Clicker Is Killing Me

[D.A. Davis]

Well, I got me a clicker for my longbow.  Worked for a hour, or so, getting it set up just right.  I tried shooting with the clock method like Terry shows, but I just can't shoot like that.  I couldn't even hit a 6' X 6' bale that way.  So, I went back to the way I've always shot.  The best way to decribe my shooting style is to think of wing shooting with a shotgun.  That's the way I learned to shoot.  I was actually pretty good with it several years ago when I shot regularly.  But a serious back injury back in 1991 put a stop to my shooting for several years.  I started back last year, but it's not going to well.  My left shoulder's been worked on twice; 2000 & 2009, and I just don't have much strength in it.  I'm shooting a 41# hybrid longbow (40# minimum to hunt in Arkansas).  I put the clicker on it, and used it as a draw check.  I shot until I couldn't draw enough to make the clicker click.  I started having muscle spasms in my upper back, and have been having for the past 2 days.  And, if that's not bad enough, I shot terrible.  I hope it gets better, because I can't ethicly and in good concious hunt with a traditional bow with the way I'm shooting.  I'm going to work hard on it all Spring and Summer, but if I can't get this figured out, I'm going to have to do something else.  I love the tradition and lure of archery in it's purest form, but something's got to get better.

[bshunter]

wish I could shoot with out my clicker...but I can't....if it don't work for you...ever try the Rick Welch method?

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

It takes a bit of time (sometimes months) to get used to shooting with a clicker. It's not an instant fix. When I started shooting with a clicker several years ago, it frustrated the heck out of me for the first few weeks. But sticking with it was one of the best decisions I've evr made with respect to my shooting.

[D.A. Davis]

Today was much better shooting with the clicker.  I've not shot at all since last Saturday.  I spent Sunday thru Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, so no shooting then, and work kept me busy on Thursday and Friday.  I shot for 4 hours today.  The clicker is now starting to feel more natural to me when I draw.  My groups tightened up, but they were a little high.  The paper target I was shooting at was nearly torn completely up from the center of the kill up, but there were hardly any holes from the center down.  I'm going to keep working with it.  Oh, and my middle finger tip is still numb.  It has been since last Saturday.  I shoot 2 fingers under.

[Cecil]

Glad to here you are doing better. it does take time.

[moebow]

DA,  Good coaches will tell  you that it takes about 20 days for a new way to shoot to take effect.  That's twenty days of regular shooting sessions so if you shoot three times a week, that would be about seven weeks of time to get used to a new method.  Some folks can do it faster and for others it will take longer.  We all want to try something new and expect it to be determined in one or two sessions.  We don't give it any kind of chance at all.

[canshooter]

I dont know how long it is since you restarted shooting but I do know that the muscle tone takes a while to properly develop. I injured my back late last October an couldn't shoot for at least 6 weeks.
Prior to the injury I could shoot a 50lb bow all day without fatigue. It took me over a month shooting a 30lb bow before I could even draw my 50lb bow  to shoot it. I would say build up slowly and you wont get the back spasms.