tips to properly draw bow

[nhbuck1]

Does anyone have any tips to actually draw the bow with your back instead of arms? be intresting to hear

[McDave]

I recommend the YouTube video by Arne Moe, The Rotational Draw.  I try to follow Arne's instructions in the video every time I draw the bow.

Second, use the Formaster.  I know this has been suggested to you before, but I don't know if you've actually tried it and what your reactions are to trying it.

Third, really zero in on Rod Jenkins' presentation in MBB 3, including his demo of the Formaster with Darryl Quidort.

[nhbuck1]

yes i have seen it but how does this work if you shoot canted thats the way i shoot and hunt with

[ChuckC]

I think....first use a very light bow so you can experiment and see how it feels to do so.   I also think if you draw low, as in, across your upper chest, you are structurally better positioned to use your back more fully.  Having your draw elbow high makes it more difficult to do (for me at least).

[McDave]

I don't think any of the things I suggested have anything to do with whether you shoot in an upright position or canted.  They are just basic good form.  My suggestion is to learn to shoot in all positions: upright, canted, kneeling, holding, or snap shooting.  Your basic form or use of back muscles shouldn't change.

[nhbuck1]

position when drawing bow canted changes position of the angle of hand, i would think rotational draw at this angle would be very unconfortable

[ChuckC]

Guess you need to try it to see if it is or not (for you).

[mahantango]

I agree 100% with Mcdave. I shoot canted, and the rotational draw, thanks to Arne Moe, is the best archery advice I've gotten in 45 years. Don't see how he angle would be a problem, I can comfortably shoot from vertical to nearly horizontal.

[mgf]

I say just "spread" the bow from the middle of your back...like locking your hands in front of you and trying to pull them apart.

[forestdweller]

I don't know much about back tension but I do know that keeping my hands and arm as relaxed as possible throughout the shot sequence leads to greater accuracy for me along with reduced tension.

I know lots of people are suggesting trying this out on a light bow drawing it back but for me personally drawing a very heavy bow (very heavy for me at least!) in the 70# range for me really helps in terms of engaging my larger muscles.

I can really feel my back pull together as I draw back a heavy bow and I can feel the back muscles next to the spine pulling together tight along with my lats and when I go back to a lighter bow it feels as easy as pie to draw back.

Maybe try drawing back a very heavy bow for you and then going to a very light weight bow and applying those principles used with the heavy bow to the light bow.

[forestdweller]

Sorry double post

[nhbuck1]

i have been pretending to close a door behind me with my elbow during draw works for me

[BMorv]

I thought I was drawing with my back muscles but I posted a video on here and Arne Moe informed me that my draw was all arms.  He said that I was drawing "uphill" and that my draw should be "downhill" and that would help get the back muscles working.
  That did the trick for me.  If you notice on Moe's videos he holds the bow high then draws downhill to his anchor point and settles in.  I had studied his videos and watched them multiple times, but didn't catch that detail.
  My bows feels 10 lbs lighter now that I draw in this manner.