Question about Back Tension

[agtex42]

Howdy,

Been lurking for quite some time now and figured it would be no better time than the present to start posting.  I've been shooting trad for just under a year.  I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my shot but I feel like I still have a few more kinks to work out before I'm really happy with it.

Here's a video showing my shot sequence from three different aspects, I'm aware that I'm creeping a bit and it's due to how I reach my anchor.  On the draw I drag the base of my thumb across my cheekbone until it's behind my head, then I let it creep slightly forward until its firmly against my jaw and the tip of the joint between my index and middle finger are in the corner of my mouth.

I'm happy with my anchor as it gives me two points of reference on my face and I orient my nock so the cock vane touches the tip of my nose at full draw.  However, I think I could probably do a better job of how I get there.

I don't think I'm engaging my back muscles as much as I could be.  I feel like my alignment and follow through are decent but my shoulder is just as tired as my back after a long shooting session.

Tried multiple methods to get these muscles engaged, to include the rotational draw but so far nothing seems to be clicking.  Thanks for taking a look, I look forward to hearing what yall have to say.

 

[Javi]

answered your post on the other forum..

[moebow]

agtex, not sure what Javi has told you but here is what I see.  You are collapsing on your shot and it is usually caused by allowing yourself to come forward to your anchor position which is what you say you do.  You are working hard to keep the arrow lined up with the target on your draw and that doesn't give you room to use your back muscles.  Also, watch your string arm elbow during the draw.  Do you see how it moves UP in relation to your shoulders?  If you really want to get into your back, that elbow should be moving in a SLIGHTLY downward direction with your bow hand moving down about the same distance.

I suggest, that you try to draw with a slightly more downward motion to a point DIRECTLY below your anchor (about an inch or two) then lift directly to anchor.  By drawing past your anchor and then "sliding" forward to it, you loose back tension and once it is lost you cannot regain it.  There is no magic in trying to keep the arrow on target through out the draw.  It will give better back tension if you start out with the arrow pointed to the left of the target and allow the draw to put it on target.

If you haven't, I might suggest that you look at a video I did regarding rotational draw that is found here in a thread called "rotational draw technique."  That MAY give you a couple ideas for a draw technique that puts you into your back.  Use the videos for ideas and see if it works for you.  If it helps -- fine; otherwise ignore them.

[chuckbow]

just a suggestion. or my two cents , i pretend that i am trying to grasp an object, firmly , between by shoulder blades and maintain my grasp (of the imaginary object between my shoulder blades )
through the shot process!  

[agtex42]

I did watch your video (several times), and I think I'm just having a hard time with the mechanics of it.  I know what I should be doing, but for some reason I can't execute it properly.  

My high elbow is due largely to how I'm anchoring.  I fiddled around with it last night and found that I can't get my two points of contact unless I raise my elbow up a bit at the end of the draw.  

Thanks for the pointers, I appreciate it.

[moebow]

I wasn't talking about your elbow position AT full draw, just the direction it moves during the draw.  Start higher and pull down to anchor, not low and pull up to anchor.  Again just a suggestion.

[agtex42]

Gotcha!  Like I said earlier, everything in your video makes sense.  I'm just having a hard time making my body do what I want it to do!

[fmscan]

agtex42, I found Moebow VERY helpful about a yr ago and my shooting has gotten a lot better. He suggested that I try the FormMaster. It is an excellent tool for someone like myself who had be doing it wrong for 40 yrs... those habits do not go away without some good advice(Moebow) and tools (FormMaster. Keep at it, worth the effort.