Form = Impact Point?

[ArkyMorg]

Don't know if there can be a "general" answer to this question, but this would be the group that would know.

In general, are there form issues that consistently cause the arrow impact point to be:

High?
Low?
Left?
Right?

Not asking about equipment issues, just form issues.  I'm asking from the standpoint of a right handed archer.  I'm not having consistent issues with any of these, but do encounter some (or sometimes all) of them during an extended shooting session and would like to know what problem in my form on a particular shot could have caused it to hit off the mark.

[moebow]

Arky,  Many books worth of discussion in your question.  I will TRY to give a few ideas BUT you must understand that anything I put up here are JUST ideas and are NOT all inclusive.

The first place I like to look at is the release and anchor position of the shooter.  If your anchor is different from one shot to the next by 1/8 to 1/4 inch you are looking at about 8" errors at a 20 yard target.  An example is if you shoot one shot with your string hand just touching your cheek and the next with it firmly pressed against the bones in the face your arrows will hit in a horizontal pattern.  If on the next shot you have your hand a little higher or lower on your face, OR if you have set your head slightly differently, you can probably expect vertical errors.

Not having a consistent release will add to the above alignment problems.  A flipping sting hand most often causes arrows to hit to the left.

Next is creeping and collapsing.  These errors most often cause right misses, although they might cause left errors too depending on how the shooter is reacting to the form error.

Loosing good arrow alignment is another possible problem.  IF you draw too far back on your face, the arrow nock will move to the right and out from under your eye and you get the 1/8 to 1/4 inch errors mentioned above.

High, low, left and right misses are definitely indicators of a problem but it takes VERY careful self analysis or a knowledgeable eye (coach) to really identify what is causing the problem.  That is why it is so difficult to analyze from words here in the forum, or from just a video and why we so often ask if a coach/instructor is available to the person asking the question.

This is also why I strongly suggest that MANY folks try to tune too soon when they are just getting started.  With how critical the form is, it is VERY difficult to say whether arrow flight or equipment tuning is the problem or if the individual's form is causing the problems.

Arne

[McDave]

As Arne said, this could easily fill up a book. However, if I just pick ONE reason, out of many, that I shoot high, low, right or left, it would be:

--High:  dropping my string elbow, which causes me to pull down on the back of the arrow, thus angling the arrow up and causing a high shot.

--Low:  dropping my bow arm too soon after the shot, which I never think I do, but is probably why I miss most shots low.

--Right:  Plucking. Almost always caused by losing back tension just prior to release.

--Left:  Torqueing the bow or the string, caused by too much tension in the bow hand or string hand or arm.

[Bowwild]

It is very important even when coaching yourself to focus your thoughts and self-comments on what you SHOULD do next shot than what you shouldn't do.

Telling a lineman to STAY onside until the ball is hiked is more effective than telling him NOT to jump offsides.

For example, instead of thinking "Don't pluck", think instead to keep your draw hand moving alongside your face throughout follow-through. We call it "painting the face".

[stalkin4elk]

I seem to be quite high and left with either a high sting hand elbow OR a hyperextended bow arm. Do others agree?
McDave x 2 on the other.