Lost 1" of DL

[Brianlocal3]

How did I lose 1" of DL? In jan when I switched from bare bow compound to recurve I had a 27" DL. Now after settling in a comfortable anchor, I decided to have my DL measured again and it's a solid 26"? What gives. I do seem to anchor rather forward of where most do. I anchor on the K9 tooth. I want that 1" back. I may re work my anchor and see if I can not find another comfortable anchor back farther. Everything from my 32lb Pearson to my 56 lb NM is the same spot.

Here is a question....... What form flaw can cause an arrow to fly or act weak bareshaft. My 28" 2016s and my 28" 60-65 POC both with 125gr points fly REALLY weak from my 50lb@26" Superior. It just does not make sense. Thanks

[moleman]

I think you may have lost an inch simply do to body compression. While shooting the compound, your very low holding weight was far less than that of your traditional bow, now that you are holding a peak weight at full draw and losing the mechanical advantage of weight reduction at full draw it causes your body to compress more.
As far as your arrows flying weak, is it possible that your over spined ? I to have a NM Superior, 64" 57 @ 28 , after much experimenting I found that 50-55 spine W/ 145 grain point  flew like a dream for me. No 2 set ups are the same but I thought id throw that out there.

[Brianlocal3]

Moleman, what is your actual DL?

Brian,

The difference in holding 32# as opposed to your NM at 56# will compress your shoulder/form some but I would bet the majority of your change in DL is due primarily to two factors.  Both are related to form.

 When shooting a straight gripped longbow your hand heels down and your elbow will drop a tad to accomodate/compensate....eventually. When shooting a compound everything is locked in including your elbow, the position of your shoulders and head.  Anchor changes as your head changes...


I see in your sig line that you shoot mostly longbows but also have a Kodiac recurve.

Try this:  mark an arrow with with lines in 1/2 inch increments from 25.5" to 27".

Have someone watch as you concentrate on achieving a full and comfortable draw with your recurve.  Do this 5 times and record the data.  Then do the same with your longbow that pulls closest to the weight of your Kodiac.  Record the data.

Then have your "watcher" watch as you draw and actually shoot an arrow at a target.  I'll bet you will see an average of 3/8" decrease in the previous set of draw measurements.  

I'm thinking the first set of data will show you where your "1 inch" went and the second exercise will show you possibly another 1/2 inch decrease in your "solid 26".

Give it a try...I'm interested to read what you find.

My 31" draw during the recurve years (and a brief tango with a compound) is now a tad under 27" shooting a low wrist longbow.

[Brianlocal3]

I see. I will try that today after church. Thanks

[Brianlocal3]

Well. I Did as was suggested.  On first draw, truly thinking about it fully comfortable. Im a 27" draw. Under actuall shooting I anchor low and forward of most people and it drops my DL to just about 26" maybe 26 1/16" .
I shoot 3U and anchor just below and behind my bottom K9 tooth. I can draw back farther and anchor on the last tooth and get my DL back but the string hits my fat cheek.

I guess I'm a 26" draw length.  :(

Brian,
Nothing wrong with a 26" draw as long as your bows are built/tillered to accomodate that length.

Now you can do the math and find what you are actually pulling.  If your NM Superior is a true 56@28 you could be holding 51# at your solid draw.

Don't "rebuild" your form to gain an inch...let it morph into a truly natural flow - no thinikng.

[Brianlocal3]

Thank you brother. I am going back to the basics for a little bit to re-seat my natural anchor

[olddogrib]

Nothing wrong with that anchor if you can keep your bow and draw arms parallel. I went to the incisor to get my arrow closer to my eye when I switched to 3 under.  Somehow I unintentionally developed a very high elbow on my draw arm (which causes a bare shaft to do some ugly things you won't notice with fletching) The only way I could restore arm aligment was to drop down to a corner of my chin anchor w/ tip of nose to the back of the cock feather.