form/alignment critique

[gringol]

I'd appreciate whatever tips ya'll can give me on my form.  The things I've noticed are tension in the bow-hand and maybe a little tension in my wrist on the string hand.

[skilonbw]

It is hard to do a complete analysis without video. However a couple of things stand out to me and my eye. It looks like your string elbow is a bit high and maybe not all the way around with back tension. It also looks like your front shoulder is and up where you may not have bone on bone alignment there to hold the bow. I can't tell if you are aiming towards a low target and that is why it looks like you are leaning down into the shot.

[Green]

Luke - the quickest route to "seeing" what proper alignment should be is to scroll down a few posts to Ranger B's video post titled The String Hand.  Jimmy has done an excellent job with his videos and posted them here in the Shooters Forum for all of our benefit. The other great resource regarding "achieving" proper alignment is to search out threads by Moebow and watch his video's.  

Between the videos posted by these two fine gentlemen you can't help but make dramatic improvements.  Good luck with your shooting.

[cbCrow]

gringol, could you do a favor and provide some more info? I would like to get the specs on the bow #'s, draw,draw length. And for you to tell us what you think your problems are. One thing that sticks out to me is your grip,were you shooting recurves before?

[gringol]

Crow,
That bow is 70# @ 29, but I'm drawing to 27. It's really too much bow, but it's what I have right now.  I shot recurves years ago, but haven't touched one in a while.

I think my main issue is finding a consistent anchor.  Also, fatigue.  I shoot much better for the first 20 or so shots, then things get dicey.  I don't think I'm getting full expansion, but I'm also not entirely clear what that is...it seems to me this may all be related to full utilization of the back...

[skilonbw]

Is your normal draw length 27" or do you actually draw 29" if so then you might be  a bit overbowed. Can you find someone or even a nearby trad shop that might have a lower draw weight bow that you could practice on to learn from?  If not it might be real hard to ever get correct form with so much weight for draw.

[cbCrow]

gringol, the info confirms what I saw in the pic of you shooting. My first thought was your overbowed, I could tell by the wrinkles on your forehead and the alignment of your string fingers,along with you leaning your head in to meet the string. I to would reccomend finding something lighter to learn as that bow will teach you nothing but bad form. I would like you to try something to illustrate what expansion should feel like. For the sake of this deminstration use your rt. index finger to the cormer of your mouth as your anchor. Take an  arrow and place it into the web between your thumb and index finger of your left hand, place you fingers of your other hand as if you are drawing a bow, as you draw bring your arm in a level "J" motion about 2-3" besides your face until you reach point of anchor. If you have done it right your shoulder blades should be together, hold and exhale lightly, now inhale slowly and deeply, if this part is done correctly your rt. arm should just pull back a little with the breath. Thats expansion. What you can do is try to achieve this with this bow but that is going to be fairly hard for awhile but it can be done if you have a mind to. I honestly would try to find something even 10#'s lighter to get my form down. Hopefully some one else on here will have some help for you also.

[gringol]

Thanks for the input.  While we're here, what is the best way to determine draw length?  I measure 26.5" from finger tips to chest.  I currently shoot 27" with my index finger at the corner of my mouth.  My form is marginal at best and it sounds like my draw will increase with proper form.  Do I just perform crow's drill to find actual draw?

[cbCrow]

The easiest way to determine draw length is to put a clothes pin on your arrow and get a bow you can handle,pull back and measure the distance from bottom of slot in nock to the side of the cloths pin closest to nock. Do it 3-4 times, should give decent indication of DL.

[Ranger B]

It is clear that the bow is 70# from the posture in the picture.  You scream of strain.  Despite trying very hard to relax your bow hand it is completely tense.  Your thumb is flexed and your fingers are rigid as they can be.  That bow arm/hand is going somewhere when you release the string - I promise.

Your string arm elbow is not back because your shoulder is forward.  You have a lack of shoulder expansion due to the weight of the bow.

Your hips are open.  I bet your front foot is very open.  Even if you shoot an open stance, completely acceptable, you have to close the hips.  

That's candidly what I personally see in the picture.

[skilonbw]

The way i use to determine draw length is to stand with your back against the wall and your arms up at your shoulder height and flat against the wall. have someone take the measurement of your wingspan and then divide that by 2.5. I have found this works the best for me.