Mechanical release for tuning purposes

[fantastixvoyage]

Just wondering aloud - could I use a mechanical release when starting my tuning to take the release element out of the picture???   I'm at step one in trying to get a decent bow/arrow package together.  Not to mention my form/release needs a LOT of work as well.  Any opinions on this?

[Stringdancer]

No....  You need to tune the bow as you will be shooting it, with fingers.

[fantastixvoyage]

I understand everything needs to be tuned as a package at some point, I was asking as I'm trying to simplify things and take it step by step.  Just how I am I guess.  Thought this might tell me how the bow and arrows are interacting without bringing my release into the equation.  

I have little consitency and its taking all the fun out of it ;+)

[bolong]

I can't see what it would hurt as long as you're using the same draw length.

[bolong]

I can't see what it would hurt as long as you're using the same draw length.

[Don Stokes]

The dynamics are totally different. When the string rolls off your fingers, it gets pushed to the side, which doesn't happen with a release. You would have to retune to your fingers anyhow.

Practice, practice, practice!

[McDave]

I agree, you need to tune the way you plan to shoot the bow.  You may not need to tune at all to start with.  Give us your bow specs and draw length and we can get you in the ball park, or if you have a local archery shop, they can.  Buy a few arrows to start with, and shoot them until you develop some consistency.  Your form will probably change enough over the time you're learning that even if you could tune now, you'd probably have to change it later.

[fantastixvoyage]

Well here's an issue that just might be affecting my accuracy...a bent limb!  I have owned the bow for a few weeks but shoot every day so I have kept it strung.  Tonight I decided to increase my brace height only to find the string kinks to the side and barely touches the side of the limb, way off center.  

I'll start a new thread but I hope its something I can fix myself...  And the saga continues.

[kenn1320]

Even with a relatively poor form, you can still determine to some extent if the arrows are right for your bow. I say this assuming my form was bad when I started trad. 8^) The other day I reset my knock point shooting thru paper. I got a nice hole shooting 3 under. Decided for grins, lets send an arrow thru with my compound release. I got the worst tear I have ever experienced... I see you have found a limb to be bent. Sorry to hear that, hope you are able to sort that out.

[boznarras]

There is an article on straightening out twisted limbs in last months Traditional Bowhunter magazine, if I remember right. You might look at that.

[RaybowTx]

I like the 'thinking thang'..Thinking that if all was perfect ie. draw weight, draw length, release etc., etc would give you a base line of what the bow will shoot the best.  But,,,, what the bow shoots under a condition that it'l never shoot with in your hands leaves you only with what the bow will shoot with a same release.  I think it would be a fun experiment but I could not take to the bank the results.  Its got to be the whole you in tunning that bow.  Now, that said, the twisted limb may or may not be corrected.  In my opinion a twisted limb to a certain point cannot be repaired.  It'll always be an up-keep that'l haunt you everytime you draw the bow.  It is an enjury to the bow limb and the limb takes a perminant set.  Life is to short.  Shoot a bow with straight limbs.

Ray...........