I'd like to shoot that way but...

[NBK]

I watched Steve Fausel on Masters of the Barebow Vol. 2 and thought wow I'd love to shoot that style/method.  I tried to imitate his form but found that I just couldn't get "in-line", my elbow was high, not back far enough, draw length shortened, and I tend to torque the string if the bow isn't vertical.  I'm not real flexible through the shoulders.  It didn't feel as comfortable or relaxed.  Kept at it for a few weeks with no improvement and figured "Hey maybe I should just let Steve shoot like Steve! and I'll shoot like me."  Anybody else find that even though they may want to shoot a particular style their body just doesn't let them?

[Terry Green]

What exactly do you mean 'not flexible through the shoulders'???

Can you stand with your arms straight out making a 'T'?...I think you can....now,  do same thing they do on drunk drivers with touching the index finger to their nose.....except just take your middle finger of your drawing arm and bring it around to the corner of your mouth. You elbow should stay very close to the same place.  

Now turn your head toward your bow hand.  You are now in position to shoot.  Nothing flexible about it really.

Now, tell me if I'm miss read what you are saying.

[NBK]

Hey Terry, I'm I misreading you or are you coming down on me?
It's not that I can't do it, it's that it feels more natural with less tension for me to stand erect, vertical bow, 3-under, than for me to bend at the waist, cant the bow, split-finger like Mr. Fausel. I believe that the latter style, which more resembles your own, is a superior overall hunting style and one that I used for the first six years of shooting a traditional bow.  The bottom line, however, is that I personally shoot better the former method and no matter how much I may want to look like you when I shoot I owe it to the animal to bring my "A" game.  
Mike Reilly

[Terry Green]

Mike...yep, you are certainly miss reading me.  I'm just trying to help understand.  No, I'm not 'comming down on ya'....so sorry I came across that way.

I have the same position while canted and bent at the waist as I do when I shoot erect and vertical...its all the same position.....or should be.

If I draw correctly while standting verticle, and I lean at the waist, then the bow and I are both 'canted'...but the correct alignment hasn't changed.  

If I draw correctly while bending at the waist, and then stand up straight....the correct alignment hasn't changed.

What I'm trying to say is that the proper shooting position can be in many body positions.

Do you have a copy of The Bowhunters of Trad Gang DVD?

[NBK]

Appreciate the response Terry, thank you. No I don't have that DVD but I've heard good things about it.  Where can I order it from?

[Terry Green]

Email me your address....

[email protected]

[kenn1320]

NBK, I had similar issues as Im sure many have. The more I tried to emulate what I was seeing on video's, or reading on here or in books, the worse I shot. As long as you have the basics down on your form, just go shoot and have fun. You will find what works best for you, and thats what matters. The more you try to do what others think is the right way, the more frustrated you will get, and that takes the fun out of it. Im happy with my shooting now, and almost afraid to watch another video about shooting form/technique. lol

Ken

[zetabow]

Mike when you learn a particular form method and want to make changes, it's pretty hard to break habits you learnt and ingrained from day one, it normally requires several steps backwards in consistency and accuracy for a least few months.

Before you decide to totally break anything down you have to think about how well your shooting at the moment and consider if a total change will in the long haul make positive improvements in your shooting. No good doing it just because it looks good or somebody else is successful that way, I see so many copy Ricky Welch, Howard Hill methods but how many end up shooting as good as them? those guys have\\had strong basics of form and build their own unique style around that, as long as you have that understaning of basic form you can build your own unique style around that core.

As an international tourney shooter I shot with most of the top shooters in the world, they all have great form but none of them shoot exactly the same.

I'm going through some form changes at the moment, as it's out of tourney season I can make those form changes and accept the step backwards in consistency and accuracy, I'm not only giving it time to work but I considered the end result before I started those changes.

Good luck