holding at full draw?

[CalebNH00]

I have a question on holding at full draw(duh). When I hold for just a split second, I will hit pretty darn close to where I am aiming. But, when i hold three or four seconds, it hits off, with no particular pattern.

[jonsimoneau]

The reason this is possibly happening is that you may be collapsing when you hold that long. I "hold" for 2 or 3 seconds but we have to remember we are not actually "holding" as much as we are pausing. It must be balanced pulling to prevent collapse then you must continue your shot sequence.

[Arkansas Osage]

I can't hold my shot at full draw for longer than a split second pause because my brain is already done aiming and I just lose it, I lose all accuracy when I try to hold.

[McDave]

It is possible to increase your accuracy if you hold at full draw, but the increase in accuracy is not automatic.  It is a skill that has to be learned.  It is very likely that someone who is used to releasing the arrow as soon as they reach anchor will have worse accuracy if they start to hold at full draw, for the reasons noted above.  It is a choice you have to make.  You can certainly be as accurate as you need to be for hunting, and perhaps shoot more fluidly, if you release the arrow as soon as you reach anchor.  This assumes you know your effective shooting distance, and stay within that distance.  But if you want to increase that effective distance, or compete with the big boys at trad tournaments, then you should probably learn to hold.

[Arkansas Osage]

The three best trad shooters I've ever seen did not hold at full draw. Course, if snap shooting doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. Do what does.

[xtrema312]

I am dealing with this now that I have gone from a faster shot shooting split finger to a more deliberate shot shooting 3 under.  The problem is that I have to keep pushing and pulling even if I am not moving.  If I go to holding, then I start to use all different muscle combinations that cause various string and bow hand movements that put the arrow in different places.  My issue is that I hook into my jaw for an anchor and that hooking in can be when I shift muscle tensions. I am working on the best way to slide into that anchor while maintaining proper tension.  I can often set into anchor and then crate the push pull shot well, but it is much harder to reestablish the push pull than it is to maintain it.

[SAVIOUR68]

XTRME312 I found that I had a similar issue, when you hook into your jaw bone you my find that you draw past your anchor and then move back forward to anchor to settle in which is a problem due to losing string tension and then once settling in and trying to regain proper tension which I have found very hard to regain and execute. Try not to come to rest or allow any forward movement to anchor. I am a firm believer that with practice a slightly longer hold allows bow arm movement to slow/settle down as well as gain focus on your target. This does not mean that you have to hold for a specific amount of time because once you are familiar with this new form it can and will be executed  quicker. Good luck on your journey guys.

[damascusdave]

When I am practicing for shooting in general I build a pause into my shooting...I really feel it is an important part of building the conditioning we want to maintain to be ready to hunt...when I am getting ready to hunt I work on getting that arrow on the way to the target as quickly as possible...because of conditioning myself that way I was able to draw and let down and then draw again and double lung my bear last spring...the whole process likely took less than 15 seconds...I do not know because my focus was simply on putting the arrow where it needed to go and doing what needed to be done to accomplish that

DDave

[ArrowCraCra]

From his video Rick Welch suggests a 2 second pause at your anchor to allow for your bow arm to settle down.  That isn't much time and will allow your subconscious to work on aiming without losing your form or collapsing.  

I was so worried about getting a bad habit of snap shooting that I was holding too long.  About 9 seconds to set, draw, find my anchor reference points, transfer and have the shot go off.  I would get fatigued quickly and my form and accuracy would drop off fast.  At 6 seconds, my current shot cycle, my form stays consistent longer and my focus on target is still being handled by my sub conscious.  

So maybe try a balance between snap shooting and the long "hold" you described.  I bet your accuracy will be more consistent over snap shooting after some practice.

[RC]

My accuracy has improved a lot since I began to hold a bit. I used to hold while looking at my spot very shortly and my mind would say" right there" at the release but began as I am almost at full draw.
  Now I hit anchor and say "hold hold" and the arrow is gone. I picked this up watching the Welch student vids on ytube.
  I been bowhunting a long time and have never been satisfied with my shooting. But The last two years since switching to the "welch" style of shooting I have much confidence.RC

[2Blade]

I pratice both holding and shooting in one fluid motion or snap shooting. Its good to learn both and so no matter what a hunting situation throws at you you can hold or release quickly. Personally tho I like to hold for a few seconds if im shooting in a controlled situation.

[Bullfrog 1]

Watch my form video. It looks like im holding for 5-6 seconds but it is a constant slight motion that is going on.   BILL

[LittleBen]

I personally do like a hold at anchor. I used to snap shoot but found a substantial increase in accuracy came with a decided hold, aim, release.

With that said, I'm only shooting maybe 40lbs so a hold is not terribly strenuous. A 65lb bow I would not like to hold.

Anyway, how many Olympic shooters have you seen snap shoot there way to a medal?

[Terry Green]

How many Olympic medalist could do this....                

   Snap Shooting 147 1st place medals....in a ROW  


Or this....                

 Ron LaClair - Flying Cups  

I've seen many a snap shooter shoot their way to a MEAL I can surely tell ya!!!          
.
 

You need to find what works for YOU as a bowhunter...we are not all the same...and shouldn't be painted as such with a broad brush, or take to the notion that 'my way if the highway'.  Jason Westbrock shoots totally different from me, but it works for him and I wouldn't dare try and tell him he's doing it wrong            

BTW, Olympic shooters aren't really holding....their anchor is evolving rearward....and, there target isn't going anywhere anytime soon         :D      

Snap Shooting is a style...NOT a flaw.  Short drawing is a flaw and a mental issue which some people now refer to snap shooting as a flaw and that is totally incorrect.  ( any argument on that and I'll get Ron LaClair in here to clear that up)   :eek:  

Rod Jenkins will tell you that he and I are doing the same thing, I just do it faster....he's more comfortable doing it slower.  So there, that settles the never ending debate once and for all                                    

[ARCHER2]

Now that's what I'm talkin bout! If it works for you, so beit!      

[njloco]

I would think that the better your eye sight the less you have to hold. One must hold long enough for the mind to pick up on the sight window your used to seeing when you hit exactly what your looking at. In other words, your subconscious has to have time to align the arrow, so if you have good eye sight it takes less time, or no time since as you draw your bow your aligning it right off.

[c eugene]

I usually only hold for a second or two.  Unfortunately when my glasses aren't cooperating I have to hold longer.  I'm considering getting contacts for the first time just to help with my shooting.