Think I'm developing a bad habit, HELP!

[swampdrummer]

I'm shooting a ****** Black Douglas that I picked up a few months ago. It came with two sets of limbs. 1 set of 58# and 1 set of 50#.

I started off shooting the 58# imbs and had, what I thought was no probems with them as they are so smooth. I started having some shoulder pain so I backed off to the 50# limbs and that seemed to cure the shoulder problems.

I anchor with a double anchor. Thumb knuckle at the back of my jaw bone and second finger at the corner of my mouth.

I'm shooting pretty good these days. Stacking arrows on top of each other out to 18 or 20 yards

BUT! I think I've developed a habit that is hurting me when I try and reach out there just a little. I find myself drawing PAST my anchor, then settling back into it before I shoot.

I'm almost sure that I'm loosing back tension when I do this and it seems counter productive to draw past the anchor, then settle back into it then try and "repull", pushing my shoulder blades together.

I haven't videoed it to see just how far I'm pulling past anchorIt feels like a lot but may just be a matter of a fraction of an inch. But its definetely there. Also not sure if I shouldn't try and find another anchor a little further back. Tip of thumb on back of ear?

Like I said. I'm shooting pretty good out to 18 or 20 yards. But beyond that, its a crap shoot. Sometimes I can put 2 or 3 arrows in a 3 inch spot and other times its a struggle to even hit the target.

Any advice would be most appreciated
Brad

[s_mcflurry]

There's a couple ways of getting there.  First is to drag your thumb knuckle across your face during draw and let it settle in at anchor.  The second is to draw in a backwards 'L' or 'J' path.  Draw back to the side of your face about an inch or so away then curve your hand into your face, settling into your anchor.  

I'm going through the same thing you are and I like the 'L/J' path a lot.

[stiknstringer]

When you say that sometimes you struggle just to hit the target, are you still getting good groups,just falling short? If not, than it is something other than your anchor point.If so, than just aim higher or lower, whatever the case may be.

[swampdrummer]

Thanks guys,
I'm still grouping ok out past 20 or so but it seems the arrows are running out of gas before they should. Granted I'm shooting almost 13 gpp but if I'm drawing past my anchor then settling back into it it seems that I'm giving up some draw length and may be losing back tension as well.
 Not sure. Need to video it and see whats really going on...
Thanks again
Brad

[s_mcflurry]

Back tension really is about drawing the bow efficiently and helps with release but doesn't determine draw length; that's what your anchor point(s) is for.  So, if you're releasing at or beyond anchor you're going to get enough energy behind your arrow.  If you recently upped your arrow weight to 13 gpp it may just be a matter of practicing enough for your brain to relearn how to aim.

It could be that the heavy arrow flight at the longer shot is causing your brain to want a a faster and flatter arrow flight.  If I am having trouble getting a full draw, one cure for me is to take out my Alaskans with the heavy heads and take a session at forty yards.  Something about seeing those nose heavy lead balloons come falling out of the air stimulates my brain into going for all the power I can.  For over stretching and under drawing I also practice drawing and anchoring without shooting with an arrow that is either net length or with a broadhead that I pull to my finger.  For longer arrows I used to wrap some tape around the arrow as a draw check on at least one of the arrows in the quiver.
Mathematically and mechanically the trajectory of a heavy arrow reaches a point where the ratio of the parabolic curve in the arrow flight becomes more obvious, it is the point where range estimation gets very finite.  Since, penetration has never been a problem for me and I am a still hunter or ground sitter, I have gone to less gpp with less weight up front, tapered cedars, and enjoy less of a noticeable change on those thirty yards plus shots.  I still prefer to shoot deer at 15 feet however.

[BobCo 1965]

IMO, back tension should be increasing through the follow through (well some portions of it may be maintained but not lessoned at the start of expansion). Sometimes anchor reference points do interfere with this process however. It would be up to you as to whether you would like to find reference points which do not interfere. Since you are stacking arrows at 20 yards, however, it maybe a difficult decision.

[swampdrummer]

Thanks again guys.
I took some video today and I'm uploading it now.
I'm definately pulling a half inch beyond my anchor and then coming back to it.

Also looks like I've got some string hand torqueing going on as well.

As soon as I get the videos uploaded I'll post them up.

I've been shooting these heavy arrows since January and I'm pretty dang happy with them. The last 4 critters I've shot, 2 deer and 2 hogs. The longest shot was about 13 yards and I've had to dig my arrow out of the dirt on the other side of the critter on all of them.

I also backed up to about 50 yards and shot 40 or 50 arrows. Serious arcing going on! LOL But it seemed to help when I moved back to 25 yards.

So, I think there may indeed be a problem with my draw but not sure its enough of a problem to totally re-invent the wheel right now.

Thanks again
Brad

[swampdrummer]

OK, heres a couple of videos...

 http://swampdrummer.phanfare.com/4790610