dead release vs. back tension

[zetabow]

Originally posted by dragon rider:
I don't think it makes much, if any, difference, where your string hand goes once the shot is away; it's where it goes until the string has left your fingers that matters.

Good shooting; have fun.

Agree,

Rod Jenkins has a very dynamic release and works very well for him but it's not for me or a lot of other people. If you can load the shoulders and keep string arm\\fingers relaxed the back tension pretty much works on it's own without forcing it. Rod made his release work for him, a while back I played around with a Oly type dynamic release and it just didn't feel natural. I figured that because Oly shooters anchor much lower it's easier to engage back muscles and make the shot dynamic compared to the Trad archers higher anchor, better for aiming but harder on back tension.

With the two anchor release as John Schulz teaches, one does not get a dead release.  It does not fly way behind the head.  Actually if done properly, there is no need for the drawing hand to come more than the length of the releasing fingers. Nothing is lost in the draw length and you will still get a hard release, getting the most efficiency from your setup.  I have seen cases, where the shooter that is intending to follow through with the drawing hand coming way back, starts moving the bow prior to the release.  Although, there are plenty of videos showing Hill pulling completely through his release as well, even though he taught otherwise.

[NJWoodsman]

Rod Jenkin's description of the shot sequence and release portion made a lot of sense to me, and I sought out his coach, Len Cardinale, to help me as well. The whole release thing is a non-issue in that it's a non-action. What is needed is a cue that occurs after the arrow clears the bow. Touch the shoulder is a common one, and I found it works for me. Before I started that, Len quickly noted that I was just letting go of the string, without a conclusion to the shot.

[zetabow]

Originally posted by NJWoodsman:
The whole release thing is a non-issue in that it's a non-action. What is needed is a cue that occurs after the arrow clears the bow. Touch the shoulder is a common one, and I found it works for me. Before I started that, Len quickly noted that I was just letting go of the string, without a conclusion to the shot.

NJ this description of the release being a'non-action' is one of the points I was trying to get across in previous posts. I've tried the more dynamic release Rod uses and it worked great but had trouble making it work when under tourney pressure, I'm more comfortable touching neck just below the ear, I dont think 'release' I visulize pulling through to my touch point, keeps everything relaxed and fluid and makes the shot very consistent.

Working very well for me and had some great international IFAA\\Fita tourney results this year.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Pull thru the shot.  I to am a fairly new archer and can say that having tried both I could not stop slipping forward on a dead release.  After reading Byron Fergusons book, watching the Masters of the Barebow series of videos, and some coaching from guys at the local archery shot,  I fixed a couple of form issues and the pull thru release really improved my form and tightened my groups.

[mustoffa]

I think if you think to much about the release your not thinking about your target.I think you should worry more about a solid archor and pull though the shoot.people tend to over do the back tenion and get sloppy pulling away from the face and off the body .and the dead release tend to creep after a long day of shooting I tire to reach archor and keep enough tenion on the string so that it pulls out of my fingers easy and im not thinking about getting off the string

[Big Fisherman]

Does anyone extend the bow arm, or bow shoulder at the time of release?  Whether your back is pushing on the bow arm or drawing back on the string arm, there is usually a continual increase in the draw length during the time of release.  This eliminates the problem of slipping forward at time of release.  When you get to the right spot the arrow leaves.

[zetabow]

I dont extend my bow arm but it is pushing into the target, when I increase back tension for release I cant do it from the shoulders for some reason I just cant feel it working, so I imagine pushing back from elbow the same way I use the Foremaster, works well for me and important thing is it still keeps the forearm and fingers relaxed.

When i first started out I used to pull through from string hand and found fingers and Forearm would tense up and the shot wasn't consistent.

[shakeyslim]

when the shot "happens" i really can't tell if back or dead release. if i try to make either it just feels poor-lose concetration no form.
 what works best for me is to let shot happen from draw thu to arrow on target.

[BCWV]

I have been trying to work on my back tension and feel I had another break through today while shooting a 56" bow I pick up here on the classifieds.
 It's a hybrid longbow and much lighter mass weight than the swifts and bears I've been shooting. I wasn't doing real well with it and was trying different things. I had tried many times to use my back muscles and get a more dynamic type release and it clicked today. I now pull to anchor and while I focus on the target I increase back tension until release. I'm getting a smoother release, good accuracy and my draw hand automaticaly comes straight back upon release. I had to try to think about touching my shoulder after the release prior to today.
 Now if I can repeat it the next time I shoot! It seems that every time I think I've got it, something goes south the next shooting session

[McDave]

Brad, what you're describing sounds perfect.  Once you do it, you can do it again, but its not necessarily going to automatically happen the next time you go out to shoot.  If it's not happening for you, just keep shooting until it works, trying to repeat the shot sequence that worked for you before.  I've found that it's much easier to get proper back tension and a dynamic release if I stand close to the target.  Probably this is because I don't have to worry about where the shot is going to go.

[BCWV]

Dave,
 Thanks for the advice. I felt like I knew what I needed to do for this but for whatever reason I couldn't seem to make it happen until today. Now I know what you fellas have been talking about!
 I have been going through the good days, bad days in my shooting and this will go along way towards fixing that.
 Now, if I can work out the other 999 problems with my shooting form.
 Thanks

[Encino Man]

When I pull my bow to anchor (middle finger to the corner of my mouth), my hand relaxes to such an extent, that just the the thought of releasing will let it go. My shot window is when my sight picture says "Now" That could be anywhere from the time my finger hits the corner of my mouth to as much as 3-5 seconds. My sight picture is rarely what I want it when I hit full draw. I usually come to a dead (relaxed) draw. But I also draw through when my correct sight picture coincides with my finger hitting the corner of my mouth.