Plucking the string!

[Lee Lobbestael]

Ok i have tried increasing back tension and form shooting with a blank bale. but about every twentieth shot I still pluck one majorly! Any ideas on how I can fix this?

[moebow]

Lee,  I think we all do this on occasion.  One out of twenty isn't too bad actually.  We are human and sometimes our concentration just "goes away" -- at least it does for me.  I think all you can really do is try to identify it early and let down and start over.  We aren't machines.

[cyred4d]

As moebow said every one plucks one once in a while. I find it happens to me when I lose my concentration. Take a break and then go back to practicing.

[Green]

Lee - all the great form advice in the threads in this section carry information that will help with the plucking.  A relaxed string hand/forearm and the use of a rotational draw are the first step. Practicing your release by drawing the bow 1-2" and "relaxing the hand" is also great practice. These are just the tip of the iceberg of what Moebow has taught me.  The biggest thing to help with plucking?  Don't shoot groups!  Shoot one arrow....walk/pull and then go shoot that arrow again.  I was plucking every 4th or 5th arrow if I tried to shoot groups because the muscles weren't returning to the relaxed state necessary for a smooth shot.

Have someone shoot a video of you on a cell phone...upload it to youtube and send a link to Arne......he's an outstanding coach....even from 1300 miles away like I am.

[McDave]

Good advice about groups, Green.  Sometimes in tournaments, you have to shoot groups.  I've tried to get the bunch I shoot with regularly to take turns shooting one arrow at a time rather than each of us shooting all our arrows at once, but that idea hasn't caught on.  But you don't have to rush your shots.  Take a good 45 seconds between shots; if people raz you about it, just smile like the great buddha that you are and appreciate how you're getting on their nerves.

[Green]

Buddha?....Dave how do you know what I look like? Oh yeah....there's video.    

[McDave]

Sorry Green, actually haven't seen a picture of you!  I was more picturing a calm Buddha-like attitude of being immune to all the pressures of the outside world.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Thanks guys! sounds like great advice. I'll see if I can get a video uploaded

[E.W. Archer]

I experienced this last night on my field league.  My colleague was not coming to full draw at anchor, cuz he was a little tired.  It caused him to pull back more for the shot and to pluck.  At full draw, the expansion does the release, but short of full draw, your expansion becomes a pull.  Make sense?