Finding your correct anchor point

[jerry hill]

If you shoot one finger over and two under, in order to fine tune your shooting, you have got to get your anchor point right. To do this stand in front of a full length dress mirrow and while drawing a light weight bow come to full draw stopping at the front curvature of your lower teeth with you middle finger. While holding and looking at yourself in the mirrow move your anchor finger around the curvature tooth by tooth until you have settled on the tooth that is directly below yet in alignment with the puple of your aiming eye. This will be your correct anchor point. Do this repeatly until you know the right tooth and feel. Correct anchor point is like the rear sight on a rifle, it has to be right or if not when you point the front end of your arrow toward the target you will continuely shoot all over the target. Providing your bow and arrows are properly matched to one another, your shooting will improve. I promise-Jerry Hill

[Shinken]

Thanks for the tip Jerry!

That's good info.

Shoot straight,  David Camp

[rpembert]

It helped me a lot and improved my accuracy quiet a bit. I had to calm myself down and take sometime to aim. I was shooting to fast. Getting in front of the mirror helped me find that sweet spot.

Thanks,
Joshua

[Rick Butler]

Good point.  I found that with my middle finger pressed against the gum above my canine tooth will bring the arrow directly in line with my eye.  I just have to remember to do it every time!

[Maxximusgrind]

Thanks jerry
 Its hard to imagine I never thought of that,makes sense
 Robert

[robtattoo]

Unless it's under your chin. Or your cheekbone. or a knucke in your ear. Or the string to your lip/nose....

Sorry, I know it seems like I'm looking for an argument with you Jerry, I'm honestly not!

New archers that come here for advice can easily become confused that they are doing something 'Wrong' just because someone who does something differently to them tells them that they're doing it wrong. Everyone has a different anchor point (If you ever watch a face-walker shoot, they have several themselves!) but the only 'wrong' anchor is an inconsistant anchor. As long as you get a reference to the same point EVERY TIME, then it's not wrong FOR YOU.

As my old FITA coach used to say, "The only bad form, is inconsistant form. If you do the same thing, every single shot, then that is YOUR form"

[zetabow]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
Unless it's under your chin. Or your cheekbone. or a knucke in your ear. Or the string to your lip/nose....

Everyone has a different anchor point (If you ever watch a face-walker shoot, they have several themselves!) but the only 'wrong' anchor is an inconsistant anchor. As long as you get a reference to the same point EVERY TIME, then it's not wrong FOR YOU.
 

I agree, as long as it's consistent it doesn't matter, everyones face is different and they have to find what works for them.

A few years back I had upper/lower jaw reconstruction, I suffered nerve damage where my old anchor was and was foced to change, I adapted within  a couple of months and carried on tourney shooting with the same good form.

I know some Field Longbow shooters facewalking with variable anchor, they shoot pretty good IFAA Field scores.

The advice that Jerry has given is correct, it will work almost everyone, except rob maybe. It is all about consistently getting the arrow under the aiming eye, even if you do not use the arrow to aim with you can still see it. Would it not be better if it was in line with the target you are shooting at, much like the bow arm shoulder? Perhaps he should have prefaced it with, 'if you want to try to shoot like Howard Hill with a longbow', but then that is a given. At least for all of us longbow shooters that would like to shoot a longbow like Howard Hill.

[Joe Q.]

I now actually have a use for that full length mirror in the hallway.

Thanks Jerry!!

[Bowmania]

I was at a Rod Jenkins seminar yesterday.  The way he describe it is - stand facing the mirror, hands stretched out to form a cross.  If you right handed turn you head to the left and then move your right drawing hand to the face, with fingers cupped like your holding the string.  On Denny Sturgis that was about an inch and a half to two inches from the corner of his mouth toward his ear.  They both use thumb joints, jaw, cheek bone to anchor.

[Lowrider]

I have heard over and over that everyone does not have the same head shape or physical shape and anchors may vary from one to another. However I like that someone who learned from one of the greatest archers of all time will take time to share some of his ideas even though they may not work for all. I need all the help I can get so I am willing to try anything that may help. Thanks Jerry and keep up the good hints.

[rpembert]

This is for any body that anchors at the mouth. First off it cuts down on the deflection that you have to correct for. The closer you get that arrow to the eye the more accurate you can be. To get it under your eye is like Jerry said, you are looking down the barrel of a gun. When you shoot skeet you dont hold the shotgun at your hip, you put it under your eye and point. Of course there are some that are that good!   :cool:  Not me. This works for longbows and recurves alike.  Again this is the Hill style of shooting.

Joshua

[Ed Isaacs]

Now I have a reason to buy a lightweight bow.

[Terry Green]

I think incorporating a 2nd anchor is of MAJOR importance in getting consistent proper alignment and back tension.

You 'single' anchor could be on any tooth/corner of the mouth/cheek bone, and yet your elbow could still be pointing any which-a-way(as covered in The Bowhunters of Trad Gang DVD)...

But, with a double anchor you can get that elbow right where it needs to be every time.

[Bowwild]

Since it relates to anchor point, most compound shooters over-draw and most recurve shooters under-draw.  In order to execute a proper shot back motion (back tension is the wrong word)when at full draw the point of the drawing arm elbow should be slightly (1/2 inch) in front a line from the bow grip, through the anchor and beyond this elbow. An elbow in line or behind this line (toward the back) is overdrawn and the archer will have difficult utilizing back motion. An elbow too far in front of this line is an underdrawn bow and the biceps will be involved instead of the back. The "Beyond NASP" DVD available on the NASP website, by Tim Strickland and Denise Parker is the best instruction I've seen in my 46 years in archery.