Nicks skewing left and rightly

[starshooter]

Just an update from my earlier discussion thread. I have been working with a Formaster- not sure if I have the cord length right. So far I am puzzled as the only result I get is a slight thump on my elbow, maybe a tug but nothing dramatic?
Been working on rotational drawing and it seems to help with back muscle tension
And smoother draw.  I have studied intently Arnie’s You tube videos many many times.
Helpful.
I also have got the Vol 3 of Masters of Barebow. I especially like the segment with Denny Sturgis where he advocates a loose grip just thumb and forefinger. Tried it and the bow almost jumped from my hand but the shot was great.
The big question for me now is the arrows land in different angles-skewing of the nocks left and right others land straight in. Inconsistent release? Fingers in the way? Incomplete back tensioning ?Thanks

[moebow]

Not sure how to answer without seeing what you are doing. Your left right results are MOST likely execution related but really need to see.

2 setting for the FM.  One short to place string about on the fingers but draw with back and elbow with hand just relaxed and NOT on the string, just let it float.  The second so the FM cord is about 2 to 3 inches longer, then draw with the fingers and release.  IF you are at good bone on bone alignment, the FM will NOT pull or move your elbow when you release the string.  Don't use more than about a 50# bow.  There's lots of info out there showing the use of the FM.

Arne

[starshooter]

Thanks for reply on Fornaster issues . I get the floating hand part and boy it’s hard to pull without the fingers on the string . It’s an excellent warmup and hopefully will install muscle memory.
The part about the string being 2-3 inches longer I am not sure . Is this overhang
That extends past the fingers of the drawing hand?
I tried that once with the string extending and there is a strong sudden jolt that happens on release. Again,my elbow is more or less inline after the shot.
One other thing does a loose grip( thumb on fore finger help with a smoother shot? I am not real crazy about all the gagdets that Jenkins uses in his segment in” Masters of the Barebow”. Wrist sling to hold bow and tab that that has a metal point in the palm .They look
helpful however. Thanks for reading .

[McDave]

The “sudden strong jolt” you are getting could be from one of two things:  either you are leaving too much slack in the Formaster string or you are not using back tension.  When you are drawing the bow with your own fingers using the Formaster, there should only be enough slack in the Formaster string to allow you to get a clean release, then the Formaster should catch it.  If you have the right amount of slack in the string and you are still getting a jolt, the Formaster is doing its job of telling you that you still aren’t using back tension.  If you are using back tension, you should get a mild tug and not a strong jolt.

[McDave]

I didn’t like Rod’s finger sling very much either.  It is recommended that you hold a recurve very lightly.  Opinions vary on longbows.  In order to hold a recurve very lightly, not use a finger sling, and not have the bow jump out of my hand, I just touch the back of the handle with my fingers.  There are lots of different ways to hold the bow lightly: hold with only the forefinger and thumb, tuck the other fingers under, the way I mentioned, etc.

[moebow]

By 2 to 3 inches longer, I meant that when hooked up and slack taken out of the FM cord, the bow string will be about 2 inches ahead of your extended string fingers.  then when you hook the fingers on the string, you will have a small loop in the FM cord.  That allows enough room to make a release and then as Dave points out, you should just feel a "thump" in your bones.  IF your elbow gets pulled forward you don't have your alignment correct.

The string hand needs to be as relaxed as possible to get the best release.  The fingers are relaxed enough that the bow string flips them out of the way, you DO NOT open the fingers, the string does the job.  The plate you see Rod using is to help remind you of the hand position, IF you cup the hand (use too much hand tension) the rear point of that tab plate will poke you and feel very uncomfortable.  That's why it is there.

The bow sling is to help you relax the bow hand without fear of dropping the bow when you shoot.

IF!!!! you learn these two ideas using the "learning" devices, many can elect to not use them anymore, others will keep them as permanent pieces of equipment.

I see many that discard equipment devices because they "don't like them" or feel they interfere with their shot.  And they well may.  But that is the point!  IF mastered, you will most likely be a better shot down the line.  BUT!!! This isn't a "try it for a couple arrows" thing it IS a LONG term commitment to improve your shooting.

Arne

[moebow]

I'll add this.  The whole idea of the Form Master, the finger sling and the "pointed" tab plate is to HELP shooters learn to shoot in as relaxed a condition as they can.  The idea is that a good archery shot is done with minimal muscle effort, not a maximum.

I see many shooters (regardless of equipment style) that are so tense that if you tapped them, they'd ring like a bell.  Many before they start the shot, tense up to a point where they can pop 5 or 6 hernias in their belly and bite a doughnut hole out of the seat of their pants.

Did I mention that you should be RELAXED????  Don't use ANYTHING (muscle) that you don't need for the shot.

Arne

[oops sorry]

If you are shooting a bag target, it is not unusual for the nocks to skew without it being a reflection on the archer. A bad sign with the formaster is if your hand goes up and out after release.