G Fred and the Stance

[Wannabe1]

I have read G Fred Asbells article The Stance; in TBM (Dec/Jan 2009) over and over again and thought it was time to give it a try. I am always trying to improve my shooting abilities hence improve my chances when the opportunity arrives to harvest my first big game ever.

I took my Morrison out today for some field shooting and practice of the Stance. I am completely amazed at how much better my shooting became and how my groups really tightened up at 25yds. I didn't have the foresight to grab my camera but, I will say, his principle on how your stance is when shooting is absolutely sound!

If you haven't tried it, give it a go and see how much your shooting abilities open up. I'm sold and now will do all my practicing using G Freds method.

As always, stay safe and shoot straight!  

[Orion]

Yep.  Don't know whether that's called closing or opening the stance.  Regardless, it's turning into the arrow/target a little more.  With all the emphasis on back tension, some folks get too perpendicular to the target and too stretched out, often causing left right misses.  Back tension is important, of course, but a more closed, I'll call it closed, stance, though it shortens the draw a little, is a compact solid shooting platform that provides good eye/arrow alignment.

[Wannabe1]

Orion, I agree with you completely. I could really tell how my alignment was improved by this style of shooting. With a little more practice, shooting to 25yds will be pretty comfortable for me.

[GMMAT]

My only question on closing the stance is this.....

If you set up with your feet perpendicular to the target and you align your feet with your shoulders,your arrow tip is gonna be pointing right.

If you set up a little "open", you can align your feet/shoulder and look down the tip of your arrow at your intended POI.

Does this make any sense?

[Wannabe1]

GMMAT: I bend a little in the knees and have a slight twist at the hips to get my perfect alignment. This may not work for everyone as not all can twist in the hips like that. If that is the case, one can, if shooting right handed; bring the right foot slightly back to help with alignment. Visa Versa if shooting left.

[sagebrush]

I like to practice with my feet and body in all sorts of positions. You never know what position you will be in when you get a shot. Gary

[reddogge]

His stance is OPEN not closed.  It's good to practice shooting from an open stance.

[the longbowkid]

his stance mostly works only for instinctive shooters.

[R H Clark]

Use whatever works for you but don't take anything as written in stone.Just have enough flexability to ask for pointers and advice from folks who shoot better than you.Also there is a reason that target shooters use a classic target stance.On the other hand a bowhunter needs to be able to shoot in all different positions.When the moment comes it may be no easier to shift into Fred's stance than a classic target stance.

[champ38]

Wannabe1, Not eally sure why ,but my experience has been the same as yours, my groups tightened when I went from your classic target stance(feet and shoulders perpedicular to target) to facing target and rotating at the hips and knees. I found it particularly helpful hunting out of a stand this past fall. I do believe G Freds on to somthing here...I say if its working for you, keep doing it.

[Hubertus]

I too tried the open/square stance after reading GFA's article. What I noticed is that when I twisted my hips correctly, it made me use my back muscles more (as pointed out in the article), which improved my shooting.

Sagebrush, I totally agree! Where I see target archers trying to assume the same stance, shot after shot and end after end, I try to shuffle around a bit after each shot and try different positions. However, I do think that the open stance is the most versatile.

[SteveB]

Slightly open is far more stable especially on uneven ground - Mike Fedora demonstrates this in his seminars. However if you add the "squat" to it, you will most likely ebd up shortening your drawlength.

Steve

[Flatshooter]

Had the pleasure of taking the BW Shooting Clinic last month with Ken Beck and Fred Asbell. Twenty guys in the class and plenty of time with Fred and Ken. Although I have been shooting for many years and taken my share of big game animals I went in with an open mind. I wouldn't consider myself a snap shooter but let'say I don't waste any time once I get to anchor.I sometimes shoot through my anchor. Fred worked with me on form and coming to anchor and ("taking a second look") before release. I have always used a swing draw technique but using his open stance and push/pull technique has improved my shooting and enabled me to use the big back muscles more. I am still working on technique but feel time spent correcting some bad habits will pay dividends in the field. I am really enjoying the process of gradually incorporating these techniques into my shooting form.

[Wannabe1]

Thanks for all the reply and comments guys. This technique of shooting is really helping me. I shot one of my bows that I have been particularly bad at shooting with, and found that I actually am now shooting it better. To think I almost got rid of it because I thought I couldn't shoot it very well!  

[Arwin]

I found a little flex in the knees helps, esp in a tree stand situation. I used to try and stand straight up while shooting down.  A slight squat makes it easier to shoot in akward situations.

[tarponnut]

Like Sagebrush said, I practice all different feet, hips, and shoulder positioning for hunting.
Fred Asbell's book really got me motivated to practice different stances that might occur in the field.