ANCHORING...

[JINKSTER]

Well folks..i've been practicing hard every night for about a month now with my 54# Bob Lee and a month ago i would've honestly told ya'll I wish it was a 44# Bob Lee..I was grouping fairly well but didnt really like my anchor point..was doing index finger just under the center of my lower lip..nose centered on the string..and what i didnt like about this was..

1. My POI at 20yds was up in the very top curve of my bows sight window and...

2. For proper windage i dang near had to put the string against the wall..making an extremely narrow window and..

3. Arrow delivery felt wimpy..i'm sure that by drawing to the "Front & Center" of my face i was probably only pulling about 26"s (when i should be drawing 27 1/2-28"s)..and i didnt like that either so?..

The past couple nights practicing i've been experimenting moving my anchor around and wound up coming back to an anchor style i havent used in ages..and i believe i've found it to be correct for me..and this is what i've found comfy and beneficial just tonight..

I'm anchoring so that the "V" formed by my thumb and index finger catches the back of my jawbone which puts my index finger right at the corner of my mouth but also brings the string way back past the center of my nose too just alondside of my nose..my index finger fist knuckle just touches the bottom of my earlobe and viola..seems to get the poi down lower in my window and more centered and?...for bonus points my arrow flight has flattened out as it's slinging'em with more authority.

My question is..is this right?..i'm open to suggestions or any tips and/or criticing of my form would be much appreciated.

T.I.A. Bill.  

[shortstroke 91]

I think you already answered your question. If it works better for you, you get proper alignment and more confidence then it must be right.

[David Yukon]

It sure seem to be right for you!!That is not how i do it but to each is own!! GFred Asbel technic is what work for me!

[eflanders]

Back when I shot my training wheel bow, I was taught to lightly touch the string to my nose as a anchor reference point.  But shooting traditional, without sights, peeps, kissers, etc., I found that just using the tip of my middle finger (I shoot split finger and instinctively) in the corner of my mouth was the most consistent and easiest anchor for me to use.  I can't tell you if this is correct form or not, I just know it's the most appropriate thing for me to do.

[Stumpkiller]

Don't really understand your #s 1 & 2, but use what works.

POI? - Point of Impact?  Point-On Indicator?  I take it you're using the bow or arrow point as part of your sighting process.

[David Yukon]

POI? Point of interference...LOL

[JINKSTER]

GFred Asbel hugh?..okay..read up on his anchor...like ya'll say..middle finger to corner of mouth..guess i'll try that tomorrow evening..it would move my sight picture more towards the middle up/down...which would be a good thing and yes.."POI" (point of impact) and yes...i do initially use window/gap at initial draw to anchor with a somewhat instinctive follow through..just wanted to get some input in my qwest for accuracy..thanks all!  

[Kentucky Jeff]

Your arrow should be directly below your eye or close to it.  You can't get that with an anchor in the middle of your face.  It needs to be on the side of your face.  Canting the bow helps with sight picture as well.  When you cant the bow it opens up the rest of the world to your vision.  

The closer in line that your bring the arrow nock with your eye the more accurate you will be.

[David Yukon]

kentucky jeff, I guess this is for POI, cause it can't be for instinctive shooting...

[ChuckC]

Jeff, if your face is not straight on to the target, and ours typically isn't, you can hold below the chin and line it up.  The string would line up with the arrow as you look down the arrow.  This requires an up and down hold of the bow and type of anchor was seen during the "earlier" days of field archery etc.
ChuckC

[Archie]

I anchor the tip of my index finger in the groove between two of my back top teeth.  Not my lower teeth... the jaw can move around and change the relationship of the eye to my anchor.  But top teeth are rock-solid in relation to the eye.  I do NOT use the corner of my mouth because it is only flesh, moves around very easily with pressure, and if you smile/frown/etc., it moves... a lot.  Stick your finger on the corner of your mouth right now and feel it move as you contort your jaw and face.  I like the top-tooth anchor.

[BobCo 1965]

Originally posted by JINKSTER:

I'm anchoring so that the "V" formed by my thumb and index finger catches the back of my jawbone which puts my index finger right at the corner of my mouth but also brings the string way back past the center of my nose too just alondside of my nose..my index finger fist knuckle just touches the bottom of my earlobe and viola..seems to get the poi down lower in my window and more centered and?...for bonus points my arrow flight has flattened out as it's slinging'em with more authority.

My question is..is this right?..i'm open to suggestions or any tips and/or criticing of my form would be much appreciated.

T.I.A. Bill.      

That is pretty much what my hunting anchor is as well. You may want to try to touch a certain tooth on your upper jaw with your index finger as well.

[JINKSTER]

Originally posted by Archie:
I anchor the tip of my index finger in the groove between two of my back top teeth.  Not my lower teeth... the jaw can move around and change the relationship of the eye to my anchor.  But top teeth are rock-solid in relation to the eye.  I do NOT use the corner of my mouth because it is only flesh, moves around very easily with pressure, and if you smile/frown/etc., it moves... a lot.  Stick your finger on the corner of your mouth right now and feel it move as you contort your jaw and face.  I like the top-tooth anchor.

and..

"That is pretty much what my hunting anchor is as well. You may want to try to touch a certain tooth on your upper jaw with your index finger as well."

you guys are gonna crack up..check this out..i'm 53 years old..at 50 i had all my teeth pulled. LOL!..I know all to well about "lower Jaw Movement" which is why i nest that "V" on my jaw bone "HINGE"..cause sometimes?..like at big club 3D's?..i shoot teeth in..but other times when i'm alone or with close friends i shoot..well?..let's just say "comfortably" LOL!..i got 6 left but..they're on the bottom so..but my jaw hinge doesnt seem to change regardless of lower jaw position..and in about 15 minute i'm gonna go out back and see about moving from index finger at corner of mouth too "middle finger"..also gonna try out that "canting my bow" deally..and keep experimenting until i find the most ideal,consistant and comfortable anchor for me..i tried one spot the other night and it worked out fine for accuracy and all but after about a dozen shots i gave myself a fat lip..so..other option will be investigated. LOL!

Thanks for all te input though!    

and i'll keep ya'll updated.  

[BobCo 1965]

You're right!!! :-)

[JINKSTER]

Whelp...made a lil headway tonite..tried the "Canting" thing and didnt much care for it OR do very well with it..guess i've been shooting straight up field archery style too long to learn a new trick..and i also gave up on the "fingers to corner of mouth" crap..just didnt find it very useful..instead concentrated on nesting that thumb/index finger "V" on my jawbone hinge..string to the side of the schnozola and?..tonite i also went back to trying a variety of arrows..GT5575's w/ (cringe) 2" RayZR feathers, 2013's w/ 4" feathers and even dug my old 2413 5" feathered hunt'in logs out and?..stuck with the 5" fletched hunt'in logs just cause they shot so silky and flew so true..XX75 Camo 2413's..guess the extra weight made them feel cadillac'ish smooth off the old Bob Lee..here's the best group of the night at 20yds..

 

some nites i seem to get in the zone and almost effortlessly doink'em in there one after the other..other nites?..i struggle..tonite?..i struggled..had some gawd aweful groups..guess cause i was up in my head and "thinking too much" experimenting with form and anchor..oh well..tomorrows another day.