cant in relation to arrow flight......

[slayer1]

This past deer season, I found myself having to hold the bow in awkward positions to get off a shot, so I have started practicing canting the bow at different angles. This is what I have noticed. When I cant the bow "right" - Past what I would consider perfect form - the arrow flies right. When I hold the bow straight up or canted slightly left the arrows fly left. The point I am trying to make is that if you have to make an awkward shot and you know where the arrow is going to fly you can make the adjustment by aiming left or right to make the arrow go where you want. Has anyone else played around with shooting like this. If so I would like to here what you noticed.

[mike g]

With longbows a lot of times if you hold vertical the shot will go left. you cant the bow and it will go where ya want it to....
   At longer distances you go back to vertical....

[**oneshot**]

I've always found it very difficult to cant the bow without canting my whole body, and still keep my accuracy.

[aromakr]

If your arrows go to a different point of impact with different cants, you arrow spine in incorrect. Point of impact should be the same regardless of cant if the arrow is right under your eye.
Bob

[mcgroundstalker]

I shoot my recurve canted almost upside-down and for short range hunting type shots (within 10 yards) I'm accurate enough for a kill shot, on 3D targets...A longbow will shoot differently though because of hand placement and a "hindge-effect" on where the arrow points...G.F.Asbells video explains this in detail...Although with practice it can be worked out...Maybe someone with longbow smarts can help.

And as stated above...If you cant your bow, the rest of your upper body MUST follow...Mainly your string hand...Get The Picture?

>>-----> mike <-----<<

[Todd Hathaway]

I agree with aromakr. It has always been a common belief that canting to the right will move the arrow impact to the right. Byron Ferguson even says so in his book....but it never made sense to me.

If you pivot your bow around the arrow, and you keep your eye above it, and keep your string fingers the same in relation to the string, the arrow should not change its point of impact.

If, however, you don't "aim" the shaft consciously, and you rotate your wrist to the right, you will move the arrow over so it will hit right. Especially if you shoot off an elevated rest.

[southpawshooter]

I'm with Bob and Todd.  A properly spined arrow will shoot to the same point of impact regardless of cant.  Keep your eye over the arrow and keep your shoulder - bow arm - bow alignment the same.  Bend at the waist for varying angles, but keep the 'T' in your upper body the same.

[Orion]

Agree with Arrowmaker, if the arrow is spined correctly, it should fly correctly regardless of cant.  However, the distance between your bow hand and the arrow and the amount of centershot of the bow can muck things up.  If there's a fairly substantial distance between the top of your bow hand and the top of the arrow shelf, canting the bow to the right, will, in fact, move the arrow to the right, which will generally cause it to shoot right.  Your brain may or may not adjust for it.  Longbows, which usually aren't cut to center, require much more precise arrow matching, but if the arrow is properly spined to the bow, the arrow should shoot where you look.  However, often, the shooter isn't looking where the arrow is pointing with a vertically held bow.  Canting the bow brings the arrow directly under the eye, provided the bow hand is very close to the arrow, (see above) and helps to control left right shooting.

[Old York]

Not sure what type of bow you're shooting, longbow or recurve? Something I've discovered for myself - shooting a recurve off the shelf with a high, flat wrist has helped bring my bowhand, arrow, and aiming technique to a more central point in my field of vision. Thus, if I cant the bow and bend at the waist, I still have the "gun-barrelling" effect.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Another thing to consider. If you are shooting in an awkward position. Perhaps you didn't make it to full draw, or your draw was just a little off some how. I try to practice draw once I get settled in my blind. I try a bunch of different angles just to get myself ready for what might present itself.

[Terry Green]

Cant has nothing to do with 'form'....its just a position the bow is in.

Arrow flight has never been an issue for me....but the site picture changes.

[slayer1]

I posted this a while ago. Since then I have discovered I was using an arrow with the incorrect spine. Now....like you guys stated above.... the cant of the bow does not matter. My groups went from OK to great. Its hard to believe how critical spine is...esp when shooting a long bow. Thanks for the in-site fellas.

[JImmyDee]

Originally posted by aromakr:
If your arrows go to a different point of impact with different cants, you arrow spine in incorrect. Point of impact should be the same regardless of cant if the arrow is right under your eye.
Bob

If the arrow strikes left when vertical and, for a right-handed shooter, moves right as cant increases, is the arrow too stiff or too limber?

[aromakr]

If the arrow goes left for a right handed shooter they are too stiff, As I said before cant has nothing to do with it, other than you are not getting your eye over the arrow.Canting does not change the spine, if its too stiff, its too stiff the only thing that will change it is a much heavier point, a longer shaft or a weaker spined shaft.
Bob

[henpeckedmuch]

I went out and tried canting the bow in all directions from pure vertical (which is how I usually shoot) to almost pure horizontal. I could not find any difference in where the arrow struct the target. I was shooting at 25 yd. And, was able to keep all of my arrows into a group about the size of an orange. I did learn one thing though, my best groups came when I canted my bow slightly. I will have to try this in the next competition I go to.

[Bamboozle]

How timely...I was just playing with this yesterday. I shoot a 53lb at 30inch Pronghorn longbow. My shafts are 32 inch CX 250's with 175 up front. The more I can't my bow to the right, the more to the left my arrows hit. Holding the bow at about 2 and 8 o'clock position...I'm right on. Kind of odd...but so am I. I also get better flight and groups when my WW's are on the front end of those same shafts.

[Terry Green]

I think there is a discrepancy of terms here....

Arrow Flight = one thing.....and Point of Impact = another.

I think the question is about Point of Impact rather than Arrow Flight.

What you have to learn is the site picture, either consciously or subconsciously depending on how you aim.  You have to practice different cant angles to learn the different site picture.  Easier to explain for me by showing rather than typing.

[Matt E]

I think I know what Slayer1 is trying to say when he mentioned "awkward possition in relation to where the arrow hits the target".
  I find that my bow shoots right if I lean over. I am right handed. I have to allow for this when shooting this way. I do believe it is a sight problem ,not an equipment thing.

[Matt E]

I think I know what Slayer1 is trying to say when he mentioned "awkward possition in relation to where the arrow hits the target".
  I find that my bow shoots right if I lean over. I am right handed. I have to allow for this when shooting this way. I do believe it is a sight problem ,not an equipment thing.

[Terry Green]

If I'm shooting vertical to horizontal, the arrow is still directly under the target cause I still have the arrow aligned for the same site picture because I align my head as well depending on the cant angle....again, easier to show than explain by typing.

The only time my site picture really changes is when I reverse cant....to what ever degree I'm shooting...and the sight picture is different for a slight reverse cant than if I'm lying on my back.