Draw length

[swampthing]

This one is going to be a duesey.
     Draw length, If I really expand and shoot Olympic Style I'm 31" or so. With a middle finger in the corner of my mouth, using back tension, getting the draw arm behind the nock, pushing almost straight bowhand to target, I'm 29.5" or so. With a casual draw, no stretching or expanding, that "feels" natural, bent bow arm elbow, middle finger to corner of mouth with the nock lined up under my R. eye, R handed shooter, draw elbow lined up with the nock I'm 26.5"  
     Now I shoot Hill style, I'm 5'11" with the same in armspread/wingspan. A little scunched up and relaxed looses bow speed but accuracy is very good. Arrows tend to go where I look, The other ways the arrows are screaming but arrows don't hit where I look, they are just as accurate but just not to where I look.
    Now for the question. Should one shoot the way that puts'em where they look? seems like this is there true draw and the other ways just put one out of alignment. Question... and of course I may be wrong... 26.5" hits where you look, 29" be more mind'full of form and smoke arrows??

[brinkwolf]

Swamp, first I don't think you would have a 26.5" draw length. I'm 5'10 and draw a 30"+ arrow with perfect form. Perfect form is perfect form wether you are hunting or shooting targets. As for Mr.Hill he scrunched up,leaned forward and bent his bow arm so much because he was trying to get to a 28" draw. If he were to stand and draw as normal his draw length would have been over 32". The wood arrows he used at the beginning of his career were no way spined good enough for the weight bows he was shooting. If you ever noticed later pics of him after he changed to aluminum he was more erect in his stance. I too thought at one time my draw length was only 28.5" but later when my form got better I started drawing longer. A few people always try to imulate the way Mr.Hill did things but don't know the reasons why he was doing them. Anything you do to deviate from your form can shorten or lengthen your draw.

[Whump]

Whump Sez; I am going to ask a question ;  when you are shooting with good back tension and a solid anchor point are you shooting high , left, right, what? Give us a little more info--cause I cannot believe those arrows are tuned & shooting the same at 26 draw as they are at 31. To keep my brain from making a noise like a needle being kicked over on a 45rpm record I had to ask. Give us some bow poundage, arrow spine, point weights, etc. I am getting old and I could have a stroke trying to figure out something like this with no info.   The one thing you have to do is get solid with form and follow thru in this sport, if you do not you will struggle till the end of time. More info PLEASE!  Hunt safe.

[swampthing]

Bow is 48# @28 cut to juust center longbow, arrows are 29.5" POC 62# 125g tips. Now when I use a side of the face anchor, draw elbow behind the nock, expand the draw, push to target. etc..etc... I'm 29.5" the arrows do not go where I look. Now when I tilt the head, anchor the nock to a spot that lines up with my {R} eye, cant the bow to get the arrow ligned up in my periferal, being more casual about the shot. I still have the draw elbow behind nock, just not "flexed" back there, there is no exertion, more like a loading up. I put it back there and it stops where it comfortably stops. That, more scunched up form is the most accurate for me, and, my shots go where I look!! Now that is a draw of only 26.5" in the other "postures" arrow flight is always severe nock high, and it takes a lot more consistant body english to make it clean and quiet.

[swampthing]

Disregard, I combined the 2 styles, achieved 28.5" draw and arrows will go where I look. Not quite 30" but a good compromise. Thanks for the insight.

[brinkwolf]

As long as you are happy with that draw length then that's what matters. Now when I was shooting that 28.5" draw I was also hitting were I was looking. I got to were I stopped noticing were the arrow was on the shelf and didn't notice I was drawing it further into the shelf when my form improved. I got a wake-up call when I first tried hunting with those shorter arrows and better form when I pulled back on a doe and couldn't come to full draw because the broadhead was hitting the shelf. From then on I started drawing longer shafts. If a shorter draw works then that's good but I still find it hard to believe at your height you would draw such a short shaft with such a low poundage bow.

Good luck and good hunting.

[Whump]

Whump Sez; Ok cuz---just so what you are doing is a solid and repeatable anchor and form position then you are good to go. If you are hunting with this system set up a few hunting shot situations, tree stand shooting, shots from a blind or however you plan to execute the shot while hunting and see how it works. Shoot some arrows with broadheads and make sure you have clearance and if you are satisfied with the result all you have to do in this game is satisfy "yourself" not a bunch of other people. If this system is not the answer don't give up, we have all tried different anchor points, aiming systems and bows to improve our game. Archery is a sport for individuals so hang in there until you achieve a shooting style that works for you.  Hunt Safe.