shooting form help

[gilbarbarian]

Can anyone see any blatant errors in my shooting?  If not, I'll just continue to practice.  This is a 60# osage self bow my draw is 28in.  I find that I shoot better if my hand is lower on the bow handle.  Also, let me know if there is another angle I should film to get a better critique.  Thanks for any advice

 

[moebow]

Hi,  Several folks will chime in here too.  Here is what I see.  The most obvious is your string hand flying away from your face.  You appear to have pretty good alignment at full draw so that flying hand is an indication that you are using the shoulder and arm muscles rather than your back.  It also causes left hits.

Second, your bow hand drops on every shot.  You need to keep it as still as possible = don't let it move.  A dropping bow hand causes low hits.

Also, in the second set of shots, notice the apparent bend of the arrow.  That indicates too much pressure in the string fingers holding the nock.  It causes arrow flight problems too.

I don't see that your bow hand is too low on the grip, what I can't see is how the pressure of the bow fits into your hand.

You are a strong looking guy but I would recommend a lighter bow to work on form.  Try drawing that bow with a form master and you will be surprised at the strain encountered.

A final recommendation is to shoot at close range without a target and just work on form.  Hitting something will come later.  (Well, you asked       )

[gilbarbarian]

Thanks Moebow, looks like I have a lot to work on.  Jeff

[zetabow]

Nothing too serious with your form, of course we can all do better, have you considered a coach he will get you shooting with good form much faster than trying to do it alone, good post moebow.        

I suggest this software, it's free and allows you to see your form slowed right down, even frame by frame with track dots, it will help you identify and correct form errors much easier.

    http://www.kinovea.org/en/?page_id=3

[BobCo 1965]

Looks good, especially alignment.

What I noticed is that your shot is pretty much linear or straight back. This also helps to explain the shoulder/arm relationship which moebow pointed out. If you can encorportate your back more it will help.

     

The yellow line in this picture shows your final hand follow through poistion. The red line shows the path of a good position and green is optimal. In order to get threre however, you'll have to encorporate more back. You'll also have to hold the back tension after the follow though.

   

This picture shows your alignment which seems to be good. The yellow arrow shows the path where tension should be directed during expansion, this is rotational, not linear (you will also have to increase tension in the push toward the target to keep things balanced). Expansion has very little actual movement, it should be more thought of internal. Try to think EXPANSION - FOLLOW THROUGH (or Conclusion). Not Expansion-Release-Follow Through. Release should not be thought of as a step and should just happen subconsciously between expansion and follow through.

Great work so far!

[gilbarbarian]

Bobco, Thanks for the advice and the lines that helps.  So the act of having tension in the back is that created by sticking out your chest as you draw?  Also I don't know if it is better or not but longer arrows seemed to help as well for my accuracy.

[BobCo 1965]

PM'd you.