Please critique my form

[Gdpolk]

Tell me what's good and whats bad please.  I'm looking to improve this off season.

I typically square off to my target so that if you laid an arrow across my toes, it would point roughly into the target and I try to keep my hips squared as well.  As I lean into my bow a bit for sighting, I typically open my chest up just a bit to the target.  At the string, I place the string across the center of my finger's prints and just relax my fingers as I shoot.  I find this gives me a cleaner, more consistent release than when hooking the string deeper into my last finger joints.

   

[moebow]

GD,

I can't really tell much from static pictures but there are a couple flags that I notice and that I'd work with you on if we were "face to face."  I'll just toss out some suggestions for your CONSIDERATION.

First, the string hand thumb sticking straight up at full draw.  This places a LOT of tension into the string hand and fore arm and MAY be why you find the finger tip string placement works for you.  I'd have you try, for a while, getting the thumb down in front of the palm, and placing it under the jaw bone and using the "deep hook.".

Second, your head is really tilted over and back.  I understand that that is how you get the arrow under the eye, BUT... It puts a lot of tension into the upper shoulders and neck that you really don't need.  I'd suggest you try to draw to your face (don't go to get the string or hand) then to get the arrow under the eye, bend at the waist to bring the head over the arrow.

The overhead shot shows good(!) alignment of the string and bow shoulders and the bow arm!!

IMO, it is all about reducing tension in the body/ arms that is not needed for the shot.

Arne

[Gdpolk]

Originally posted by moebow:
GD,

I can't really tell much from static pictures but there are a couple flags that I notice and that I'd work with you on if we were "face to face."  I'll just toss out some suggestions for your CONSIDERATION.

First, the string hand thumb sticking straight up at full draw.  This places a LOT of tension into the string hand and fore arm and MAY be why you find the finger tip string placement works for you.  I'd have you try, for a while, getting the thumb down in front of the palm, and placing it under the jaw bone and using the "deep hook.".

Second, your head is really tilted over and back.  I understand that that is how you get the arrow under the eye, BUT... It puts a lot of tension into the upper shoulders and neck that you really don't need.  I'd suggest you try to draw to your face (don't go to get the string or hand) then to get the arrow under the eye, bend at the waist to bring the head over the arrow.

The overhead shot shows good(!) alignment of the string and bow shoulders and the bow arm!!

IMO, it is all about reducing tension in the body/ arms that is not needed for the shot.

Arne

Thanks. I'll try out both of these suggestions. My thumb is actually part of my anchor. Pointer behind incisor, thumb at zygomatic arch/orbit junction, nose to string.