Finding Anchor

[D.Rose]

I have been going back and fourth trying different anchor points and different hooks. So far I haven’t found anything that just sticks and feels really good. Is there a method you have of finding a solid repeatable anchor point or is it just trial and error til you find what works?

[Wudstix]

Anchor points can be similar, but are personal, as to what is repeatable for YOU.  Personally: I like a hook about the first groove, middle finger in corner of the mouth, and thumb hooked behind my jaw bone.  Most of the time that puts the string along side my nose.  Shooting a Death Adder tab.  Shooting with an AL glove the feel is a bit different, but arrows fly well.  YMMV
 

[Bowwild]

Index finger at the corner of my mouth with thumb behind jawbone. The string is beside the tip of my nose.

I tried the middle finger anchor a couple of times to get the arrow closer to my eye, but I couldn't get used to it and gave up right away.

[LookMomNoSights]

I started this whole thing with a glove ...... nothing but a glove for many years.
Just several months ago now,  I started messing with tabs, just to see,  just for fun really ...... and I must say I have converted to a tab and don't see myself going back to the glove.  Just one of the reasons and it's a biggie,  is that anchor that I never really felt 100% satisfied with being a glove shooter,  jumped right out at me once I started using the tab.  Same anchor point I'm sure,  but a much better more confirmed feel with the tab as I am able to put my bare middle finger tip on to / in to, the corner of my mouth. I noticed this almost immediately going from the glove to tab.  Early into this change,  I shot with the glove again just to see.  The anchor location was that same ..... and I could feel the glove tip now in the corner of my mouth,  but the touch was not as positive and absolute like the skin on skin direct contact of having the tip of that middle finger on that mouth corner.  It just feels like so much more of a precise repeatable anchor.  I even trimmed my tabs a shade to guarantee this with no obstruction.  If I have a secondary point that is attatched to that process for me,  it must be engrained and sub conscious because I couldn't define one at this moment.  Everything lines up great as it is now......shooting tab, finger tip into the corner of my mouth, solid repeatable anchor that works for me every time and signifies the initiation of the evolution of my release process.  Just my opinions, observations and experience with this.  What works for ya works for ya 

[D.Rose]

Seems like I may be looking for more than what I should be in a repeatable anchor. I think I could be hooking the string to deep in my fingers causing me some inconsistency. From what I can gather I am probably anchoring to low on my face. I set my cheek bone on top of my index finger for solid bone to bone contact. I have tried almost everything but the middle finger in the corner of the mouth is a reoccurring theme. Does any other part of the hand touch the face other than the finger tip?

[LookMomNoSights]

 I notice the most forward knuckle of my thumb,  lightly without much pressure,  rests up against the highest point of my cheek bone that would be directly under my outside eye corner. 

[LookMomNoSights]

I must add, I shoot the tab split finger,  same as I did with the glove.

[PrimitivePete]

I take a different view on what is the best anchor for me. I choose it based on my form alignment. More important to me is ensuring I am in the right alignment than a specific point on my face. Focusing on the point on the face can diminish your true draw length because you are short drawing the bow to meet an anchor point. I prefer to draw to my full extension and settle on the anchor from that point.

[Bowwild]

My entire hand from the index finger tip to the back of the thumb rests on my face.

[Wudstix]

"Timeless Bowhunting" has some interesting thoughts on anchor point.
 

[George Tsoukalas]

Drose, your anchor needs to be repeatable. What you are doing seems pretty good.
I anchor with my middle finger in the corner of my mouth and my thumb just behind the cheekbone. That's the ideal anyway. LOL.

I use the deep hook for years even before I knew what it was called. People are anatomically different. With me the string is in the crease of the first finger and just beyond the crease of my middle and third fingers.

Makes for a good release for me.

I shoot a glove.

Jawge

[McDave]

“Your first anchor point should always be your back.”  Rod Jenkins told this to me years ago, and it took me a long time to figure out what he meant. When you understand how to use your back muscles to come to full draw, your anchor point on your face will be limited to those spots your fingers can touch when you are at full draw. Then you simply move your hand up and down slightly until you find some spot that is repeatable for you.  For me, that spot is where my index finger touches the bottom of my cheek bone under my eye socket.

If you try to find an anchor point independently from using your back muscles to reach full draw, you will be probably be fighting between the two every shot you make, unless you happen choose the anchor point that works at full draw by accident.

You may need to change your anchor point from time to time as you discover more about coming to full draw.

[Terry Green]

I use a double anchor... search the shooters forum. For more info.