keep missing to the left. Right handed

[Longtoke]

When I'm on my game everything is fine, but when I'm off it's always about 6 inches to the left and very often about 3 inches high. Different bows, different arrows, different tips, if im having a bad day I always shoot to the left.

What do you think is the most likely cause? elbow angle wrong? bad grip? bad bow arm alignment? Having a hard time diagnosing it myself.

[moebow]

Try to video your self on a "good" day.  Then the next time it's not so good take another video.  It COULD be any of the things you mention but I'd put $$ on one you didn't.

I'd look first to overdrawing, that is not having exactly the same anchor position from one day to  the next.  Pulling back a little farther or setting the string hand higher or lower can EASILY produce a 6" error.  It ONLY takes 1/8th inch difference in the position of your string hand at anchor to produce about an 8 inch error at 20 yards.

Arne

[McDave]

Of all the errors one might make shooting the bow, left misses seem to have the largest number of possible causes.  The list grows larger if you add in equipment tuning issues.  My experience with my own left misses is that it's generally something I didn't think of, because if I could have thought of it, I would have already solved it.  As Arne suggests, sending in a video is probably the fastest route to a solution, other than finding an expert coach or instructor locally who can watch you shoot.

[hart2hart]

High and left comes from nock going(or being)right and low.Now what is causing that takes some figuring.
Shot there for years...doesn't happen when I get good alignment thru arrow,elbow and BT with good release.
Are you shooting a really light bow?? Makes a good release harder.
Are you shooting with glasses?? My glasses distort right at the edge of lense making image jump over.Just recently learned to use this to my advantage.
You'll beat it in time.
Mike

[BWallace10327]

Sometimes I get mixed up shooting my longbow, push/pull shooting.  I'll come to anchor and quit pulling but continue to push with my bow arm.  If my push/pull equilibrium gets out of wack in such a way, it will produce a left arrow every time.

[McDave]

Brent, I've been interested in the issue you raise over the years, as this isn't the first time I've heard it.  I really don't understand how someone could keep pushing with the bow arm and quit pulling with the string arm.  It seems impossible under the laws of physics.  Unless you mean that you start to collapse with your string arm, and so the arrow begins to creep forward?

[Woodeye]

For me hitting left 6 inches or more is ALL about form and alignment. If I "collapse" before release or never get fully aligned at release I'm left of center and potentially way left. When form and alignment are correct at release the other variables of string hand flaws, bow hand torque/drop and the like are a matter of inches. At least for me, the vast majority of hitting left is alignment. This assumes my tackle is properly tuned of course.

[Woodeye]

For me hitting left 6 inches or more is ALL about form and alignment. If I "collapse" before release or never get fully aligned at release I'm left of center and potentially way left. When form and alignment are correct at release the other variables of string hand flaws, bow hand torque/drop and the like are a matter of inches. At least for me, the vast majority of hitting left is alignment. This assumes my tackle is properly tuned of course.

[Wolftrail]

Agreed with woodeye.
I'am sort of having the same dilemma except I use the same arrows but different bows.  All the bows are within 5# of each other. Its not the arrows.
This is what I found some of my bows require more fine tuning like radiusing the shelf, rasping the side of the handle section etc.  
But for the most part its my form; I was lifting my rear foot for some reason, using a death grip on the bow did not help and not following thru on my shot.  Another thing concentrate, concentrate and concentrate.
I try to use a nice smooth draw, proper anchor, aim and smooth release.  When I concentrate on those 4 steps I hit the target.        

[BWallace10327]

Originally posted by McDave:
Brent, I've been interested in the issue you raise over the years, as this isn't the first time I've heard it.  I really don't understand how someone could keep pushing with the bow arm and quit pulling with the string arm.  It seems impossible under the laws of physics.  Unless you mean that you start to collapse with your string arm, and so the arrow begins to creep forward?

This is very easy to do.  I am a snap shooter (I am getting better, anchor about 1 second), which makes push/pull shooting alot easier, if I am trying to hold longer, I will anchor and hold, like a compound archer, when I try to aim with my arrow point, with my string hand, but my bow arm will continue pushing, like a normal shot for me.  Its best if I stop fighting the way I feel comfortable shooting and just draw, reference and release.

