one of the secrets to accuracy

[canshooter]

Most of you guys are probably very aware of this but if I find that I am getting vertical stringing of my arrows, I have to make myself draw the arrow parallel to the ground and then bend at the waist to raise or lower the aim-point. When I am tired this is the first part of my form that suffers.

I start to raise or lower the bow arm instead of doing the waist bend.

Last week I shot a 300 round and in the first half scored a measly 118. at half time I realized I was not doing the waist bend. In the second half I corrected my sloppiness and scored a 135, with one end being 4-x,s and a 5.

I know this is a hunting forum but that is how I practice.

[Jock Whisky]

Dumb question for ya. Could you describe bending at the waist. Is it a side to side bend or a back to front bend or combo of both. I have the same problem with raising or lowering the bow arm and would appreciate your input.

JW

[bowmaster12]

its for shooting from elivation draw like target is at your level and bend at waist (shoulders pointed at targe right handed shooter would bend to left)to bing bow down to target

[AllenR]

IMHO, this is one of the basic parts of accurate archery.  It is the best way to achieve a consistent draw length which leads to a consistent arrow trajectory.

Obviously, there is a lot more to it, but it's difficult to achieve accuracy without drawing the same each time.

Some use a clicker to achieve this, but if you learn to do it without the clicker, you are way ahead when you add a clicker for greater precision.

Allen

[Terry Green]

Check out FORM CLOCK thread stickied at top.

[Jock Whisky]

So I take it that the objective is to keep the upper body/shoulder area solid (not moving) and that any bending to change elevation is done at the waist? If I can change elevation by bending forward as well as sideways while keeping the upper body stable will that do the trick?

JW

[canshooter]

Sounds like you've got the idea!

[njloco]

Please, correct me if I am wrong, even if one bends at the waist, won't you still shoot high from an elevated position ?

[Matt Fowler]

Wow! I always seem to shoot better from  kneeling position. I wonder if I'm not bending when standing and dropping the bow arm instead. Subtle things.

[Stumpkiller]

With high deflection shots the arrow travels (relatively) less horizontal distance so gravity has less opportunity to cause it to drop.  The tendency is for it to strike higher than you anticipated.  With sights you should aim low(er).  With instinctive shooting you focus on a spot lower on the animal.

[Kip l Hoffman]

guys you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.  The reason to bend at the waist as you see Mr. Bear doing while he cants the bow it to get  his eye over the arrow.  try spreading your feet a bit and lean a bit at the waist and can't the bow.  take a look at Mr. Bear's form for a reference.  To properly shoot and arrow first thing is to look at the spot, draw the bow till your index finger hits below a tooth on your upper jaw, anchor your thumb behind your jaw bone, take one last look at the spot you want to hit and the arrow will leave your fingers when your brain is focused on the spot. Your draw hand should remain firmly conected to your jaw bone and your bow hand should remain absolutley still.   All of this hand raising and lowering and other aiming devices are just hindering your ability to hit in "hunting" situations.  walk up to a big round bale of hay with in 10 feet.  practice drawing and anchoring and releasing with the draw hand staying on your jaw bone and your bow hand not moving at all.  it is called blind bale practice.  the japanese archers were required to shoot 1000 arrows with their eyes closed before they were ever allowed to open their eyes and shoot at a target.  as for shooting high out of a tree stand, this is only good for missing by 1/4" or less.  With instinctive shooting you look at what you want to hit.  when you look lower than where you want to hit you are aiming.  aiming is not instinctive.  no kid ever threw a rock at a frog by looking at any thing but the frog that is if he wanted to hit the frog.

[njloco]

That make sense to me !

[Bowwild]

For proper follow-through the bow arm must be active which will always result in movement towards the target, down and away at release. The arrow is gone before this follow-through is performed. Keeping the bow arm up until the arrow strikes the target is one of the myths passed down over decades. It leads to bow shoulder collapse and creeping-- low and to the left strikes for a RH shooter.