Form Critique

[zinndl]

The video quality is not the best. All shots were from about 16 yards, that is where my accuracy and consistancy seem to fall apart. The target is a 1.5" bullseye inside a 3.5" circle. I am shooting a 66" bow 49# @ 28" The arrows are gold tip 3555 with a total weight of 489 to 491 grains.

  http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e148/zinndl/?action=view¤t=100_5766.flv

 http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e148/zinndl/?action=view¤t=100_5765.flv

 http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e148/zinndl/?action=view¤t=100_5764.flv

[see]

i would try and hold the bow more consistent at the start of the draw.you seem to be holding up the front of the bow(tip of the arrow is not horizontal)then lowering the bow till you have your aim.this helps to draw heavy bows.you look strong enough to push and pull the string.try lining up your shot by just holding up your bow and begin the visualization of where you should be holding then draw straight back.when you reach anchor experiment to what feels good and then release.

[Diamond Paul]

Main things I see: you look pretty good drawing the bow; might want to avoid the "bring it up, bring it down as you draw" thing.  Anchor looks good, but you bring your face down to the anchor and then collapse down even more as you shoot.  In other words, your head and anchor move slightly forward, and the release is losing tension.  I think your draw length would be quite a bit longer if you drew straight to anchor without moving your head down, and if you continued to pull with your back through the shot instead of slightly collapsing.  Basic rule is: you never stop pulling, ever.  Your anchor may not move back very much, or even appear to move back at all, like you would think, but good shooters are always pulling with the back.  The rate of pull might slow down as you hit anchor, but it's the pull that triggers the shot.  Once it stops, you will inevitably begin to collapse, which leads to rough releases and inconsistent arrow velocity.  That's really the only negative that I could see, all else looks good.  Paul.

[zinndl]

Thanks for the comments. I will try the suggestions. I can draw the bow straight back no problem, I started to draw a little high because I felt better bringing the bow (at full draw) down to the target and then stopping. Just a mind thing I guess.

[cvarcher]

You are shooting target style by drawing higher than the target ,coming to full draw and anchor and then lowering it down to the target.I had a friend that shot exactly like that and he was a good shot .For a more fluid casual style for hunting you can try drawing as you bring the bow up towards the target and then as the bow is right on target continue back to anchor and release without going above and back down to the target. Also when loading that arrow from the quiver dont be changing hands ,it comes out of quiver over the bow and  on the string sliding down to the nocking point from above all without looking down to see what your doing. Watch the Shultz video hitting em like howard hill.

[BLACK WOLF]

zinndl,

I personally don't think there really is anything inherently wrong with drawing a little high and than bringing the bow down.

I met a guy in Vegas who drew much more dramatically up and down and was an awesome shot. His coach told me he could consistantly shoot between 280 and 290 on a NFAA 300 round.

What I'm more concerned with is what you look like once you get to full draw and what your release and follow through looks like.

Just as DP mentioned - "you bring your face down to your anchor and then collapse down even more as you shoot. In other words, your head and anchor move slightly forward, and the release is losing tension. I think your draw length would be quite a bit longer if you drew straight to anchor without moving your head down, and if you continued to pull with your back through the shot instead of slightly collapsing."

Couldn't agree with him more  

Ray  

[Terry Green]

Your alignment looks pretty good, just slightly above center...and your anchor looks consistant.

Your release was a little different in a few, but all moved rearward afirming back tension.

I think the more you shoot the better that release will be.  

Whether you come up or down to your target is a personal preference, and not nessesarily 'wrong'...same with how you nock your arrow.

[Terry Green]

BTW....I do see the slight movement forward, and I 'think' I see it stop and settle before you release.  Not sure if its a colapse persay, or a settle in with proper back tension where you are actually over drawing past your anchor only to come back and settle in.

I know a few guys that over draw, come back forward and settle in, and then start movement rearward as they release.....again, I'm just not sure what you are doing...but something to think about.

[TonyW]

What exactly is target style versus casual style?
I am confused.

[BLACK WOLF]

I also agree with Terry...that you did have some back tension.

I just believe you could get 'better' back tension by not moving your head down so much.

What generally happens physically when you move your head down is the spine tends to move into some flexion which can decrease or make it harder to attain the proper back tension an archer should strive for.

Ray