The shots started to go up about an inch at a time until all 6 arrows landed consistently in the bull.

[reddogge]

This is just a shooting technique but I used to do a swing draw raising up the bow while drawing.  I now hold the bow out steady and approximately at the elevation I want and then draw.  I seem to get more consistent elevation hits.  I think there was too much movement up and down in my old drawing style.

[dan ferguson]

Something that helps me is to go back to the drawing board and reread what Al Henderson taught, 1 Is a solid anchor. 2 that the bow hand has stopped in the right place and needs no adjusting. 3 complete concentration on the very spot you want to hit.  Something else I personally do is if I am having issues with elevation I tie a rope across a backstop horizontally and just focus on the rope until I can lay them right in on the rope. Hope some of this makes sense.

[bubinga]

Have you tried moving your nock point down a little?

[mooseman1967]

Thanks for all the input guys. I am thinking it is something mental cause I have tried a lower nock point and even different anchor points these things help for a little bit but after a few shots it all goes back to where I was. Dan are you going to make it to the rondevous in Fremont? Sure would like to see ya again and fling some arrows.

[dan ferguson]

I,m sure going to try to.