Should arrow be in line wth eye at anchor

[KBeyer]

I've recently gone back to traditional and have been trying different anchors for better accuracy. I've settled on 3 under and I'm shooting a lot better than I did split finger. My question is whether the arrow should directly under my eye (in line with the target) at anchor? When I was figuring my point on distance I noticed the arrows were hitting about 4-5 inches left consistently. The arrows bare shaft great so I'm thinking that it's off to the right of my sight plane when I anchor. I anchor middle finger in corner of mouth, cock feather touching nose, thumb under jaw bone. The reason I ask is I've read posts that say the arrow point should be in line with the target, but I can't imagine being able to twist enough to make that happen.

[Jock Whisky]

Works for me. Two ways to get it in line. One is to tilt your head to the right if you are right handed. The other is to cant the bow and lean a bit to the right. Try it facing a mirror and you will be able to see when everything is lined up.

[KBeyer]

I did what you said and drew back while looking inthe mirror. Once I got past the old man staring back at me I see what you mean. When I canted to about 2 o'clock the arrow was under my eye. It was dark outside so I didn't get to fire any arrows but now there's hope. Thanks.

[McDave]

While I can certainly see advantages to having the arrow under the dominant eye, and try to do it myself, many good shooters don't do that, either because they shoot with their non-dominant eye over the arrow, or because they consistently shoot with their eye a little to the side of the arrow.  If I had to make a choice between naturally drawing to an anchor where the arrow was consistently in the same position, although not directly under my eye, and having to think about drawing to a contrived position that wasn't natural to me in order to get my eye over the arrow, I would choose the former.

As far as how one would get used to that, an instinctive shooter just gets used to pointing the bow where it needs to be pointed over many shots without consciously lining up anything.  A reference shooter just gets used to holding the point of the arrow a little to the right or left, and eventually doesn't even notice that he's doing it.

Also important is to draw the arrow to your head without tilting or moving your head, although some good shooters do tilt their heads.  Also important is to be able to shoot the bow at any reasonable cant, although most people do have a natural cant (or no cant at all) where they shoot best.

[KBeyer]

I completely get what you're saying. I shot split finger, instinctive for a long time. When I got back into traditional this year that's what I went back to. For whatever reason I just wasn't happy with my accuracy. It wasn't for lack of practice. I went on a quest to find a form that works for me and 3 under, gap shooting seems to be it. I'm not trying to start anything, it's just how I decided to go. If trying to line the arrow under my eye is too uncomfortable I'll definitely just hold to the right. I'll settle in on a technique soon and I know I'll get some good help here. Thanks forthe reply.

[moebow]

Let's try a slightly different approach as food for thought.  I agree that not everyone can get the arrow nock under the eye due to personal "configuration."

Let's think about having the arrow parallel to the "line of sight."  If the arrow is angled towards the line of sight (for a right handed archer) then the arrow will hit left.  Try to figure out a full draw position that allows the arrow to parallel the LOS and then the arrow will hit on target.

Said another way; If the arrow nock is to the left of your eye AND you are looking over the tip of the arrow, then the arrow is oriented/angled to the left and will hit left (again, right handed).

Just another way of thinking about the problem.

Arne

[McDave]

Originally posted by moebow:


Said another way; If the arrow nock is to the left of your eye AND you are looking over the tip of the arrow, then the arrow is oriented/angled to the left and will hit left (again, right handed)

Arne

Arne, did you by any chance mean "if the arrow nock is to the RIGHT of your eye?"

[moebow]

Yep,  Thanks.  Arrow nock to the right!!

Arne

[Tajue17]

if you are aiming YES I would imagine everything needs to be lined up,   if your shooting instinctive nope nothing needs to be in line with the arrow when at full draw, it can be drawn behind your back or under your chest when laying down as aiming is not part of the formula.

[tracker12]

Glad we got that eye right/left cleared up I was getting dizzy:)