Question on release hand

[Jock Whisky]

Normally when I'm shooting I'll get my back tension set, settle for a bit and then drop the string. Most of the time if I do this correctly my string hand recoils back a bit. However once in a while my hand will come away from my face as well as move back. Should back tension be enough to keep my hand next to my face or is there some other perhaps more conscious effort required to keep the hand in line?

[Miikka]

I have pretty much the same issue in my shooting where I get inconsistant release sometimes. I found that a second anchor point ( as refered to by Jeff Kavanagh) helps me alot. As I anchor I start engaging my back and think of pulling my hand behind my ear as I release. This helps me maintain a straight line movement in my arm after release.

[moebow]

I'd suggest that it sounds like you are thinking about the string hand at the point of release.  IF you are, your thoughts could be in the wrong place.  The body will tend to follow the the thought so you end up with focus in the front of your body rather than in the back.  See if maintaining a thought of executing with the back and NOT with the hand.  This conforms fairly closely with Miikka's advice.

Arne

[McDave]

To answer your question more directly, it is generally an indication of an error if your hand moves away from your face on release.  You didn't indicate whether you use a dynamic or a dead release, but Rick Welch's hand makes a distinctive flop when he releases rather than staying on his face.  This is an indication of a relaxed hand flopping around like a dishrag, however, rather than hand movement, as can be seen by observing his forearm, which remains in place.

Anything other than Rick's hand flop is generally an indication of not relaxing the fingers and letting the string push them out of the way, a pluck, or creeping.  Fortunately, the remedy for all three is the same: keep attention focused on the back muscles, as Arne mentioned.  This is the same remedy whether you use a dynamic or a dead release.

Of course, if you're shooting well when your hand moves away from your face, then you might not have any of the three problems I mentioned.  But then you probably wouldn't be writing this letter.

[bigbadjon]

Not that I am an expert but it seems like if you are truly drawing with back tension and you have reached full expansion, there would be no more room for your hand to go further back once released. Provided you are also drawing straight back of course.

[Jock Whisky]

The question was is there some other effort, technique, whatever, required to keep my hand from moving away from my face. It sounds like the answer is no. Maintaining back tension seems to be all that is required.

McDave I have a dynamic release. When I do it properly my hand moves back in line with the arrow, not very much but there is a definite rearward movement.

Arne the problem may be that when this happens I'm not really thinking of anything. Perhaps a bit more effort on concentration would be in order.

Thanks for the replies.

[Sam McMichael]

I tend to have issues with my hand moving, string plucking, etc. However, when I get the back tension situation under control, these other problems tend to clear up.

[Don Stokes]

Jock, I'll suggest that those shots when you hand moves away from your face may be due to tension in your drawing hand that wants to curl your fingers during the draw. The act of releasing with that kind of tension in the hand causes the hand to move out rather than back. A deep hook allows the hand to relax more. A tired hand wants to curl more, too.

[Jock Whisky]

thanks for the replies. It seems that my back tension wasn't quite engaged when this happens. A bit more focus on getting it engaged seems to fix the problem.