just discovered something

[nhbuck1]

i was out shooting and i have been working to trying to hold at anchor, I just cant do it the more i try especially further shots my arrow does not hit mark, as soon as i draw my bow and the arrow hits anchor and i dont think about holding and just let it go the arrow hits its mark, does me trying to hold mess my shooting up or something , if i try to hold my shooting fails this dosent make sense to me, i shoot instinctive by the way also, please help me figure out whats going on

[McDave]

TradGang seems about equally divided between those who hold at anchor and those who don't. Some very famous archers, including our own Terry Green, don't hold at anchor.  Some of the less famous ones, but still pretty good shots, like Howard Hill, also don't or didn't hold at anchor.  Legendary instinctive archers like Fred Asbell don't hold at anchor.  Traditional archery is a big tent here in the USA.  If you consider the whole world, with all the different styles of shooting there are, it's an even a bigger tent.

So whichever way you go, you're in good company.

[nhbuck1]

i guess its whatver works fo you and everyone being different has different styles

[Firstlight]

I like the idea of being able to shoot both ways; holding at anchor and not holding.

My most comfortable way of shooting is to not hold at anchor, and I shoot fairly ok.  I've been practicing holding a half second or so at anchor and using split vision for "windage".  

It feels different and is a lot of work but I can clearly see an improvement in hitting the intended mark with much  tighter groups.  

I'm still not completely comfortable with holding but it helps me to self correct when doing something wrong and allows me to have a more consistent "mantra' or shot sequence, whatever your want to call it.

For me, learning to hold has become of prime importance to overcome TP and have a good shot sequence.

When I hold and don't shoot well I have observed I'm not using good back tension or alignment is off or maybe I'm beginning to collapse or even peak while dropping bow arm.

When that happens I practice  coming to full draw a bunch of times, hold then let down, feeling the back tension, anchor, etc.  Really helps!

It's hard to resist the urge to shoot without holding  but shooting both ways gives me better control over the whole process and a slight hold, for me seems to give me more overall consistency.  

I kinda figure if my form and back tension is correct then there is no reason I shouldn't be able to hold, IE: it's certainly easy to "self correct" when I hold at anchor.

[nhbuck1]

im having a hard time holding but im trying to learn this any tips?

[Firstlight]

As others will state, getting that bone on bone contact with good back tension through the shot, you should be good.

Use a shot Mantra, again how Arne explained to you in a previous post.

I assume you are checking out both Arne's and J. Blackmon's videos.

Paul

[Caddo]

Your brain has been trained to release as soon as you hit anchor. Best way I've found to over come it is to draw and let down, DO NOT RELEASE. You have to retrain your brain so you can control when you want to shoot. I takes awhile, depending on severity. I practiced for a week and never shot an arrow. Now I do this 4-5 times before I ever start shooting.

LD

[Firstlight]

Oh yeah, and exactly what Caddo said.  I practice holding a lot and letting down.

You must take control and not release if you don't want to.

If you can't do that, look over all the target panic threads.  There are many informative ones on Trad Gang.

[Jake Scott]

I agree with the others, shoot fast or shoot slow, but CONTROL YOUR SHOT!  You're just learning, now is the time to set a solid ground work with good form and shot control.  Otherwise you will struggle to achieve consistent accuracy regardless of how long you hold at anchor.

I love your enthusiasm and work ethic.  Best of luck!!

Jake

[slowbowjoe]

Learn to let down, X3.