Spot on ?

[Good Stuff]

I hear people say what distance their "spot on" is.When I shoot my arrow tip is always to the right of my target, never under on or above. Does this mean I am not getting my eye over the arrow? Should I have my eye over the arrow as well?

[Homebru]

Do you shoot right or left-handed?  Are you right eye dominant or left?  Are you shooting a center-cut recurve or an American-style longbow?  Lots of variables.
homebru

[Good Stuff]

Right handed
Right eye dominant
******** Titan 1 ILF

Thanks

[rscornutt]

Generally, "spot on" means that placing the tip of your arrow on center of the target (as a method of aiming), means you will will hit center, assuming good form. This distance varies based on the shooter, arrow length, nock height, draw length, etc.

It also depends on whether you are shooting a long bow or where the shelf is cut.

[Good Stuff]

Yes, I'm familiar with what it means but as I said the tip of my arrow is always to the right of the target. Does this mean I am not getting my eye over the arrow?

[Carpdaddy]

Tip may be on but nock under your eye not??? Try to determine if entire arrow is straight rather than seeing tip only. Just another wild guess of course, you will figure it out.

[Orion]

GF.  It could mean that you're not getting your eye exactly over the arrow, but it really doesn't have to be for you to see the arrow on the "spot". It may be that you are not, in fact,  right eye dominant. It could also be caused by looking across the arrow rather than down/over it.  Can correct this problem by employing a more open stance and/or turning your head more directly toward the target.

[Bladepeek]

GS, I know exactly what you are talking about and I experience the same thing. If I REALLY force myself, I can get the arrow pretty much under my eye, but it's a real struggle.

My problem is that my inter-pupilary distance is quite small. My eyes are set very close together and it's a problem for me buying binoculars that close enough for me to get a proper, single picture.

I've learned to see the arrow point just a hair left (I'm shooting left handed) of the target and it works quite well. I can still use the vertical placement of the arrow point for aiming.

May not be right, but seems to work the best for me.

[highlow]

Inter-pupilary? New to me. Explain please.

[Homebru]

inter-pupillary distance is the distance between your pupils of your eyes.  A critical measure for any binocular optic (magnified or just plain old eyeglasses).

GoodStuff, you may not be getting your eye directly over the shaft.  You may also be shooting arrows that are too stiff.  What type arrows (alum, carbon, wood)?  What spine?

Some also suggest that losing tension at release may cause arrows to hit left.  Lots of possibilities.  Hard to diagnose on a forum.  Any chance you can record video of you shooting?

I think the bottom line is "can you hit the bullseye?"  If you can put 'em in the 10-ring, who cares where the point looks like it is?

Just a few thoughts.  Hope this helps.
homebru

[reddogge]

Could you be shooting stiff arrows? Is it a tuning issue? Weaker arrow would impact more right.

[Danny Rowan]

Guys, I think he is saying that when he aims the tip of his arrow is to the right of the target, not that he is hitting to the right.

Today, a kid came over for me to check out his old bow that he bought, his first bow.  It had a three pin sight on it.  He wanted to leave the sights on it. I gave him some lessons a while back, but when helping him set the sights, I kept screwing them out until they were almost maxed out before he was hitting close.  I had him close his left eye and he shot right a long ways and could barely get the shot off.  When he closed his right eye he was right on.  Left eye dominant. I wonder if leaving those sights on will mean that he will never be able to shoot that bow instinctively.  
I have seen it once before when someone never knew that they were left eye dominant, until they tried to find their point on range.

[old_goat2]

Have you bare shafted your arrows, if they are stiff and assuming your right hand you would hit left if your sight picture down the arrow

[Babbling Bob]

Leaning from the hip a little more and a good bow cant will sometimes get the point lined up better for me for my recurves.  I shoot split finger and anchor at the corner of my mouth.

[J. Holden]

I've heard it said that "up and down" is aiming, "left and right" is form.  Not sure what you may be doing that is throwing the arrow off.

I will say that I always shot right and learned I was left eye dominant.  I switched to a left hand riser and my arrows moved for me.  For what it's worth.  Keep at it...

-Jeremy  

Either eye dominance, in this case I think may be simply that he is shooting with the bow more vertical and his eye is to the left of the arrow a bit.  Even Hill said that the arrow flew up and left for him, when he explained secondary aiming in his book.  That can be a bit different for the same shooter with different bows.  When I shoot a center shot recurve right handed, the arrow looks left and when I shoot a Hill style bow it is from directly under to half covering the target when at point on.  Point on shooting is a form of secondary aiming if one is staring at the target and not the point, it's not a big deal if the arrow is a bit one way or the other.