hitting clothing with string

[oldrubline]

My hunting buddy and I were just talking about form.  I am working on some corrections in my shooting form and it is pretty dramatic from the way I have shot in the past (more hunched and 'open' with shorter draw). Now I am trying to use the expanded shoulders and bone to bone alignment. My draw is going to be at least 2 additonal inches over the old draw length.  My buddy has been shooting like this for awhile but told me he's having some issues with string contacting the heavy wool clothing we use in late season.  Is there an issue that others have had with that?  I do shoot from the ground and most often from a sitting or kneeling position.  We wear bulky clothing some times.  As I tighten this form up, will I start to create other new issues? I wonder if my more open hunched style was a result of my subconscious desire to keep the string clearance. You can also really get twisted around as you shoot from sometimes awkward positions from the ground and it seems that could really place more of the body into line with the string...

People's experiences and suggestions?

Dan

[Noctis]

Difficult to say whether it's a form issue without seeing. If it's merely a gear issue, though ... are you wearing an arm guard over the clothing? An arm guard not only provides protection but reins in bulky clothing in colder weather. You can get arm guards that extend past forearm to the upper arm, as well, so you could conceivably have almost your entire sleeve held in place. If it's hitting your torso, maybe an Olympic-style chest guard?

[McDave]

In Masters of the Barebow vol. 3, Denny Sturgis discusses some of the changes he made in his shooting form as a result of his blank bale work.  One of the changes he made was to close up his alignment, as you describe, for the purpose of AVOIDING string contact with clothing.  This seems somewhat counterintuitive, since it seems like it would increase clothing contact, but if you will look at his portion of the video, which is toward the end, you will see how he did it.  Rather than the string coming across the front of his clothing as it would with a more open stance, it comes into the side, so while it may push against the side of his jacket, it doesn't brush across the front of it.  This is similar to the way some women avoid string slap on some of the more delicate parts of their bodies.

I think closing up the alignment does increase the likliehood of string contact with the bow arm, but that is easily avoided with an arm guard, as discussed above.

[SteelyDan]

Olympic and target archers use a chest guard/protectors for a reason. An arm guard is not always enough. Since changing my form and going to a more vertical bow alignment, I found I was having the same issues as you describe.

It is so easy for the string to catch on loose hanging clothing. I shot once this Spring with a down vest on. The string buried itself nicely in the soft down vest, but on release it grabbed the fabric and threw the arrow a foot to the left from 15 yards away. Another lesson learned.

Now, while hunting, target shooting or roving, I wear the snuggest wool or fleece garments I have.
SD

[oldrubline]

Thank you all for the input !  I hope it doesn't mess with those heavy wool clothes I wear in the late season!  I 'll just have to wear the stuff when I practice and see what happens.  Hard to avoid the bulky layers if your going to sit several hours in the teen weather.

Dan

[mgf]

I wear a chest protector to hold me heavy coat or other lose fitting clothing out of the way.

I've hard a terrible time finding warm cloths that work when I'm trying to shoot a bow.

[BWallace10327]

Very topical.  I have been fighting similar issues.  Perfect upright form and proper expansion doesn't work out so well when its cold.  I've struggled with poor form and zero back tension and I have struggled with improved form when I have to wear a jacket.  Somewhere in between should suit me well.