Form critique please

[Zdogk9]

Prior to about four months ago, I'd not shot since I weighed 60# less had a full head of hair and wore baggy ODD clothing. I'm enjoying the heck out of this but would like to tighten my groups up to say, modified, To that end I'm posting a video of me shooting. Any suggestions are welcome, beat on me like a red-headed step child.
Thanks
Bob
 

[moebow]

Bob,  To my eye, you are looking pretty good. I like your shoulder movement as you reach full draw and how you are "bridging" into the bow.  I am not real familiar with thumb ring shooting but I would suggest that with as far back as you pull the string, that it is really out on the side of your face.  This MAY be why you are not really happy with your cylinder(?) choke pattern right now. What would happen if you shortened your draw a little and got that arrow more in front of and under your eye? Your follow through is correct but maybe a little too vigorous.  You bow hand moves down and left (which is correct) but more than I would think is ideal.

Nice bow, it appears to really snap the arrows out there.  Would love to try a bow like this with your style -- would be fun.

[Zdogk9]

Thank you,
 When the wind quits I'll work on getting the arrow closer to line with my right eye and being a bit more stable with my left arm at release and follow through. The bow is, as you say, snappy.
In truth my shooting is more like cylinder with spreader wads.
but then the next moment is is crazy accurate.
I first saw these bows when I was in Korea in '68 '69. The gentlemen shooting them were at least as old as I am now, their target was 145 meters away, they were not missing.
Bob

[Terry Green]

You are throwing your bow arm left big time.....gonna be hard to stay consistent with that going on....especially in the field when you don't get the luxury of the back yard shot all the time.

I really can't tell why from that angle, but maybe your shoulder line is pointed left and you are muscling the bow to hold on target.

Any way you can film from directly behind you or over head from the rear?

[Terry Green]

I had a chance to watch it again...and it looks like your are creeping forward right before release...and, are you shooting a thumb ring?

[Zdogk9]

Terry,
I am using a thumb ring. You may be right regarding creep. I'll get some footage shot from directly behind Thursday, tomorrow it's supposed to blow and rain again. I'll also post some from straight on front shooting over the top of the camera.
Thanks,
Bob

[Stagmitis]

You may want to try placing the arrow on the other side of the grip and use your nuckle to rest it on instead of your thumb.

[Zdogk9]

Well the weather backed off to almost nice today. I shot this from slightly above and from behind.
 

Stagmitis, with the thumb ring if I were to place the arrow on my index finger it would flop all over the place. I use the ring for several reasons, but mostly because at one point I had the tendons in the ring and social finger of my right hand re-built.

Bob

[moebow]

Bob,

That looks a lot better to me.  Your bow hand is not moving so much to the left and not as violently.  I can't say that I see any collapse in your shot at all now.  Does it feel better and more in control?  I couldn't make out the arrows in the target at the end, how's your grouping?

[Zdogk9]

Arne,
I'm not necessarily grouping per se but I do seem to have improved horizontal alignment. Your advice to bring the arrow more under my eye at anchor, along with Terry's observation regarding a slight creep before release were both spot on. I'm planting the arrow firmly against my cheek at anchor, and concentrating on NOT relaxing my arm, or anything but my thumb and fingers at release. This was shot at 17 yds off my back porch at twilight yesterday.
     

[Zdogk9]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/55IBmTv6yAkhmhalz1T8Z1-e1TYp7W2YKImo-R9OZDQ?feat=directlink

[Zdogk9]

Playing around with it this morning, I'm finding that pausing at full draw for a three or four count seems to let me settle into the shot better.

[gringol]

Originally posted by Stagmitis:
You may want to try placing the arrow on the other side of the grip and use your nuckle to rest it on instead of your thumb.

I have seen the arrow shot off the far side of the bow many times when thumb rings are used.  I don't know much about thumb rings, but they may require the arrow to be shot off the far side.  Also, it looks like shooting this bow without a thumb ring would cause severe finger pinch.

Cool bow BTW.

[Stagmitis]

Dave,

I have seen horse bows shot on either side of the bow. Here is an example  .  I beleive he is shooting a thumb ring? Dont really know.

I have limited knowlege of these bows and thumb rings but suggested the other side of the handle to give you a different sight picture to consider.

[Zdogk9]

Stagmitis,
With the thumb ring the index finger puts light pressure against the arrow holding it to the riser. If I were to switch sides it would be pushing the arrow off the riser. There are some who shoot off the knuckle side of the rise with the thumb ring I'm told, but I've not seen anyone do it, or any good videos of anyone doing so. I agree that the changed sight picture might be of benefit,better yet would be if my eyes would quit changing dominance, this getting old and getting bi-focals sux. Lajos shoots 3 finger split, and quite well at that.
Bob

[Jhoneil1]

It is funny to read advice from none thumbring shooters...
I don't see anything wrong with your form at all from the first video. Seems to me that you are using your back muscles to pull so that is good. It is ok to anchor that far behind - your brain will compensate. Pulling that far also takes advantage of the thumbring technique. If you have Facebook, there are many Asian archery group that can help with your form questions.

[ltppowell]

It's all the same. Concentrate on release, follow-through and shoot a bunch of arrows.