How can I improve? (form Video)

[Emmons]

I seen the other threads with video of peoples forms and all the great advise they have been getting.  So I thought I would see what advise you guy would offer me.  

 

View from above
 

Frontal View
 

Thanks James

[9 Mile Archer]

James,
The bow looks too pretty, I think the beauty is distracting you eye and throwing you off.  I'll do you a favor and even pay shipping up here to Montana.  It will be happy next to my Black Douglas.    
No comment on the shooting, I am posting for instruction also and am in no position to tell others what to do.

[Terry Green]

Let me ask you.....are you satisfied with your consistency/ability?

I only see one thing that might fine tune you a bit....but if you are happy, I aint gonna put no monsters in your head.    

Overall......looks real good.

[**oneshot**]

All I can say is:  If your not buying alot of new arrows don't change anything.  That back stop looks a little rough on arrows.

[Emmons]

Andrew- Thank for the compliments about the bow, yours looks pretty good also.  Sids bow sure do shoot nice.

Terry- I am almost satisfed with my shooting.  I have no problems keeping arrows in the kill zone out to 25 yards.  But I can not consistently shoot nice tight group (like I have seen you do).  I can shoot a group about 5" at 20 yards, but I would like that to be 2".  I think it is a picking a shot thing.  So take let that monster out of his cage, if you think I can improve.

Oneshot- I do not have to buy alot of arrows thankfully.  The shipping and 20% import tax is a killer and the only arrows I have found locally were at a odd/ends shop and they wanted around 18 US per shaft (CX Terminators).  But you are correct that 2" thick concrete fence will eat carbon, aluminum and wood in a hurry.  

James

[Terry Green]

OK chief.......lets get a tad more back tension so that your bow doesn't move left at release.

Make sure that your bow arm is straight at the target, AND, your shoulders are straight at the target.

Looks like, to me anyway, that you are having to 'hold' on target with your bow arm shoulder muscles cause you aren't getting complete alignment and bone structure holding in your shot.  This is causing the  ever so slight, but quick, movement left at release.

Other than that......you got it down hoss.

[Emmons]

Terry,

I have watch the video a few times again and I see the movement you are talking about.  To get this right, you are thinking I need to sqeeze my shoulder blades together some more?  And this will pull my bow arm and shoulder into alignment?

I have always tried to shoot some what relaxed, but with back tension in control.  Maybe with this relaxed sytle I have been limiting my back tension.  I hope you understand what I just said.  Thank you for the tip, I will work on it and put some new vids up for you to check to see if I get it down.

James

[JC]

James, I'm with Terry, I can't see anything that would cause real problems. Just for kicks, try closing your stance up a bit to line your shoulders up more...move that left foot a little farther forward so you are facing more "side-on" to the target. Not too much, try 2-3" just to see what happens. I've found if my stance opens up too much I begin trying to hold the bow on target with too much muscle effort and the stability of the bone structure is lost.

Sometimes that movement to the left at release is caused by trying to push too far with the bow arm in an attempt to lengthen draw....often another subconscious side effect of the stance opening up too much, at least for me.

[Terry Green]

James,

Not really more tension from squeezing, don't want to change your anchor too much....gotta get it on the 'front end' by getting your bow arm and shoulders more in-line with each other and the target......which by default will close your stance a bit like JC said.  If your draw length gets lengthened, it wont be from drawing farther with your drawing arm....but will be done from the aligment adjustments of your bow arm and shoulders.

See below.....your shoulders are pointing left of the target...and that's why your bow arm is moving left on the shot....

   

 

Want to get you more inline like this....

   

I've always said I feel that form is from the waist up, you can rotate and bend at the waist, and take your form/alignment with you.

[Emmons]

JC & Terry,

A picture is worth a thousand words.  With JC's description and Terry's illustrations, it is now as clear as a mountain spring.  I think I developed this problem as a result of my shoulder problems.  The torn labrum in my shoulder allows additional rearward movement (left) of my bow hand.  I know I consciously moved my bow arm to the right by opening my stance to protect the shoulder.  I will try what is being suggested.  If this cause pain in my shoulder, then I now were to focus after my surgery in April.

Thank you both for taking the time to help me.

James

[sparrow]

I'm new to this forum but I've been shooting sticks for over 25 years. I'm not a very good coach but here goes. Take more time in your shot setup to pick a spot. I see you nocking your arrow and starting your draw before looking at your target.Concentrate on your spot (The smaller the better.) before starting your draw. Hope this helps.

[drewsbow]

Terry :  Thanks , your pics showed me what I was missing in my form .  Drew

[Emmons]

Terry and JC,

Thank for the help guys.  I have been working on getting my shoulders parallel with my arrow.  It did not take much of a change, but it did take a little time to feel comfortable.  Shooting was good before, now it is better.  Slapping arrows together much more often.  I will post new video when I get some time to film my shooting again.

James

[JC]

That's excellent news James, glad to hear you are seeing an improvement.

[Terry Green]

       

[Snakeeater]

I think I am going to have to get out my new digital camera and take some video of my own form. I think I might have found the reason for one problem.

Thanks Tarz!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Terry, that suggestion is what got me from shooting in the 4 and 5 rings with an occassional 3 ring to a solid 4 and 5 ring shooter. Alignment is key to a solid foundation. If you aren't aligned it can cause all sorts of other problems because you have to compensate for this problem. Thanks, Terry

[hunt it]

James,

You'll find no better advice than that Terry and JC have already given you. Just one suggestion on tightening your groups up. Get yourself some of those small orange target stickers and put three or four on your target 2" diameter or (a black marker will do also) and shoot one arrow at each dot for awhile. I found this helps concentration when trying to shoot tight groups. Although at $18.00 each you might not want to tighten those groups up too  much as it might get expensive!

[joebuck]

hello James , i just stumbled on this thread. You have probably gone on an won dozens of trophies from all the advice above but.......IMO you will never achieve arrow slapping groups you desire until you incorporate a "Pause" in your anchor. This pause allows time for your anchor to get to your face and bow arm raised/braced to the right instintive height. Also there appears to be too much body reaction when you release the arrow. This bow may be 5-10#s to heavy for you right now. The after shock of your release pushes your bow arm one way and your release hand goes another way. Try to invision this example to tighten your form. Think of someone taking your picture at full draw then another picture the second after you release. The only thing you could tell different between the 2 pictures besides the bow being relaxed, is that the arrow is gone. Bow arm still steady, draw hand on face, shoulders still rock solid. of coarse this is an example of what we call a dead release. Sight shooters use 'pull through" sense they have sights to judge their steadiness through the pull. Think of holding everything steady and your groups will tighten. Your shoulders alignment appeared perfect to me in overhead shot. The two pics above are at slightly different angles and if your's shot was taken dead overhead like the other example, it IMO would look the same. it almost impossible to pull a hunting weight bow back and not have your shoulders square to the target. But a sloppy grip....now it...can..well we'll save that for another time....Read "Winning Archery" by Al Henderson..yes it's a olympic book but it's archery... good luck...PS Good for you trying to get better but you're overall form is Great. Don't change anything but be more solid at the shot!

[carlr2s]

A more neutral stance eliminated my side to side motion, but your form looks great. You have a smooth draw, and you're not snapshooting. I like the idea of shooting at a tiny bullseye. Practce makes perfect, but stay fresh.