Consistently shooting left?

[Doublegun]

For weeks I have been shooting off/on and now that the weather has broken I am trying to shoot 50-60 arrows/day.  For the most part my groups are acceptable (at least for now) but almost all of my shots tend to be 4"-6" to the left.  Bow is tuned and arrows are perfect for the bow so it has to be a problem with form.  One suggestion is my middle finger is too close to the nock at release but sliding it down often seems to result in my index finger pushing the arrow down below the nock.

Any suggestions will, as always, be appreciated.

Cheers,

JDG

[moebow]

Dg,

Video yourself and watch the string hand.  Many times, left hits are a result of your string hand moving out from your face during the release for a right hander.  

IF you are left handed, watch for a collapse that moves the bowhand to the left.

Never heard of or seen the string fingers sliding down the string. edit. Re-read the finger question. When shooting split finger just lightly touch the bottom of the nock with the middle finger and let the index finger sit about 1/8th inch above the nock. Not touching it.  But really don't think this issue will make for left hits.

Can't help much more without seeing.

Arne

[SAVIOUR68]

Make sure you are not overdrawing the bow onto the side of your face. When you come to your anchors [2] make sure you are able to get/see a STRING BLUR from the string IN FRT OF YOUR EYE and the arrow will should be directly under your eye helping in your left/right impacts. I had the same problem for years til I moved my anchors a little further forward and was able to see the STRING BUR. MOE has some great video's showing this and if you look at his avatar you will see the string in front of his eye. Its a lot easier to control horizontal impacts IMO.

[Doublegun]

Humm. Interesting possibility. I do seem to shoot better when I don't try to draw and anchor as I do with my wheelie. Thanks.

[moebow]

Ya, with your C bow, the release is back farther (index finger knuckle under the ear lobe).  If you draw your trad bow that far back, the arrow nock will move to the right causing left hits.  It (the arrow nock) should be directly under your eye, not back on your cheek.  Remember that you don't have the string peep sight on the trad bow for alignment. So you need to get the arrow under your eye, not beside it.

Arne

[Doublegun]

Yep.  That did it.  Problem solved (at least this problem)..I have said this before and I'll say it again: this board is a tremendous resource for those wanting to become proficient shooting trad bows.  Always helpful and positive - no BS.

Thanks again to all.

JDG

[SAVIOUR68]

Sounds good,you may have to adjust your anchor points slightly but once you settle in you will shoot lights out. Wish ya the best of luck Doublegun.
   

[Doublegun]

Part of what I am struggling with is the shot-clock (above at the top of thr page).  I feel like my shoulders are too square to the target ( the shot clock shows more of a perpendicular stance).  As a result I don't feel like I am getting the extension I should be getting and my anchor point (even at the corner of my mouth) is too far forward. Things get really strange when I pull my shoulder blades together.

I just have a really hard time mimicking the shot clock above.  Should I be worried so long as I can put arrows where I want them?

[SAVIOUR68]

DG try and to get you shoulders and your draw arm with the arrow inline with your target at full draw. For some body builds you may not be able to be perfect but just get the best as possible. Most the time during the draw process you will be out of line but once the draw elbow gets around to the J and the weight of the bow is held by your back muscles/scapula you should be very close. It may not feel normal to you now since it is all new, when I made the change I lost about 1in of draw length and it felt very strange at first, time will change all. The most important factor to me is to hit what I am aiming at not the 3FPS I lost due to a shorter draw. Moebow has some great videos about getting your draw arm in proper position. If you look at pics of a lot of Olympic recurve shooters you will see the forward anchor BUT ALSO PROPER ALIGNMENT.

[SAVIOUR68]

http://www.kslinternationalarchery.com/Technique/AnchorHoldRelease/AnchorHoldingRelease.html  

DG if you click on this link you can look at several different anchors/align. Hope this helps.
The thing to look at is the form/alignment/anchor, you anchor naturally will be higher on the face.

[Doublegun]

Originally posted by SAVIOUR68:
Make sure you are not overdrawing the bow onto the side of your face. When you come to your anchors [2] make sure you are able to get/see a STRING BLUR from the string IN FRT OF YOUR EYE and the arrow will should be directly under your eye helping in your left/right impacts. I had the same problem for years til I moved my anchors a little further forward and was able to see the STRING BUR. MOE has some great video's showing this and if you look at his avatar you will see the string in front of his eye. Its a lot easier to control horizontal impacts IMO.

Another fundamental question:  One eye open or both eyes open?

[moebow]

The standard recommendation is both eyes open.  If at all possible that is the best.  Some can't do this and shoot OK BUT if you can do it with both open you will be ahead of the game.

Arne

[SAVIOUR68]

DG it depends on your shooting style, shooting Gap or POA I would shoot with 1 eye open. Instinctive both eyes open. IMO>

[Doublegun]

I have been shooting with both eyes open for years with my compound and with my recurve. This afternoon I tried one eye taking time to line up the arrow, the string and the target.  Groups were half as big as they were with both eyes  (4" wide x 8" up/down).  Guess I can shoot one-eyed for a while and then worked to both eyes.