how to shoot faster?

[sledge]

after 6 months with the longbow, and a total of 10 months back in archery, after 30+ years off, i'm finally settling into a "form".

since i pull the bow with my teeth, i have to invent my technique, but i've done it with lots of stuff, and enjoy it.

anyway, i'm shooting reasonably well now, but not like i want to.  i have to hold 2-5 seconds, and settle in.

 i want to shoot like john schulz and gfred!  pull her back and let her go!

so...my question is, should i just start shooting like that, and let accuracy develop, or should i continue to settle into a hold, but try to reduce hold time?

thanks.

joe

[Whip]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about how fast you can shoot.  I would concentrate all my efforts on being as accurate as possible.  Trying to speed up your shot sequence could lead to all kinds of trouble with short draw, releasing too soon, etc., etc.  Over time, I would guess you will find yourself naturally speeding up, but I wouldn't recommend specifically trying harder to go fast.
I'm no shooting coach by any means, but it just seems like you might find more problems by worrying about the wrong thing.

[awbowman]

I agree with Whip, it's all about what feels natural to you.  Just like the grip on a bow, once you have one that "fits" you, you will know.

[elkbreath]

Man, how can we answer this?  I'm still stuck on the prhase "I pull the bow with my teeth"!  

Good on ya for perseverance.  I would imagine that speed will come.  I suppose back tension is never an issue.

Good luck!  and keep it up!  Man I'd love to see that. how do you release?

I'm with Whip on this one. Heck I take that long and since starting to do that I am shooting better than ever.

Bisch

[Raging Water]

Originally posted by Bisch:
I'm with Whip on this one. Heck I take that long and since starting to do that I am shooting better than ever.

Bisch

I have shot with Bisch. He certainly takes his time. The Wheelie Bow guys pass him on the 3 D course.

It takes a cat less time to poop, than for Bisch to shoot.

Matt

[smoke1953]

An alternative opinion here(and Whip knows I shoot too fast) is that many hunting conditions end up with a quick natural shot. Once your technique begins to come together there certainly is nothing wrong in teaching yourself to shoot in a quick rhythm. Shooting in different body positions and at varying rates should serve you well while hunting. If 3-D shooting is you emphasis than a deliberate approach may be best. Flexibility and variablity is what I enjoy and someday I might get adequate at it.

[Rob W.]

I practice with a plastic ring suspended in front of my target. When it turns enough to see through I shoot. Sometimes that is very fast and sometimes it doesn't turn for so long I have to let down. This has helped me a bunch on many aspects of my shooting. More of a red light, green light hunting practice. Probably not the best practice for 3d though.


Rob

[lt-m-grow]

Rob that is a great idea.

I am in the camp of patience too as Whip offered.   Even if you plan to hunt, the "extra" time you take isn't that long.  It may seem like it, but I bet it happens fairly quick.

Now hearing about the comparison of Bisch and cat pooping, that may be a special case.  Let me rephrase, it is a special case :-)

[elkbreath]

shoot rob, thats a fine idea!  I'm going to have to give that a run.

[sledge]

thanks all.  no interest at all in 3d.

i'm a hunter (but i also just flat love to shoot!)

joe

Shooting per Schulz instruction, it all comes down to the last six inches of draw to be able to be on target and release without hesitation. Right handed I shoot better releasing immediately on anchor, providing the draw was good. If the draw doesn't line up, I squeeze it a bit to get it there. Shooting left hand, if I hold and deliberate too long, my groups open up. If I totally snap shoot left handed,the first arrows will be better, but after three shots the fine tuning fails and I need to hold for a part of a second. Either way it is all in how smooth and on target that last 6 inches of draw can be.

[Rob W.]

[gvdocholiday]

Drill that form until it's muscle memory.  The idea is to perfect the form, then try to accomplish it in as little as time as possible.  

If I remember reading correctly, Howard Hill was meticulous about his form.  He focused and practiced his form more than anything.  Once you get the form down, it's the same whether you hold for 5 seconds or half a second.

What I'm trying to say is, If you can get to full anchor and still get a push/pull with good alignment, it doesn't matter if it's an instant or 5 seconds, shot quality is the same.

Originally posted by Raging Water:
 

Originally posted by Bisch:
I'm with Whip on this one. Heck I take that long and since starting to do that I am shooting better than ever.

Bisch

I have shot with Bisch. He certainly takes his time. The Wheelie Bow guys pass him on the 3 D course.

It takes a cat less time to poop, than for Bisch to shoot.

Matt [/b]

Matt is just jealous! He wishes he could look as good a sme shooting a bow!          

Bisch

[sledge]

very helpful, y'all

seriously, i shot much better, and a little faster, with your thoughts in mind this morning.

'specially that last 6"...

i want it come faster, but it doesn't, does it?

thanks.

joe

[KentuckyTJ]

Joe, a local outdoorsman and host of our weekly Kentucky Afield outdoor TV show here shoots his bow with a tab and his draws with his teeth. He has been doing it for years. Why don't you send him an email. Hes a great guy and I know would love to talk with you.

His name is Tim Farmer
  http://fw.ky.gov/kyafieldtvhost.asp  

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