How long do you hold your anchor?

[Flying Dutchman]

Ok, I am working on a new form. In the past I hold my anchor a little bit too long before releasing, with as a result my arrow crawled back.
So in the beginning I pulled till 30", then hold my anchor and concentrated on the target. While concentrating, my drawlenght crawled back to 29, 28 and so on. Without I noticed it myself.

Now I work on a new form, in order to get rid of this. Now I pull my bow and aim at the same time. In one fluent movement, I search my anchor, pull trough, release and hit with my fingertips the back of my head. In this way my drawlenght stays on 29.5

But maybe I should hold it for just a halve or one second before releasing?

How long do you guys hold your anchor?

[fnshtr]

I usually hold to the count of two... or about two seconds. I know that it is easy to begin collapsing if you hold too long.

Once I draw (and aim as I draw) I hit my anchor which is middle finger to corner of mouth AND thumb knuckle below ear behind jaw bone. I shoot three fingers under the arrow.

At that point I switch my focus to my back muscles (continuing to pull my shoulder blades toward each other) while holding my aim steady. At the count of two I relax my holding forearm and fingers, letting the string slip away.

This is what seems to work best for me. I have also used a third anchor point, that being the cock feather to the tip of my nose... but that requires special fletching arrangement and I've stopped doing it.

Good luck!

[Sean B]

I dont hold at all, I focus on a spot and draw. as soon as I reach anchor I realease and draw through in 1 motion.  This has been working for me for years.

[JR Williams]

Just long enough for the magic to happen. Maybe a second or so, just until everything "feels" right.