[BWallace10327]

I also shoot with a slightly bent arm, so if I quit expanding with my string arm, there is a little room for expansion with my bow arm.  It's a balancing act.

[Joni]

Keep attention on string hand. If your hook changes then anchor gonna change too.

[McDave]

There's a difference between "quit pulling" and "quit expanding."  Let's say a person is drawing a 45# bow.  Toward the end of his draw, he will be pulling about 45# with his string hand, and pushing about 45# with his bow hand.   If he stops drawing with his string hand, he will still be pulling 45# with his string hand and pushing 45# with his bow hand.  The only way he can quit pulling is to either shoot the arrow or collapse.

On the other hand, when one comes to full draw, one can choose to either keep expanding or stop expanding and hold at full draw without violating the laws of physics.  

Aside from that theoretical drivel, which some might consider mincing words on my part, I think the practical implications of what you're doing are important.  Most good shooters who use the dynamic release will keep expanding until conclusion.  The expansion is not limited to the string side, but involves the back and therefore the bow side as well.  Most good shooters who use the static release lock off the back, which locks off both the string side and the bow side, as they begin their hold.  A mistake I made for a long time after I decided to start using a static release was to continue to incorporate elements of the dynamic release, to the detriment of my shooting.  You may be doing the same thing if you are trying to continue dynamically expanding your bow side while locking off your string side.  OTOH, it is necessary to "continue pushing" with your bow hand until you release the shot with either method.

[Longtoke]

After working on this a little more I think my issue from not getting good alignment with my bow arm. I noticed if I shoot an olympic style stance the misses go away but when switching to a more "fighting" style stance I will sometime not pull my shoulder/arm in with the arrow enough.

Anyone have any practice exercises to help with maintaining good alignment? or any good practice drills in general would be greatly appreciated.

[McDave]

One good practice drill is to have someone stand behind you and place an arrow across your shoulder blades when you come to full draw.  The arrow should point toward the target.  If the arrow points to the left of the target, your shoulders are too open.  If it points to the right of the target (unlikely), your shoulders are too closed.

That is ideal, but sometimes because of age, physical disability, or just because the person doesn't like shooting that way, their shoulders may be aligned more open to the target.  That can work, but it is important to be consistent.  I suppose someone could place an arrow on your shoulder blades and see where it's pointing, and see if you align to the same place every shot.

[goingoldskool]

Mc Dave probably has a better answer than I do, but here's what my causes of left hits.....


1. I am plucking the string

2. Inconsistent grip with bow hand

3. My head not canted with bow

Those are my self diagnosed problems.

Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,

Rodd

[Woodeye]

For me hitting left 6 inches or more is ALL about form and alignment. If I "collapse" before release or never get fully aligned at release I'm left of center and potentially way left. When form and alignment are correct at release the other variables of string hand flaws, bow hand torque/drop and the like are a matter of inches. At least for me, the vast majority of hitting left is alignment. This assumes my tackle is properly tuned of course.

[tracker12]

The dreaded left impact.  As has been mentioned a lot can cause it.  For me it's pulling the release hand away from the face.  When I notice it happening and use a static release and make sure my hand stays tight to the face at release.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by tracker12:
The dreaded left impact.  As has been mentioned a lot can cause it.  For me it's pulling the release hand away from the face.  When I notice it happening and use a static release and make sure my hand stays tight to the face at release.

That is another factor relating to my poor shooting is pulling the release hand away from the face.  Good one Tracker.  I improved on that the other day  and my grouping improved big time.    

[Hasbro]

I dealt with left misses most of last year.  I finally got a handle on it by videoing my form/alignment.  Per Moebows advise.
Most of it was alignment...especially if your string hand is pulling away from your face.  I still have some bouts with left misses, due to overdrawing.  If you are pulling until you have no where else to pull... you are probably drawing past alignment. I have a high anchor, to get a 35 yard PO... so my anchor is soft. if I am overdrawing I tend to chase my anchor as well.
Good luck!